New Era for Independent Writers on Medium: What You Need to Know
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Chapter 1: The Evolution of Medium
Medium is known for two key aspects: its continuous internal changes and its often unclear communication about these shifts. Recently, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a significant message from Ev Williams, the CEO of Medium, directed to all employees regarding substantial updates on the platform.
What’s happening?
About a year ago, Medium was busy promoting its own publications like Elemental, Forge, and Marker. These publications were prominently displayed at the top of the homepage, and for a time, they dominated the content feed, which frustrated many writers. After receiving considerable feedback from the community, they reverted to a more traditional distribution of recommended articles.
However, the fixed links to these publications are no longer visible at the top of the homepage. While you might still see occasional articles from these sources, they appear far less frequently. After reading Ev's letter, we now have insight into the reason behind these changes.
Section 1.1: The Shift Towards Independent Authors
Medium has been running an initiative called “Amplify,” aimed at elevating and promoting independent writers. Although I was unaware of it, the concept sounds promising. It appears that Ev and his management team view the Amplify program as the future direction for the platform.
Historically, Medium employed a substantial editorial team of over 80 individuals who primarily hired professional writers to produce content. While this resulted in high-quality articles, the return on investment was lacking. Consequently, Medium is gradually transitioning to supporting independent authors instead.
In this video, "How I FINALLY Beat Terraria Mediumcore...the HARDEST Difficulty," the creator shares their journey of overcoming challenges in the game, drawing parallels to the struggle for independent voices in a changing landscape.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Implications of Change
The letter indicates that not everyone is enthusiastic about this new direction. Medium is shifting away from a traditional publishing model, which may not sit well with staff accustomed to that environment. As a result, the company is offering a five-month buyout package, which seems generous. Notably, Siobhan O’Connor, the VP of editorial, has decided to depart, likely in response to this strategic shift.
It's encouraging to observe an effort toward greater transparency from a platform we rely on.
Section 1.2: Opportunities for Writers
I believe this change will ultimately benefit writers who are genuinely skilled in their craft. According to Ev:
“For the foreseeable future, we will focus that talent on supporting independent voices on our platform. This means identifying writers — both already on Medium and not — and offering them deals, support, editing, and feedback to help them tell great stories and find their audience.”
This sounds promising!
Chapter 2: What’s Next for Medium's Content?
What type of content is Medium seeking?
To gain further insights, check out these interviews with four individuals who play a role in selecting which writers to promote.
In the video titled "The Blood Drinking Spiritual Medium Who Committed The Most Brutal Ritual Murders Ever," viewers can explore darker themes that contrast the positive shift Medium is making towards supporting independent voices.
So, gear up, focus on quality over quantity, and start crafting your best piece on any topic that inspires you—perhaps why peanut butter tuna sandwiches are a revolutionary concept?
J.J. Pryor
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