Tomas, your plan to grow UT is wonderful news. I voted to keep your articles short and to the point but what I mean by that is to keep your deep dive articles but layer it with a summary up front, the “to the point” content in the middle, and the detailed details in the footnotes. You already use footnotes, which works really well for people who want more. Although most of the time I read your full article, there are times I do skip ahead if it’s getting too detailed. The sandwich approach combined with your awesome visuals and super interesting content will help you reach the various preferences of your readers, and ultimately your subscribers! I have already shared UT with others and will keep doing so. Best of luck!
Agree with Davina. Short summaries will engage a wider range of new readers. Once they start reading they will recognize the quality and be willing to devote their time to your deep dives. The competition for new readers is brutal and short summaries will provide that curb appeal.
When I receive an UT article, I know I am in for a treat. Sometimes I can’t enjoy it right away because I know it will take time and thought. That’s ok. There are all sorts of puff pieces out there that take a minute to read. Scratching the surface isn’t what I am looking for. Nuances aren’t easy or short, but when they are presented thoughtfully, they have immense value. Keep the length and depth the same. It is why I am here.
Not sure if you realised, but I unofficially volunteered fairly early on for a couple of roles helping out with UT. One of the roles was as Reputation Protection Officer. I believe you are creating something uniquely valuable and I admit to being worried that this value might be diminished by making a big “mistake”, for example committing yourself too heavily one way of the other in the areas such as economics, inequality or population growth. Things seem to be going pretty well , so as I commented previously I think I need not have worried!
The other role might be called something like Balance Assistant. It involves nudging UT a little bit if it becomes a little bit too US centric or capitalism biased, too logical without any emotional component, or too serious and lacking entertainment value. Luckily for me it seems that both the roles I chose require doing pretty much nothing. Luckily for you I’m quite good at doing nothing, particularly when nothing needs to be done…
Slightly more seriously, as UT evolves it might be worth having a small advisory committee if you don't have one already. This could discuss how best to approach contentious issues, provide some diversity of opinion and discuss any ethical issues that arise. Tied up in this is the need for growth to allow you to be supported in your writing, to create networks and to have the people power to nudge humanity a little bit.
P.S. You have FOUR children of vaguely Peppa Pig age? Seriously?? I had guessed max two. I don’t care how good your partner/grandparent/nanny is, you deserve the extra 0.1 of a mark for the masks/bias article that I meanly refused to give you.
Tomas, your plan to grow UT is wonderful news. I voted to keep your articles short and to the point but what I mean by that is to keep your deep dive articles but layer it with a summary up front, the “to the point” content in the middle, and the detailed details in the footnotes. You already use footnotes, which works really well for people who want more. Although most of the time I read your full article, there are times I do skip ahead if it’s getting too detailed. The sandwich approach combined with your awesome visuals and super interesting content will help you reach the various preferences of your readers, and ultimately your subscribers! I have already shared UT with others and will keep doing so. Best of luck!
Agree with Davina. Short summaries will engage a wider range of new readers. Once they start reading they will recognize the quality and be willing to devote their time to your deep dives. The competition for new readers is brutal and short summaries will provide that curb appeal.
Understood. Thank you team! Good feedback. I’ll try to be more consistent on these then.
Thanks for coming on The Post! I’m a big fan of everything you’re doing and I love that your deep dives are changing the world!
If The Post keeps the level of the first week, I’ll be an regular reader!
When I receive an UT article, I know I am in for a treat. Sometimes I can’t enjoy it right away because I know it will take time and thought. That’s ok. There are all sorts of puff pieces out there that take a minute to read. Scratching the surface isn’t what I am looking for. Nuances aren’t easy or short, but when they are presented thoughtfully, they have immense value. Keep the length and depth the same. It is why I am here.
Beautiful. Thank you, Todd
Not sure if you realised, but I unofficially volunteered fairly early on for a couple of roles helping out with UT. One of the roles was as Reputation Protection Officer. I believe you are creating something uniquely valuable and I admit to being worried that this value might be diminished by making a big “mistake”, for example committing yourself too heavily one way of the other in the areas such as economics, inequality or population growth. Things seem to be going pretty well , so as I commented previously I think I need not have worried!
The other role might be called something like Balance Assistant. It involves nudging UT a little bit if it becomes a little bit too US centric or capitalism biased, too logical without any emotional component, or too serious and lacking entertainment value. Luckily for me it seems that both the roles I chose require doing pretty much nothing. Luckily for you I’m quite good at doing nothing, particularly when nothing needs to be done…
Slightly more seriously, as UT evolves it might be worth having a small advisory committee if you don't have one already. This could discuss how best to approach contentious issues, provide some diversity of opinion and discuss any ethical issues that arise. Tied up in this is the need for growth to allow you to be supported in your writing, to create networks and to have the people power to nudge humanity a little bit.
P.S. You have FOUR children of vaguely Peppa Pig age? Seriously?? I had guessed max two. I don’t care how good your partner/grandparent/nanny is, you deserve the extra 0.1 of a mark for the masks/bias article that I meanly refused to give you.
Thank you for debunking the Cochran study on masks. As for the backlash - no surprise, especially with the turn that Twitter took recently.