Substack’s moment in time: The cultural and the personal

The disruptive force of Substack in the world of independent media

by Aaqib Hasib

If you have never used Substack before, the platform might appear as just another simple newsletter service. As you initially browse the site, it might come off as a cacophony of various interests, presented in a blog-style format.

However, the more you use Substack, the more you will realise that it might just be the future of independent media. And when I say independent media, I am not just talking about the news.

Corporate media is more than just mainstream news platforms like The New York Times and Fox News. It also refers to the scores of lifestyle, fashion, technology, food, wellbeing, health, and entertainment publications that are driven by the dollars of billionaires and influence our consumption choices.

In such a media environment, where funding from corporations often shapes the direction of modern-day news content, it is refreshing to see that many media organisations and individual journalists operating on Substack are funded through their subscribers. This offers a level of transparency which warrants that our valuable money is going toward funding actual information and not corporate hogwash.

Don't believe me? Just visit Sidestack's directory of Substack newsletters and writers and look under the category for news, sports, business, and world politics, just to name a few, and you will see exactly what I mean. Sidestack is an independently created, open-source site that acts like a directory or phonebook for Substack. With this, you can track down exactly the kind of Substack you are looking to follow or read. Personally, I follow Mehdi Hasan's Zeteo—the British-American journalist's independent media platform that has been built on Substack.

Not only does Substack allow you to create a news-blog site, it also lets you raise funding directly from your readers. Zeteo, for example, has a paid tier that gives you access to all of the latest reports from the platform. However, for those looking for a free option, Zeteo has a variety of articles available to read for free, albeit the free-tier users usually can access them a week later.

Even better is the fact that Substack recently added the option to host video podcasts on the site and then distribute them to audio-podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify directly through Substack.

Moreover, unlike other websites, you are not greeted by a deluge of cheap advertisements the moment you click onto any Substack site. Instead, depending on whose Substack you visit, you are greeted by an option to subscribe to keep up with the specific site or the option to become a paying member. As such, you can just focus on the topic at hand, without constant distractions getting in your way.

In an ever-evolving media landscape, where most of the evolution is happening in all the wrong directions, a free-to-use platform like Substack is a godsend. It lets new independent media companies and even individual journalists take control over their content, while allowing them to build a loyal and organic audience.

How Substack became my cosy corner of the internet

by Irina Jahan

Bed rotting and doomscrolling are terrible long-term "strategies" for your health. They have left our attention spans in shambles, and like everyone else, I also resolved to do something about it. It's now safe to say that a hobby rehabilitation is on the horizon, as reading has made a refreshing comeback into my life.

Ironically, algorithms are not the antagonists of my story. In fact, much of this return to reading has been possible thanks to Substack—the internet's new favourite publishing site.

Substack's stack (pun unintended) of captivating newsletters and blogs has become a delightful retreat from scrolling Instagram. I suppose one could best describe it as the nice and cosy corner of the internet where the best contemporary writers are flocking to write their thought-provoking pieces.

The quality of content here is definitely higher, but one cannot ignore the fact that it is basically another social media platform at the end of the day. The exposure to new ideas here feels like a good trade-off right now, but eventually, one needs to grapple with the issue surrounding the overconsumption of content online.

Until then, Substack remains my favourite app on the internet, and I would unapologetically recommend it to anyone seeking something that could spark curiosity or simply lead them to some excellent book or movie recommendations.