The 404 Media Podcast: The 404 Media Year in Review

Release Date: December 31, 2024

1. Introduction and Episode Focus

In "The 404 Media Year in Review," hosts Jason Kebler, Sam Cole, Emmanuel, and an unnamed speaker depart from their usual format to reflect on the past year's significant developments in AI and journalism. This episode delves into how artificial intelligence has influenced media practices, the evolving landscape of journalism, and the challenges faced by independent media outlets in building and maintaining audiences.

2. The Role of AI in Journalism in 2024

The conversation opens with the hosts discussing their focus on AI over the past year. They emphasize that instead of merely tracking updates to AI models like those from OpenAI, their reporting has concentrated on the real-world applications and implications of AI technologies.

Jason Kebler highlights the shift in their coverage:

“[...] it's much more about the harms and the impacts that happen on humans. Right now, whether that's all of our work on nudify apps or deep fakes or non-consensual imagery, I haven't done anywhere to the same quality that you've all done on that.”

(Timestamp: 03:18)

3. The Debate Surrounding AI: Skeptics vs. Optimists

A substantial portion of the episode centers on Casey Newton's article, "The Phony Comforts of AI Skepticism," which argues against the notion that generative AI is ineffective or irrelevant. Newton contends that such skepticism overlooks the tangible advancements and potential dangers of AI.

Emmanuel provides a nuanced view of this debate:

“They're focusing on what people are actually doing and that is what we continue to focus on going forward. [...] AI is fucking up Google search results, that it's being used to make non-consensual porn, that it's fucking up Google books and all this stuff.”

(Timestamp: 07:10)

He further criticizes the binary framing of AI as either a hoax or a looming threat, advocating for a more balanced perspective that recognizes both the positive and negative applications of AI.

4. The Practical Impacts of AI on Daily Life and Media

The hosts discuss the pervasive influence of AI in various sectors, highlighting both beneficial and detrimental outcomes. Examples include AI's role in enhancing Hollywood special effects and its misuse in creating deep fakes, spam, and non-consensual pornography.

Unnamed Speaker underscores the complexity of AI's impact:

“It's like, the optimization of, like, VICE can be a better. Or like any journalist can be a better, more productive journalist if they use AI has already occurred... But when you focus on what it actually does, you see a lot of bad examples. And that is what we want to shed light on because we want to have positive impact.”

(Timestamp: 18:03)

This duality illustrates how AI can both augment creative processes and exacerbate issues like misinformation and privacy violations.

5. Challenges in Media Audience Building and Subscription Models

Transitioning to the media industry's struggle to maintain and grow audiences, the hosts reflect on the decline of traditional traffic sources such as Google and social media platforms like Twitter. The shift has made it increasingly difficult for media outlets to attract readers and generate ad revenue.

Jason Kebler elaborates on the changing landscape:

“The slow bankruptcy of Vice Media and the technology section of that called Motherboard... there's the real collapse of finding readers.”

(Timestamp: 35:49)

He notes that the traditional model of relying on search engine optimization and social media virality has become obsolete, necessitating new strategies for audience engagement.

6. The Importance of Original Reporting and Curation

The hosts argue that original reporting is crucial for independent media to thrive in the current environment. They emphasize the need for unique, in-depth stories that cannot be found elsewhere, distinguishing their work from mere content aggregation.

Unnamed Speaker states:

“You need original stuff to actually provide people.”

(Timestamp: 43:45)

Furthermore, they discuss the rising importance of human-curated newsletters and email lists as effective means of reaching dedicated audiences. By offering carefully selected content, media outlets can bypass the fragmented nature of social media and deliver value directly to subscribers.

Emmanuel adds:

“It's almost like an RSS feed. It's like that short. It's really just like the headline and then like a little tiny blurb about what's going on... Sounds nice. So trying to get closer to that.”

(Timestamp: 48:24)

7. The Future of Media and Journalism Post-2024

Looking ahead, the hosts contemplate the sustainability of subscription-based models for independent media. They highlight successes like Defector, which boasts 40,000 paid subscribers, and discuss how direct support from readers can enable journalists to maintain autonomy and focus on impactful reporting.

Jason Kebler reflects on the viability of such models:

“But I think the way that you do that has changed significantly.”

(Timestamp: 35:49)

They also consider the challenges of scaling up while maintaining the integrity and originality of their reporting, distinguishing themselves from larger corporations that may impose restrictive models on their content creators.

8. Closing Remarks

In conclusion, the hosts reiterate the importance of subscriber support in sustaining independent journalism. They express gratitude to their listeners and outline their commitment to continuing original and investigative reporting in the upcoming year.

Jason Kebler wraps up the episode:

“This has been 404 Media. We'll see you again next week, slash next year.”

(Timestamp: 62:16)

Notable Quotes:

• Emmanuel on AI Misuse:

  “AI is fucking up Google search results, that it's being used to make non-consensual porn, that it's fucking up Google books and all this stuff.”
  (02:23)

• Jason Kebler on Original Reporting:

  “It's more, as you said at the top, it's much more about the harms and the impacts that happen on humans.”
  (05:58)

• Unnamed Speaker on Media Evolution:

  “You have newsletters where it's like, I can't find shit on Google. I don't have time to doom scroll through Twitter all day.”
  (46:47)

• Emmanuel on Subscription Transparency:

  “Every single dollar that you send us, we all see it and we all decide what to do with it.”
  (57:22)

Conclusion: "The 404 Media Year in Review" offers a comprehensive examination of the intersection between AI advancements and the evolving challenges in journalism. Through candid discussions and expert insights, the hosts highlight the necessity of original reporting and the critical role of subscriber support in preserving independent media's integrity and impact.