Study Hall Digest 5/29/2018

This digest is written by a candidate for Study Hall’s Staff Writer Position.

The Obamas have announced vague plans to produce a series of shows on Netflix, “potentially including scripted series, unscripted series, docs-series, documentaries and features,” according to the streaming service. So they’re not ruling anything out! All we know is that it will include “fascinating people from all walks of life” and it will “curate” “inspiring” “voices,” so my money is on some timely #resistance entertainment.

Speaking of Netflix! Are you even doing journalism if your journalism-ing isn’t documented on Netflix?? Not long after Buzzfeed revealed it will create a reportage-based show with the streaming platform, Vox has now launched a similar iteration of the print-streaming media combo. Titled “Explained,” this series will ostensibly explain things to us, the viewer, in 15-minute installments. (Here’s the first episode, on monogamy.)

BuzzFeed, meanwhile, is really not half-assing its collaboration with subscription streaming platforms: In addition to the Netflix show, the outlet will partner with Hulu to produce a documentary on the abuse allegations against R. Kelly. The idea is to gradually supplement revenue from ads with revenue from production deals. For better or worse, the pivot to on-screen reporting is starting to look like the wave of the future, and I’m starting to think we should just let it wash over us. Soon there will be cameras in our apartments, documenting the hustle and bustle of freelance work. Hell yeah. Give the people what they want: seven hours of footage of you answering emails from bed.

Anyway, lest you think print is on death’s door, not so fucking fast: Vanity Fair reports roughly 80 potential buyers are clamoring for Time Inc., with as much as $200 million on the table for individual titles. That’s $200 million for MAGAZINES. MAGAZINES! But seriously, maybe it means journalism will survive 2018.

Remember when Gothamist made a comeback/when its union-busting founders partnered with WNYC to re-launch the briefly departed blog? That was exciting. Now, sister publications LAist and DCist have gotten the ball rolling on similar re-birthing plans and have launched Kickstarters to aid them on their journeys. Local public radio is becoming a bigger partner for local digital journalism! Interesting.

It sure was an extra-special week for public figures shitting their pants over critical media coverage. Elon Musk, in typical rich guy fashion, had an adverse reaction to journalists doing their jobs when Reveal reported on Tesla’s unsafe factory conditions. Shit got weird on Twitter, and Musk tweeted some possibly anti-Semitic conspiracy theory bullshit.

Not-a-billionaire-but-still-an-idiot New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio failed to stop the release of thousands of internal emails in which he whines about profiles of him that fall short of fawning, the Times’ lack of interest in his “weighty” op-eds (how dare they), and the very existence of both the Daily News and the New York Post. Cool cool cool. Musk and Blas may have little in common otherwise, but they are both extremely influential in their respective spheres and both have a Trumpian sensibility when it comes to coverage of themselves: if they don’t like it, it’s patently false and also the entire profession is corrupt. And at least on Musk’s part, the reigning (dumb) assumption is that if folks don’t trust journalists, then it must be because journalists are untrustworthy. His solution? Let laymen with zero relevant knowledge or experience rank their trustworthiness. This man wants us to go to space with him! Yeah, no thanks!!!

RIP Interview Magazine. The news was broken via tweets from employees, though the publication’s official accounts have been weirdly static, maybe due to the bizarre and uncomfortable circumstances surrounding the closure—bankruptcy! misconduct allegations! large sums of money owed! Anyway, the iconic mag, founded by Andy Warhol in 1969, is being remembered fondly by the celebrities who graced its cover, who seem to view it as a stand-out for valuing art above gossip. The internet is built on Q&As, so I guess Warhol won?