What Now?
Hello friends! If my numbers are true, this is the first newsletter for many of you. I send this thing every few months, mostly a wrap-up of stuff I'm working on and the best reading from around the web—all ending with a sweet flag. See past issues here. Now, to the newsletter:
I spent the last three weeks touring around New Zealand in an RV (hello from the Auckland Airport!). Here is a view from Highway 4 in the North Island, a few days after an earthquake rocked the country and our car.
Now what?
Two weeks later, and I’m sure you’re tired of reading takes on the election. So I’ll be brief and, hopefully, unique:
An election is a headcount. A chance for (usually) two competing world views to make their case, and for people to subsequently line up behind the one they identify with most. If the results of an election surprise you, it’s a good time to do some introspection: How’d I miss this? What can I do differently to make sure I better understand? How can I ensure my desired outcome happens next time?
The most frustrating aspect of our post-election world for me is the lack of such introspection. Those that got it so wrong are seemingly disinterested in reassessing their worldview, instead preferring to engage in dead-end squabbles on stuff that absolves everyone from asking hard questions (like fake news!).
The result also was a judgement of sorts on the effectiveness of certain social networks and news outlets. It's clear that the same people are talking to the same people in a feedback loop that puts one in an alternate universe. As a result, for the next few weeks I hope to do less broadcasting online and more one-on-one chats in-person or over email. In that spirit, if you feel ways about this election, reply to this email and let it all out. I’d love to hear your take. Were you surprised? Vindicated? Terrified? Totally stoked? Let me know.
And below, links separated by election content. Election stuff first!
If you were shocked about the election, it's reasonable to be angry. But it's in your interest to (when you're ready) open back up to your counterparts and reassess your world view. Why? So you're heard (even if you think the Other Side is absolutely awful). From the Washington Post's interview with Researcher and Author Kathy Cramer:
I spent the last three weeks touring around New Zealand in an RV (hello from the Auckland Airport!). Here is a view from Highway 4 in the North Island, a few days after an earthquake rocked the country and our car. Now what?
Two weeks later, and I’m sure you’re tired of reading takes on the election. So I’ll be brief and, hopefully, unique:
An election is a headcount. A chance for (usually) two competing world views to make their case, and for people to subsequently line up behind the one they identify with most. If the results of an election surprise you, it’s a good time to do some introspection: How’d I miss this? What can I do differently to make sure I better understand? How can I ensure my desired outcome happens next time?
The most frustrating aspect of our post-election world for me is the lack of such introspection. Those that got it so wrong are seemingly disinterested in reassessing their worldview, instead preferring to engage in dead-end squabbles on stuff that absolves everyone from asking hard questions (like fake news!).
The result also was a judgement of sorts on the effectiveness of certain social networks and news outlets. It's clear that the same people are talking to the same people in a feedback loop that puts one in an alternate universe. As a result, for the next few weeks I hope to do less broadcasting online and more one-on-one chats in-person or over email. In that spirit, if you feel ways about this election, reply to this email and let it all out. I’d love to hear your take. Were you surprised? Vindicated? Terrified? Totally stoked? Let me know.
And below, links separated by election content. Election stuff first!
If you were shocked about the election, it's reasonable to be angry. But it's in your interest to (when you're ready) open back up to your counterparts and reassess your world view. Why? So you're heard (even if you think the Other Side is absolutely awful). From the Washington Post's interview with Researcher and Author Kathy Cramer:
People are only going to absorb facts when they’re communicated from a source that they respect, from a source who they perceive has respect for people like them. And so whenever a liberal calls out Trump supporters as ignorant or fooled or misinformed, that does absolutely nothing to convey the facts that the liberal is trying to convey.
And also, candidly, because "they" won this round. From Freddie deBoer:
People don’t seem to understand this: you need to adapt and change and look outside of your tiny enclaves not out of some moral obligation, but because you are losing on every imaginable front. You don’t have to get in touch with the rest of the country because that’s the right thing to do. You have to get in touch with the rest of the country because they’re kicking your ass.
—
If you're looking to switch up your media habits post-election I'm currently enjoying the analysis of Current Affairs, Michael Tracey, Slate Star Codex, and Zaid Jilani.
Sort-of-about-the-election stuff:
Just before the election, the emails of Clinton’s campaign chief were released via Wikileaks. Politics aside, it was a fascinating look into how the powerful communicate and the connected help one another. Search the emails for "son/daughter" or "internship" or "resume."
It seems quant now, but I wrote a thing for Quartz before the election about why we should let people change their minds.
Not-at-all-about-the-election stuff
Back in the day, you put ads on your editorial site and the dollars came flowing like water*. Now, publishers are multi-platform with custom ad units, native advertising, and a suite of options. So how can one brand possibly manage all of this? The Verge kindly offers a look into how they do it.
If you're looking to switch up your media habits post-election I'm currently enjoying the analysis of Current Affairs, Michael Tracey, Slate Star Codex, and Zaid Jilani.
Sort-of-about-the-election stuff:
Just before the election, the emails of Clinton’s campaign chief were released via Wikileaks. Politics aside, it was a fascinating look into how the powerful communicate and the connected help one another. Search the emails for "son/daughter" or "internship" or "resume."
It seems quant now, but I wrote a thing for Quartz before the election about why we should let people change their minds.
Not-at-all-about-the-election stuff
Back in the day, you put ads on your editorial site and the dollars came flowing like water*. Now, publishers are multi-platform with custom ad units, native advertising, and a suite of options. So how can one brand possibly manage all of this? The Verge kindly offers a look into how they do it.
(*This was never ever ever true.)
I like my web traffic like I like my platforms... Earlier this year a wave of publications (Awl, Ringer, Think Progress, etc) migrated to Medium. It was widely reported they received some cash incentive to do so. As my buddy Aram Zucker-Scharff pointed out, it doesn't seem to be going so well. Digiday offers a similar observation but with some caveats: comScore may not be counting app traffic, among other factors. And just this week, Deadspin reported that the Ringer only saw 420,000 uniques in October. From a reader perspective, it seems the monetization efforts from Medium-hosted publications are modest. So what happens when the cash incentive runs out? What happens if Medium goes out of business?
Official newsletter flag (for now):
This is the flag of the Philippines, where I'll be heading to next. (Have any suggestions on what to do? Let me know!) Unique feature of this flag: it always communicates if the Philippines are at war. If it's being flown blue over red, all is peaceful. Red over blue? War. In fact, the U.S. committed the faux pas of accidentally flying it upside down in 2010 and had to apologize. Also: The sun has eight points, one for each province that rebelled against the Spanish.
Dear reader, you're the sun that lights up my life. Thanks to allowing some space for this newsletter in your crowded inbox. More non-political links next time.
— Sean
Official newsletter flag (for now):
This is the flag of the Philippines, where I'll be heading to next. (Have any suggestions on what to do? Let me know!) Unique feature of this flag: it always communicates if the Philippines are at war. If it's being flown blue over red, all is peaceful. Red over blue? War. In fact, the U.S. committed the faux pas of accidentally flying it upside down in 2010 and had to apologize. Also: The sun has eight points, one for each province that rebelled against the Spanish.Dear reader, you're the sun that lights up my life. Thanks to allowing some space for this newsletter in your crowded inbox. More non-political links next time.
— Sean
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