Member-only story
New Media Must Stop Asking Permission to Be Heard
A few wealthy people have a stranglehold on media and culture. It’s time to unseat them.
I remember reading about Tavi Gevinson when she was just starting out as a wunderkind blogger. Now her media company is winding down, but at least it’s winding down on her terms.
Her goodbye letter is beautiful:
In one way, this is not my decision, because digital media has become an increasingly difficult business, and Rookie in its current form is no longer financially sustainable. And in another way, it is my decision — to not do the things that might make it financially sustainable, like selling it to new owners, taking money from investors, or asking readers for donations or subscriptions. And in yet another way, it doesn’t feel like I’m deciding not to do all that, because I have explored all of these options, and am unable to proceed with any of them.
This was what I wanted to help solve. It was my job at Matter, a start-up accelerator for media entrepreneurs, but it went far further than that. I was up late at night while writers-turned-entrepreneurs cried on my shoulder; sometimes, I cried with them. I felt every setback and every problem, always wondering if there was more I could do. And I did this as just one part of a bigger team, which in turn was just one part of a bigger movement. Everyone involved understood the importance of media. We were invested in new ways to pay for it, and new ways to solve entrenched problems media businesses face today.
They are so far from being solved.
And yes, we’re talking about a fairly privileged fashion blogger from New York City. But we’re also not. This experience is wider and deeper than any individual publication. And even when we focus back in on Rookie, Gevinson’s unique perspective — alongside the unique perspectives of all the previously unpublished young writers she supported — is worth preserving.
I want these voices — of women, of people of color, of anyone with a new perspective or an insight or just words that make you feel anything at all — to be sustainable. The world needs them. Our tapestry of culture is better for their presence. Ensuring we have a thriving media has never just…
