Email newsletters are the new zines | Hacker News Reader

Email newsletters are the new zines

simonowens.net

32 pointsexolymph9 comments

I find it amusing when folks self-describe as 'anti-establishment', particularly journalists writing predominantly stories about journalistic and media trends. Also interesting when articles like this are written by folks touting their own newsletter: is 'newsletters are becoming huge' true, or wishful thinking?

I think the comparison with zines is interesting, but a newsletter on the best podcasts, or featuring a 'random medieval image' is not the heir to Sniffin' Glue. Anti-Establishment, the punk ethos, youth culture, that meant something. (Back when I were a lad, pass my slippers).

The nearest I've found is Tumblr, to be honest. The porny, angry, angsty, badly written, rapid fire, wonderfulness of that pile of zines on the record store counter.

Having said all that, I also find newsletters interesting. But as it stands at the moment they have a discovery problem (podcasts suffered the same way at the start). It might be gonzo to publish without an audience, because, hell-yeah, and stuff, but I don't see how anything but self delusion could make you think that means you're reaching more people who are 'genuinely interested'.

I'd love to read more newsletters, but those I've been recommended are mostly the same journalistic onanism or smug punditry. I've not found any distinct voice that isn't amply available across the internet.

Hey sago, thanks for the feedback on the piece. It's interesting, some of the sources I spoke to also mentioned Tumblr as one of the descendents of zines, though the quote didn't make it into my article.

To what extent do you think the comparison comes from journalists wanting to feel like they are punk? When you're middle aged, middle class, living in wealthy metropolis, you're as near to 'establishment' as you could be. Or, put another way, when you've become what you despised when you were 16. Then, feeling like you're the descendent of zine culture, that you are -- even if only in the quietest of echoes -- sticking it to the man, is probably pretty good for the self esteem, no?

> I'd love to read more newsletters

NTK used to be good. It's never coming back, but I wish something was like it.

I myself have been mulling around the idea of doing a traditional punk zine. My town has an active zine library, in fact. http://www.thebeatlv.com/zine-library.html

Perhaps newsletters need a digital library as well?

Mark my words: bots are the new email newsletters.

Explain the association..

Try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pq-S557XQU

This article is twenty years out of date.

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