Friday 23rd September: How platforms turn boring

September 23, 2022

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This makes a really good point about something I've been trying to put my finger on as to why Facebook and Instagram (my social networks of choice) are kind of rubbish now: the Bootleg Ratio. Russell Brandom explains that this is the delicate balance between content created by users specifically for the platform, and semi-anonymous clout-chasing accounts drafting off the audience. You know the ones I mean.

"Any platform will have both, but as B starts to overtake A, users will have less and less reason to visit and creators will have less and less reason to post," he points out. "In short, it’s a sign that the interesting stuff about the platform is starting to die out."

This isn't the case for every social media platform. It's one reason Twitter has maintained a steady user base and unique (!) culture for over 15 years, even if they haven't seen the growth other platforms have. Some really thought-provoking points.

This is an eye-opening read on the growing divide between 'mainstream' media institutions and this huge undercurrent of people wanting to influence culture in other ways. "It’s imperative that journalists understand that they are on the front lines of the meme wars, and that they can really shift the balance if they shift who they spotlight and what stories they choose to tell," Joan Donovan tells Nieman Lab.

I really enjoyed the conference earlier this week - it was great to be back catching up with so many old friends and meeting some new ones. Twipe's Matthew Lynes was one of the new ones I had the pleasure of meeting, and he's gone and got his piece on lessons from the conference written quicker than me, so here it is 😉

A young French media outlet Vert.eco has launched a charter to encourage journalists to report on challenges around climate change and social justice. It is part of a collective work of 20 French journalists, both staffers and freelancers, who dedicated their careers to these topics.

From Media Voices:

There are few people I know more passionate about the power of podcasts than Chris Phin. Until recently he was Head of Podcasts for DC Thomson. He's also leading a workshop on what kit publishers need to get started at our upcoming Publisher Podcast Summit. This week he's penned a piece for us on why podcasting is such a powerful format for publishers.

These are just some of the companies coming to join us at the Publisher Podcast Summit in just under two weeks' time. We'd love to see you there too - the Summit has something for publishers of all levels, whether you're thinking about starting a podcast or have an established portfolio.