Connection or Chaos?

New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien has built a stellar career as an innovator in digital media around her belief that “quality, original, independent journalism at the local level is... foundational to community, to society, and ultimately to democracy." 

Keep in mind that Ms. Kopit Levin came up on the business side of the news industry, having joined the Times a decade ago as head of advertising. You may be surprised to hear that passionate statement of commitment coming from someone outside the editorial department, but take it from me, it’s common. Pretty much every ad director, production person and distribution manager I met during a couple decades in the newspaper industry was all-in on the journalistic mission. 

Speaking of distribution: In an interview last week with Nilay Patel, editor of The Verge, Ms. Kopit Levin talked about something we call “the funnel.” In online media, this is what has replaced the army of truck drivers and delivery folk who work to get a printed news product into your hands. 

“If there’s one thing that we are more obsessed with commercially than anything else, it’s, ‘Can we be interesting and compelling enough to get you to come more times per day or week, and can we get you to read, watch, or listen to the next thing?’” 

And ultimately: to subscribe. (Cue choir of angels.)

CALocal’s CEO/ director of product, our friend Chris has spent the past few weeks polishing our funnel, and he writes about it in his latest blog post:

When we made this assignment, I was afraid that this story might be somewhat bland. It is, after all, about compromise. It’s also about civility in civic life, which is something we champion.

Sam’s piece is not bland. It’s an excellent profile of three people with very different points of view—and one thing in common.

If you are one of the many people for whom the word “center” (in the political context) is tarnished, I point you to the words of William Butler Yeats, whose 1919 description of what happens when the center does not hold is as scary as it is prescient.

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

I'm not intending to insult passionate partisans on either side of the culture war. And yet ... maybe there's a better way.

Finally, everything you need to know about a movement that has been trying to pull California apart (literally) for 82 years. And is still pulling.

I believe it's wise to note that the Caifornia government's bias toward coastal and urban constituencies, back in 1941, inspired a large number of people to want out. Are we doing better by our rural brethren today?