Is Substack the future of media?
Substack has grown exponentially since its launch in 2017. Last week, the newsletter platform company raised $100 million and is now valued at over a billion dollars.
The platform has become a hotspot for journalists to disseminate their own writing and reporting. Substack offers writers control over their audience and their output in a time when legacy media continues to lay off its reporters and sometimes dictates their political coverage.
We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, .
WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube:
Elamin: The metaphor here [with Substack] is: what if you could pay for one specific columnist instead of paying for the entirety of the newspaper? How would that change your relationship to the stuff that you consume?
Kate, what's your read on why Substack has been so successful?
Kate: I think it's a little bit capitalizing on what you were talking about, which has always existed, that people have these parasocial one-on-one relationships with the people who make the media they consume. But I would say that's really exploded over the past few years by the creator economy. And even though I know some journalists bristle at the idea that they're anything like an influencer—
Elamin: Many journalists just slammed their fists, but yes, absolutely.
Kate: But they benefit from that same relationship that influencers have been cultivating. Any one of us can write about the Astronomer CEO drama [at the] Coldplay [concert] — and every single one of us are — but you want to get that from the specific person whose voice you like.
I think it's [also] this very simple concept of email. And they [the Substack founders] were just the ones to do it in the best way in terms of both building a platform that makes it easy for anyone to make a newsletter and it looks really polished, but also this ecosystem they built around it that has helped with discovery.
Elamin: This is what the Substack co-founders said when they were announcing this new round of funding: "We aim to prove that a media app can be fun and rewarding without melting your brain. An escape from the doomscroll, and a place to take back your mind." Vinson, when you hear that, that positioning of saying, "Hey, we can solve a problem that you are definitely feeling," how does that land for you?
Vinson: If the email ethos of Substack says that you can spend your time looking at things that you have desired to see, and therefore you are not on various toxic forms of social media, well, great. Anything that takes us away from that is a good thing.
On the other hand, I'd never really realized that Substack has become kind of a social media site. There's a feed, it looks like Twitter, there's an app. And if you read that, after a while, you'll get depressed like you do on everything else. There's a lot of hustle culture on it, there's a lot of "I can teach you how to make your newsletter." And for me, it's like, no, no no no, I'm not interested in any of that. I'm interested in reaching people who are looking for things to focus their attention on. But the coin of the realm these days — it's been said many times in many ways — is attention. And if you can have a wholesome relationship with your own mind, which various concerns in our society want to colonize. AI says: "You don't have to use your mind." Certain forms of TV said: "Turn it off and just look." If I can be a part of helping grab people's attention back for themselves — and that's what I'm interested in in everything I do, whether it's for a company like Condé Nast or for myself via a company like Substack.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
ScalaHosting To Power California State University, Sacramento With Secure, Scalable, and High-Performance Cloud Infrastructure in New Partnership
ScalaHosting's secure, scalable cloud hosting solutions will be integrated into CSUS's digital services to strengthen campus cybersecurity and infrastructure reliability. This new alliance will accelerate digital transformation in higher education. ScalaHosting, a global leader in managed cloud VPS hosting solutions, is proud to announce a multifaceted strategic partnership with California State University, Sacramento (Sac State), one of the largest public universities in California and a recognized leader in academic excellence and innovation. Through this alliance, ScalaHosting will integrate its scalable, secure cloud hosting solutions across CSUS's digital services ecosystem to strengthen its cybersecurity and enhance the performance and reliability of its infrastructure. With growing demand for educational institutions to provide always-on access to online platforms, CSUS is demonstrating its forward-thinking approach to digital infrastructure through this partnership. As one of the most respected institutions in the California State University system, the university plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic and digital experiences of thousands of learners each year. This decision to move to ScalaHosting marks a significant milestone, reinforcing the institution's dedication to delivering web hosting solutions that meet the high standards and expectations of enterprise-level organizations and public institutions. At the same time, this move underscores the university's commitment to security, performance, and long-term scalability as it supports its thousands of students, faculty, and staff. ScalaHosting brings to this partnership its enterprise-grade reliability, ironclad security, lighting fast servers, 24/7 support, and managed VPS cloud hosting. The cloud solutions provider also offers access to cutting-edge tools like Spanel, a control panel designed to reduce complexity and boost control, enabling institutions to streamline their server management without sacrificing flexibility or compliance. In accordance with the partnership, CSUS has initiated the migration of its key websites, including its Moodle LMS websites, to ScalaHosting's cutting-edge Cloud VPS platform. Chris Rusev, the CEO and co-founder of ScalaHosting and expressed his excitement about this partnership, calling it an opportunity for ScalaHosting to flex its cloud hosting and management capabilities and demonstrate how educational institutions can future-proof their digital transformation with next-generation hosting solutions. 