Cortex 171: Casey Newton – State of the Workflow
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Sep 15, 2025 
Casey Newton, the insightful writer behind the Platformer newsletter, shares his journey navigating the complex world of tech journalism. He discusses his unique workflow for writing and publishing, from idea capture to maintaining journalistic integrity while interacting with industry power players. Stephen Hackett adds a heartfelt touch, reflecting on his family's experiences with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, emphasizing the importance of community support. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of content creation, digital tools, and the significant impact of personalized storytelling.
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Overflowing Tips During Twitter Upheaval
- When Elon Musk gutted Twitter's workforce, Casey's inbox flooded with tips he could not keep up with.
- He remembers that period as a golden era of reporting with abundant, fast-breaking sources.
Use AI Pragmatically, Advocate Ethically
- Acknowledge ethical concerns about AI training datasets but use tools that materially help your work as a solo creator.
- Advocate for compensation and better systems while pragmatically adopting helpful AI features.
Pick Stable Platforms Over Fast VC Plays
- Choose publishing platforms aligned with long-term stability and control (open-source or independent).
- Avoid vendor lock-in that ties your business to VC-backed platform strategies you can't influence.