I follow a few different people on Substack, and I think we're at an interesting crossroads.
There are journalists and reporters who are finding their voice in a grassroots channel and allowing their presence, their sources and their material to shine. They're building their credibility and careers up from the foundations.
At the other end of the spectrum, corporations with no journalistic integrity whatsoever pay their people to spout inane, antisocial misinformation.
Strange days.
@sumpnlikefaith
Please educate me. What IS a substack, and why is it called that?
I have a general idea, but I'd like more clarification.
Thanks.
@okika_hilo Certainly! It's an online content publishing platform.
Anyone can start an account on Substack, and start writing on it -- effectively it's the next iteration of a blogging site.
Substack is structured to enable subscribers, including paid subscribers of different levels (of the author's choosing) -- it's similar to Patreon in that sense.
It's also developing its own internal social media channels to facilitate dialogue and community-building between authors and subscribers.
@sumpnlikefaith
I've heard of Patreon. My understanding is one needs to pay to use it.
Tell me about it, please.
@okika_hilo I'm not on Patreon. My understanding is that it's what I just described but more for video-oriented content.
I believe that there are people publishing some of their stuff on there for free as well, but the whole point is to facilitate financial support through direct subscriptions.
@sumpnlikefaith
So basically, a substack can be someone's side hustle? A way to make extra money in addition to their regular job?
@okika_hilo There are people who have leveraged their popularity on social media to such an extent that Substack *is* their regular job.
@okika_hilo Oh, I don't know the etymology. A quick search tells me it means "a publishing website growing in popularity due to..." ;-)
@sumpnlikefaith
And the name, Substack?
A stack of subscribers?
So, people need to
subscribe and pay?