Thank you for saying it! The idea of needing to become an internet personality to survive in journalism and writing makes me want to do just about anything else. I think the industry shifting responsibility for its traffic on writers' online personas has led us to a dead end.
So, so exhausting, and serves no purpose. How people even have the energy to maintain an online personality to the level of Lorenz — whose reporting I’ve looked up to! — is beyond me.
You know I'd like to live off grid in the deep woods, more and more every day. More writers performing personality for the internet is the last thing we need.
I have an off-grid cabin that is sorely in need of offline skills. It’s a pretty great place to reset your brain if you can forget about the sinking foundation and the need to dig a new outhouse.
“I am a writer and I have no interest in being an Internet personality. To be a personality is to have a desire to perform, and that’s not what I’m doing here. I want you to know me only through my words. I’m trying to give it to you straight. I’m trying to do right by my fellow humans. I don’t want a ring light and perfect makeup to be a requirement of my craft.”
Most media outlets do not practice "journalism" which can only operate ethically if it's located within a walled garden that separates it from the "business" side of the publication. Back in the day, the sports page and want ads etc. funded the business. The "news" section was accepted as a loss leader and a public service.
The public doesn't "trust" reporters because they are mostly about generating ad revenue via attention metrics (looks/clicks). As they used to say, if it bleeds it ledes. Journalism: another casualty of the Reagan Revolution.
Northwest Montana seems a stretch for everyone, but if you happen to make it to the Flathead Valley, Brian Schott of the Whitefish Review is pretty good at setting up book events!
I'm SO GLAD I found you and your work a few years ago. I appreciate you, and good journalism I can trust, more than you know. Internet personalities have their place, but please keep doing what you're doing! ❤️
So many of these concepts have been rattling around in my brain and making me question what proceeding in this profession looks like. Thank you for shedding light on the realities of journalism the public often doesn’t get to see or understand. And thank you for staying the course!
Would you come to Madison, WI? Great local bookstores here are Mystery To Me, A Room of One’s Own, Leopold’s or Lake City Books. The Wisconsin Book Festival also happens in Madison.
What’s wild is that people can craft the right kind of personality online to evoke immediate trust, when in fact they might not deserve it. It’s amazing to me, how a few well-turned phrases, or the right amount of the right kind of outrage, will bring in trust like it’s a commodity, when in fact all the online personality wants is attention. It’s wild to me that people fall for it over and over and over. Though I guess it’s long been the same for just about anyone in the public eye.
Oaster is someone I really look up to. I kept asking myself what they would say if they were my direct editor on my most recent HCN piece. Deep respect for their honesty about the very real ethical balances they endeavor to manage.
I hadn’t thought about it that way, but I think you’re spot on. We are all so vulnerable to disinformation if it fits close enough to our worldview, right?
Thank you for saying it! The idea of needing to become an internet personality to survive in journalism and writing makes me want to do just about anything else. I think the industry shifting responsibility for its traffic on writers' online personas has led us to a dead end.
Wholeheartedly agree.
So, so exhausting, and serves no purpose. How people even have the energy to maintain an online personality to the level of Lorenz — whose reporting I’ve looked up to! — is beyond me.
My whole goal is to be online LESS not more!
NO FUCKING KIDDING!
You know I'd like to live off grid in the deep woods, more and more every day. More writers performing personality for the internet is the last thing we need.
Please let me know when you get the off grid property for writers retreating from the internet-based society. I have offline skills to contribute!
I have an off-grid cabin that is sorely in need of offline skills. It’s a pretty great place to reset your brain if you can forget about the sinking foundation and the need to dig a new outhouse.
“I am a writer and I have no interest in being an Internet personality. To be a personality is to have a desire to perform, and that’s not what I’m doing here. I want you to know me only through my words. I’m trying to give it to you straight. I’m trying to do right by my fellow humans. I don’t want a ring light and perfect makeup to be a requirement of my craft.”
Whew, yes.
Most media outlets do not practice "journalism" which can only operate ethically if it's located within a walled garden that separates it from the "business" side of the publication. Back in the day, the sports page and want ads etc. funded the business. The "news" section was accepted as a loss leader and a public service.
The public doesn't "trust" reporters because they are mostly about generating ad revenue via attention metrics (looks/clicks). As they used to say, if it bleeds it ledes. Journalism: another casualty of the Reagan Revolution.
Northwest Montana seems a stretch for everyone, but if you happen to make it to the Flathead Valley, Brian Schott of the Whitefish Review is pretty good at setting up book events!
I'm SO GLAD I found you and your work a few years ago. I appreciate you, and good journalism I can trust, more than you know. Internet personalities have their place, but please keep doing what you're doing! ❤️
I also have no interest in being an internet personality!
I would love to see you at Elliott Bay Books in Seattle!
Hush was really great, thank you for your work!
Please come to Providence, RI!!
Come see us in Moscow and/or Pullman, please. :) I'll help book, I'll bake cookies <3
YES YES YES
Pre-ordering the audio version (which I’m told also counts?). Really liked the audio WtMTtB so, looking forward!
Thank you! It counts!
So many of these concepts have been rattling around in my brain and making me question what proceeding in this profession looks like. Thank you for shedding light on the realities of journalism the public often doesn’t get to see or understand. And thank you for staying the course!
Would you come to Madison, WI? Great local bookstores here are Mystery To Me, A Room of One’s Own, Leopold’s or Lake City Books. The Wisconsin Book Festival also happens in Madison.
I could most certainly try!
Wonderful piece. Thank you. Can’t wait to see your next book.
What’s wild is that people can craft the right kind of personality online to evoke immediate trust, when in fact they might not deserve it. It’s amazing to me, how a few well-turned phrases, or the right amount of the right kind of outrage, will bring in trust like it’s a commodity, when in fact all the online personality wants is attention. It’s wild to me that people fall for it over and over and over. Though I guess it’s long been the same for just about anyone in the public eye.
Oaster is someone I really look up to. I kept asking myself what they would say if they were my direct editor on my most recent HCN piece. Deep respect for their honesty about the very real ethical balances they endeavor to manage.
I hadn’t thought about it that way, but I think you’re spot on. We are all so vulnerable to disinformation if it fits close enough to our worldview, right?
Absolutely. I don’t think anyone’s immune.
Would love to see you at Orca Books in Olympia!!
That seems very doable!
Awesome, I’m happy to help coordinate, too!