This week, visiting lecturer in digital journalism at City University Adam Tinworth takes us through the history of platform dependence. We look at the rise of the intermediary, the tragic loss of focus on building direct relationships, and even touch on Second Life.

In the news roundup, Chris and Peter discuss managing director of Times Newspapers Ltd Chris Duncan's declaration that "no more than ten" global English-language news brands will survive from subscriptions, and puzzle over whether journalists should be involved in the marketing material for their newspapers. It's a very sweary episode.

We're reading:

• The right loves free markets - except when they hurt the Daily Mail, via New Statesman: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2017/11/right-loves-free-markets-except-when-they-hurt-daily-mail

• I Interviewed a White Nationalist and Fascist. What Was I Left With?, via NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/25/insider/white-nationalist-interview-questions.html

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