Four Years of The Dispatch

To have a group blog or to not.

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154

Unable to secure an interesting guest or topic of conversation for today’s Remnant, Jonah is forced to invite Steve Hayes—his benevolent business partner and world-renowned cheese curd enthusiast—back to the program for their annual reflection on the state of The Dispatch. All of the obvious topics are addressed, including how The Dispatch is doing, what goals have been achieved, and what’s coming next as things continue to grow. But loyal listeners will also want to tune in for answers to some common questions. How has election coverage changed over time, and what will The Dispatch do in 2024 to set itself apart? What will it take for The Dispatch to attract new readers and continue to expand? And will a Corner-style blog ever surface on the site, or will Steve remain blinded to its usefulness by a haze of beer and Buffalo sauce?

Show Notes:

–The Dispatch’s manifesto

–The Skiff, a new podcast feed exclusively for Dispatch members

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Comments (154)
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  1. Avatar photo
    PSM

    I just have to jump in here because Jonah said they haven't had many readers oppose the group blog.

    I oppose the idea of a group blog.

    I get that the Corner was an innovative thing that Jonah is proud of, but it seems to me to be the original hot take factory, and while there are occasionally worthwhile posts there, it is most often used for dunking and snark, rather than thoughtful discussions between writers.

    It seems to me that the-social-media-platform-formerly-known-as-twitter is a better place for the kind of quick back and forth that Jonah wants.

    Beyond the thoughtful, careful reporting, one of the best things about The Dispatch is that news and opinion pieces generally come out at the same time, on the same days, so they have become a welcome part of my routine.

    Here's one area where some sort of live group posting might be helpful: when there are momentous live events occurring, it would be great if Dispatch reporters that were there live could post all in one location. I'm specifically reminded of Jan 6th, when I had a bunch of tabs open with Dispatch reporters' Twitter feeds, and was able to get a pretty clear sense of what was going on. If there was a place on the site for reports during major events like that, speaker votes, election day, etc, I think that could be a value add. I think it would need to be used sparingly, only for truly major events, to avoid becoming the race-to-be-wrong on so many other news outlets.

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  2. Cschaewe

    The lack of transcript for all these podcasts drives me absolutely nuts.
    It’s so easy, there are apps, just do it for those of us who can read much faster than you guys talk and don’t have the time to listen.

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  3. Smgordon67

    Note to Steve and Jonah: You should ALWAYS assume the board is listening...especially when casually dismissing MILLIONS of potential forgone revenue... (cue imposing music)

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    1. RS

      Your comment and the exchange you reference made me laugh, thanks (I needed it).

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  4. Avatar photo
    SeanM76

    Now on to a few suggestions. Are we ever going to hear Nick actually speak on a podcast even as a guest? I know when he joined, I heard talk it would happen eventually. As far as the tiers go, I would gladly pay a bit of a bump to be able to communicate with some of my favorite Dispatch writers. I know Chris S. says often he avoids the comment section like the plague. That would be something that I would differently think of as an up-charge type thing. As you mentioned a member only chat or something like that. Being able to talk with some people I really respect would be a great member bonus. Just an idea I know Sarah is really busy, but she does a fun podcast elsewhere I follow called Left, Right, and Center. I would love to have something like that here especially with like her and Mo. Hearing a podcast with that type of banter would be a good addition I think to the Dispatch. Also, as a non-lawyer but big fan of AO we need more swag from that podcast in the store.

    Now I am about to go make a donation / purchase to try and help out with the coming Dispatch expansion for the community. Which is a great idea that I would love to see happen.

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  5. Avatar photo
    SeanM76

    First off let me say I do appreciate these yearly updates. I know many people have mentioned paying 3 times or more. I think it is a great bargain now. I could see a tier going up to double the current annual fee. I would have no problem paying that for what we get here. When you start going up 3 or more times the annual rate at that point I might get priced out. Some of us poor folks from Arkansas do not make those DC and Virginia based incomes.

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  6. PKirch

    Thanks gents for the annual update. This one was as interesting as in the past. Also really like the idea of a tiered membership approach; sounds like there are a number of people (like me) who believe in the mission and would happily pay more (2x - 3x?) than the standard membership, even for what we get now... and then enjoy what additional baubles might come along with the higher tier. Keep it up guys! It's super important.

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  7. Avatar photo
    The Bell Tower

    The Dispatch has maintained Frenchian levels of integrity despite his departure. This is the best news site in existence and I can’t accurately convey the disappointment I felt that when Bill Whelan asked the Goodfellows where they most trust to get their news not a single one mentioned The Dispatch. Et tu, H.R.!?

    As a long time member of The Remnant and someone who has actively tried to read every single word Jonah Goldberg has ever written since around the mid 90’s, I can see Steve’s point. Ilhan and Rashida recently learned the consequences of hot takes based on incomplete information that they really wished was accurate.

    I’m sure no one here will disgrace themselves in such a fashion but the danger is real and the best part of the Dispatch is the absence of that Twittery, Revolutionary France salon mentality. Go circumspectly if you must go. I would ravenously consume such additional content.

    Last, my wife greatly appreciates your commitment to not annoying readers with advertising pop ups and the like because my entire neighborhood knows when it happens to me. I trust Jonah to put his cigar out on the forearm of any advertiser who violates this protocol like Bender’s Dad when he doesn’t get his turkey pot pie.

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  8. Kelly Bowers

    Please don't make a Dispatch blog. I am here for reporting and serious, slow, thoughtful commentary. There are already too many hot takes on the internet. Hot takes are fun! But they are corrupting.

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  9. Avatar photo
    J Bryant

    Since this is apparently feed back time: For ads, I did really prefer the old "Jonah or Sarah or whoever reads some ad copy" approach to the new system where outside ads get pasted in. In part because it's a lot less jarring, but also because it ensures that you all actually know what you're advertising. A few weeks ago I heard an ad for Chegg, which is essentially a cheating service. I assume, and as a teacher certainly hope, that The Dispatch did not intend to give that its imprimatur.

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  10. Avatar photo
    Quinntheeskimo98

    Loved this conversation, listened all the way through and it reminded me why I love the dispatch. Just a few notes I wanted to make.

    1. I’m guessing that Steve’s penchant for transparency will not include telling us how much that traitor David French is making in residuals or as revenue for his dispatch newsletters. (He is dead to me, and I am definitely not currently subscribed to the New York Times almost exclusively for his newsletters)
    2. Regarding the idea of a group blog, I’m with Steve that it should not be called a blog, and as the guy who would 100% try to bait Jonah into arguments I think I agree with Steve that the incentives would be bad, and given the way social media has turned out it’s probably best to just… not, however if you limit it to members only, the dispatch community is a pretty decent group of folks, and the as rate at which it would decay into just a vat of toxic sewage is probably significantly longer than Facebook or Twitter, much less post-Musk twitter

    3. Will this extra dispatch subscription tier finally allow us to see or hear Nick Catoggio, or will you continue to fuel my theory that he is an advanced prototype of an AI interface designed by Guy Denton in the dark of Jonah’s dungeon, designed at least in the early stages to critique nationalism and the Trumpist right with exacting precision, though what kind of diabolical plans you have for him after that I have not yet begun to imagine.

    4. If you call the new dispatch tier Dispatch+ I’m out.

    But in all all seriousness, I really do love the brand you guys are trying to build here. I share the Dispatch with anyone I think will appreciate it (and even some who won’t) if you guys keep growing and expanding I may not be able to read everything, but that’s okay. And I’ll look forward to this same conversation next year.

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