'We are excited and honored to support CSUS in its mission to provide secure, scalable, and high-availability services for its learners, staff and faculty. CSUS's trust in us reaffirms our ability to accelerate digital transformation for higher learning by helping institutions manage their key digital resources that support course delivery and academic operations.' This strategic partnership also highlights ScalaHosting's commitment to delivering high-performance hosting environments tailored to various sectors, including education, government, and enterprise. California State University, Sacramento, joins a growing list of organizations turning to ScalaHosting to upgrade their cybersecurity and digital infrastructure with managed cloud hosting. About ScalaHosting: ScalaHosting is a U.S.-based cloud solutions provider trusted by over 1,000,000 websites worldwide. With a focus on innovation, security, and service, ScalaHosting offers fully managed cloud VPS, dedicated servers, and cutting-edge tools like SPanel, the next-generation web hosting control panel. For more information, please visit Media Contact Company Name: ScalaHosting Contact Person: Chris Rusev Email: Send Email Phone: 214 306 6818 Country: United States Website:
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Offerpad Solutions Inc. Announces Pricing of $6 Million Registered Direct Offering and Concurrent Private Placement
Offerpad Solutions Inc. ("Offerpad") (NYSE: OPAD), a leading tech-enabled platform for residential real estate, today announced that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with a single institutional investor for the purchase and sale of 2,857,143 shares of its common stock (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) in a registered direct offering at a purchase price of $2.10 per share ('the Registered Offering'). In a concurrent private placement (the "Private Placement" and together with the Registered Offering, the "Offerings"), the Company also agreed to issue to the same investor warrants to purchase up to 1,428,571 shares of its common stock (the "Common Warrants"). The Common Warrants have an exercise price of $2.30 per share, will be exercisable commencing six months from the date of issuance, and will expire four years following the initial exercise date. The closing of the Offerings are expected to occur on or about July 25, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The gross proceeds from the Offerings are expected to be approximately $6 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other estimated offering expenses. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the Offerings for general working capital. A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners is acting as the sole placement agent for the Offerings. The Registered Offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-270994) previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC'). A prospectus supplement describing the terms of the proposed Offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website located at Electronic copies of the prospectus supplement may be obtained, when available, from A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, 590 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by telephone at (212) 624-2060, or by email at prospectus@ The private placement of the Common Warrants and the shares underlying the Common Warrants offered to the institutional investor will be made in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Accordingly, the securities issued in the concurrent private placements may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About Offerpad Offerpad, dedicated to simplifying the process of buying and selling homes, is a publicly traded company committed to providing comprehensive solutions that remove the friction from real estate. Our advanced real estate platform offers a range of services, from consumer cash offers to B2B renovation solutions and industry partnership programs, all tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Since 2015, we've leveraged local expertise in residential real estate alongside proprietary technology to guide homeowners at every step. #OPAD_IR Forward-Looking Statements This release contains 'forward-looking statements' made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are typically preceded by words such as 'believes,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'intends,' 'will,' 'may,' 'should,' or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current knowledge, assumptions, judgment and expectations regarding future performance or events. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, they give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct or that those goals will be achieved, and you should be aware that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks associated with market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the proposed offering and uncertainties related to the size, timing, completion, and use of proceeds from the proposed offering. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the Company's business in general, please refer to the Company's prospectus supplement to be filed with the SEC, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, including the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company has no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
SunLink Health Systems, Inc. Provides Update on Special Cash Dividend Scheduled to Be Paid Prior to SunLink's Proposed Merger with Regional Health Properties, Inc.
