The Media Meltdown

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the continued cutbacks and collapses of digital media companies.

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: 

• Buzzfeed is the most recent company to announce massive layoffs. Natalia cited Derek Thompson’s Atlantic newsletter, and Niki referred to media columnist Ben Smith’s new book, Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral. We all drew on this New York Times article about the future of media.

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Natalia shared Joshua Travis Brown’s Chronicle of Higher Education essay, “The Ethical Poverty of Dorms for the Rich.”
• Neil recommended this episode of the Slate Culture podcast and Aaliyah Wright’s Capital B article, “Once An ‘All-Black Utopia,’ Eatonville Residents Say New Development Could Erase History.”
• Niki discussed Claire McNear’s Ringer article, “The Search for the Lost Jeopardy Tapes is Over. The Mystery Behind Them Endures.”