From: allin
Independent media and broadcasting are increasingly vital in today’s media landscape, offering an alternative to traditional outlets. Megyn Kelly, a prominent figure, transitioned into independent broadcasting, highlighting the perceived urgent need for diverse voices and the challenges of the mainstream media industry [00:00:11].
The Shift Towards Independence
Megyn Kelly’s journey from NBC and Fox News to independent broadcasting illustrates a growing trend. After her show with NBC was cancelled, she found herself in a “dark and depressing” period, questioning whether to return to an industry she described as “incredibly disgusting and toxic and awful” [00:04:03]. She felt constrained by corporate rules and expectations, stating it was “just a matter of time before I was cancelled” if she remained [00:02:23].
Her experience led her to believe in cancel culture as a force that “separates individuals from companies where they do not belong where the values are not aligned” [00:01:57]. This perspective suggests that independent platforms offer a space where individuals can express their views without corporate pressure or fear of being “cancelled” for not aligning with a specific agenda [00:02:10].
Success of Independent Models
Independent broadcasters like Megyn Kelly leverage platforms such as podcasts, Rumble, YouTube, and Twitter (with Elon Musk) to reach an “enormous” audience [00:00:21]. Kelly’s independent show became the largest broadcaster in the news category on YouTube, surpassing traditional giants like CNN and Fox News [00:02:31].
Despite having a significantly smaller team—six producers compared to approximately 15 producers at Fox or 100 staffers for CNN’s Anderson Cooper show—her independent operation achieved remarkable success. In July, her show garnered two-thirds of CNN’s YouTube audience and “crushed” CBS and NBC’s YouTube numbers [00:03:07]. This demonstrates the efficiency and reach possible with independent, lean operations.
Motivations and Editorial Freedom
For independent broadcasters, the motivation is often rooted in a desire for authenticity and direct engagement with the news. Kelly noted that she is “so much happier” and “absolutely engaged and excited again about broadcasting” [00:01:55]. She emphasizes the ability to “just say what I know is true” about the news, unburdened by the need to conform to corporate or network agendas [00:06:46].
The decision-making process for content production is driven by personal conviction, or what Kelly calls “fire in the belly over the news” [00:06:29]. Core themes that excite her include free speech, defending law enforcement against what she perceives as “lies,” and challenging narratives related to transgender issues [00:07:01]. Her stance on these issues, particularly concerning biological sex and children, is presented as speaking truth regardless of being labeled a bigot [00:09:00]. She believes the explosion of gender identity issues is a “social contagion” driven by social exposure and online content, especially impacting autistic children who can fall into “obsessive thinking” rabbit holes [00:12:17].
Kelly also criticizes the mainstream media for its perceived role in “stimulat[ing] outrage” to “get rich off of it” and for pushing “somebody else’s agenda” [00:04:33]. She views the media as complicit in rushing to judgment without due process, citing instances where individuals’ lives are “ruin[ed] before any due process” [00:07:48]. This critique fuels the appeal of independent platforms, where the focus is on presenting information directly and challenging prevailing narratives.
Challenges and Future Outlook
While independent media offers freedom, it also faces challenges in a landscape often perceived as divisive. Kelly notes that in the online space, content with “rage associated with it” tends to get more clicks [00:07:07]. However, she asserts that her motivation is not outrage but a genuine passion for the news [00:06:31].
Ultimately, the rise of independent media signals a shift in how information is consumed and produced, driven by a demand for unfiltered voices and a rejection of what some perceive as the limitations and biases of traditional media institutions.# The State of Independent Media and Broadcasting
Independent media and broadcasting are increasingly vital in today’s media landscape, offering an alternative to traditional outlets [00:00:11]. Megyn Kelly, a prominent figure who transitioned into independent broadcasting, highlights the perceived urgent need for diverse voices and the challenges of the mainstream media industry [00:00:11].
The Shift Towards Independence
Megyn Kelly’s journey from NBC and Fox News to independent broadcasting illustrates a growing trend. After her show with NBC was cancelled [00:00:01], she found herself in a “dark and depressing” period, questioning whether to return to an industry she described as “incredibly disgusting and toxic and awful” [00:04:15]. She felt constrained by corporate rules and expectations, stating it was “just a matter of time before I was cancelled” if she remained [00:02:23].
Her experience led her to believe in cancel culture as a force that “separates individuals from companies where they do not belong where the values are not aligned” [00:01:57]. This perspective suggests that independent platforms offer a space where individuals can express their views without corporate pressure or fear of being “cancelled” for not aligning with a specific agenda [00:02:10].
Success of Independent Models
Independent broadcasters like Megyn Kelly leverage platforms such as podcasts, Rumble, YouTube, and Twitter (with Elon Musk) to reach an “enormous” audience [00:00:21]. Kelly’s independent show became the largest broadcaster in the news category on YouTube, surpassing traditional giants like CNN and Fox News [00:02:31].
Despite having a significantly smaller team—six producers compared to approximately 15 producers at Fox or 100 staffers for CNN’s Anderson Cooper show—her independent operation achieved remarkable success [00:02:44]. In July, her show garnered two-thirds of CNN’s YouTube audience and “crushed” CBS and NBC’s YouTube numbers [00:03:07]. This demonstrates the efficiency and reach possible with independent, lean operations.
Motivations and Editorial Freedom
For independent broadcasters, the motivation is often rooted in a desire for authenticity and direct engagement with the news. Kelly noted that she is “so much happier” and “absolutely engaged and excited again about broadcasting” [00:01:55]. She emphasizes the ability to “just say what I know is true” about the news, unburdened by the need to conform to corporate or network agendas [00:06:46].
The decision-making process for content production is driven by personal conviction, or what Kelly calls “fire in the belly over the news” [00:06:29]. Core themes that excite her include free speech, defending law enforcement against what she perceives as “lies,” and challenging narratives related to transgender issues [00:07:01]. Her stance on these issues, particularly concerning biological sex and children, is presented as speaking truth regardless of being labeled a bigot [00:09:00]. She believes the explosion of gender identity issues is a “social contagion” driven by social exposure and online content, especially impacting autistic children who can fall into “obsessive thinking” rabbit holes [00:12:17].
Kelly also criticizes the mainstream media for its perceived role in “stimulat[ing] outrage” to “get rich off of it” and for pushing “somebody else’s agenda” [00:04:33]. She views the media as complicit in rushing to judgment without due process, citing instances where individuals’ lives are “ruin[ed] before any due process” [00:07:48]. This critique fuels the appeal of independent platforms, where the focus is on presenting information directly and challenging prevailing narratives.
Challenges and Future Outlook
While independent media offers freedom, it also faces challenges in a landscape often perceived as divisive. Kelly notes that in the online space, content with “rage associated with it” tends to get more clicks [00:07:07]. However, she asserts that her motivation is not outrage but a genuine passion for the news [00:06:31].
Ultimately, the rise of independent media signals a shift in how information is consumed and produced, driven by a demand for unfiltered voices and a rejection of what some perceive as the limitations and biases of traditional media institutions.