SunLink Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE American: SSY) today issued the following update with respect to its scheduled $0.10 per share special cash dividend approved by SunLink's Board of Directors and previously announced on July 18, 2025 (the 'Special Cash Dividend'). SunLink understands that trades of SunLink common stock entered into during the period (the ' due bill period ') beginning July 29, 2025 (the record date for the Special Cash Dividend) and through July 30, 2025 (the payment date for the Special Cash Dividend) will have a due bill attached for the Special Cash Dividend. Due bills obligate sellers to deliver the Special Cash Dividend to the buyer. This means that persons who purchase SunLink common stock during the due bill period are entitled to receive the Special Cash Dividend, and persons who sell the stock during the due bill period are not entitled to the Special Cash Dividend. Accordingly, if an investor wishes to receive the Special Cash Dividend, the investor will need to hold the SunLink common stock securities through and including the payment date of July 30, 2025. The due bill obligations are settled customarily between the brokers representing the buyers and sellers of the securities. Buyers and sellers of SunLink common stock should consult with their broker before trading to ensure they understand the effect of NYSE's due bill procedures. SunLink has no obligations for either the amount of the due bill or the processing of the due bill. SunLink Health Systems, Inc. is the parent company of subsidiaries that own and operate a pharmacy business in the Southeast. For additional information on SunLink Health Systems, Inc., please visit the Company's website. NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION Communications in this press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any proxy vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act'). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The proposed merger will be submitted to both the Regional and SunLink shareholders for their consideration. In connection with the proposed merger, Regional filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (as supplemented or amended, the 'Registration Statement') with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') that includes a joint proxy statement/prospectus for Regional and SunLink (the 'joint proxy statement/prospectus'), which was sent to common stock shareholders of Regional and common stock shareholders of SunLink on or about June 30, 2025. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE CORRESPONDING JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, AS THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You are able to obtain a copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about SunLink and Regional, without charge, at the SEC's website ( or by accessing SunLink's website ( under the tab 'Investors' or by accessing Regional's website ( under the tab 'Investor Relations.' Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus have been mailed to the shareholders of SunLink and Regional who are, as of the respective record dates, entitled to vote on the merger, copies can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Investor Relations, SunLink Health Systems, Inc., 900 Circle 75 Parkway, Suite 690, Atlanta, Georgia, 30339, telephone 770-933-7004 or to Investor Relations, Regional Health Properties, Inc., 1050 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 720, Atlanta, Georgia, 30338, telephone 678-869-5116. SunLink and Regional and certain of their directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of SunLink and Regional in connection with the proposed merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of SunLink is set forth in Part III of SunLink's Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, which information may be updated by SunLink from time to time in subsequent filings with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Regional is set forth in Part III of Regional's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which information may be updated by Regional from time to time in subsequent filings with the SEC. Additional information about the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may also be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed merger. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described above. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements can often, but not always, be identified by the use of words like 'believe', 'continue', 'pattern', 'estimate', 'project', 'intend', 'anticipate', 'expect' and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as 'will', 'would', 'should', 'could', 'might', 'can', 'may', or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected timing and benefits of the proposed merger between Regional and SunLink, including statements of Regional's goals, intentions and expectations; statements regarding Regional's business plan and growth strategies; and the ability of Regional to meet the continued listing requirements of the NYSE American and to maintain the listing of securities thereon. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements, including, among other things: Litigation that may be filed against Regional, SunLink, the members of the Regional Board, the members of the SunLink Board or the officers of Regional or SunLink could result in substantial costs, and the possible unexpected or adverse outcomes of such litigation, any of which could adversely affect Regional's and SunLink's ability to complete the merger on a timely basis or at all; the ability to obtain the approvals of SunLink's or Regional's shareholders, and the ability to complete the merger on the expected timeframe; the ability of SunLink to meet the continued listing requirements or rules of the NYSE American LLC, the ability of Regional to meet the requirements of the OTCQB, and the ability of Regional to meet the initial listing requirements of the NYSE American after the merger, and, as applicable, the ability to maintain the listing or trading, as applicable, of securities thereon; the risk that the businesses of Regional and SunLink will not be integrated successfully, or such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming, or costly than expected; expected revenue synergies and cost savings from the merger may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame; revenues following the merger may be lower than expected; customer, vendor and employee relationships and business operations may be disrupted by the merger; possible changes in economic and business conditions; the impacts of epidemics, pandemics, or other infectious disease outbreaks; the existence or exacerbation of general geopolitical instability and uncertainty; possible changes in monetary and fiscal policies, and laws and regulations; competitive factors in the healthcare industry; Regional's dependence on the operating success of its operators; the amount of, and Regional's ability to service, its indebtedness; covenants in Regional's debt agreements that may restrict its ability to make investments, incur additional indebtedness, and refinance indebtedness on favorable terms; the effect of increasing healthcare regulation and enforcement on Regional's operators and the dependence of Regional's operators on reimbursement from governmental and other third-party payors; the relatively illiquid nature of real estate investments; the impact of litigation and rising insurance costs on the business of Regional's operators; the effect of Regional's operators declaring bankruptcy, becoming insolvent, or failing to pay rent as due; the ability of any of Regional's operators in bankruptcy to reject unexpired lease obligations and to impede its ability to collect unpaid rent or interest during the pendency of a bankruptcy proceeding and retain security deposits for the debtor's obligations; Regional's ability to find replacement operators and the impact of unforeseen costs in acquiring new properties; and other risks and factors identified in (i) SunLink's cautionary language included under the headings 'Forward-Looking Statements' and 'Risk Factors' in SunLink's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2024, and other documents subsequently filed by SunLink with the SEC and (ii) Regional's cautionary language included under the headings 'Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements' and 'Risk Factors' in Regional's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and other documents subsequently filed by Regional with the SEC. Neither SunLink nor Regional undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the matters discussed in this Current Report on Form 8-K. In addition, SunLink's and Regional's past results of operations do not necessarily indicate either of their anticipated future results, whether the merger is effectuated or not.
