"As I finally got to work on writing Defector's fifth Annual Report, I found myself noodling on some broader thoughts about the worker-owned media landscape. Tom said some sections would work as a standalone blog, and who am I to disagree with Defector's Editor-in-Chief? You can find the full version of the Year 5 Annual Report here, but below are my reflections on starting a worker-owned media company in 2020 vs. 2025, how Defector is hoping to help,"
"Their mass resignations from Deadspin were a high-visibility national labor story that major newspapers covered, with two U.S. Senators posting statements of support. The broader story was notable and still fresh enough that The New York Times wrote an exclusive piece about Defector's launch in July 2020 and sent a push notification in their app to it. The CARES Act, passed in March 2020, established the primary pandemic unemployment benefit programs, enhancing my co-founders' unemployment checks."
Groups of journalists frequently approach Defector for advice on launching independent publications, often focusing on launch logistics. Defector shares its announcement process and components while emphasizing that the 2020 business and media environment was unusually favorable. The co-founders' mass resignation generated national labor coverage and public statements of support, and major outlets provided prominent exposure. Pandemic-era policy like the CARES Act boosted unemployment benefits, offering economic relief during the launch period. Early-pandemic audience behavior—more time at home and extra discretionary dollars—contributed to initial engagement and revenue opportunities for new media ventures.
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