The Addition

Merry Christmas! Things are winding down for the year, and I hope you’ve enjoyed what I’ve been doing at The Addition. I love having you as a listener! But keeping this up is hard work. The only real way this newsletter and podcast can continue in 2024 is if readers take out paid subscriptions. It would mean a lot if you did so. Think of it as a Christmas present for both of us - you get access to all the newsletters and the full archive, I get a new paid sub! Thank you so much for all your support.Well… it has been quite a year in media. We’ve had sackings and hirings, startups and sales. AI has dominated much of the conversation. Oh, and some stuff happened with Twitter. For this final podcast of 2023, I am joined by Peter Houston of Media Voices to analyse it all and look ahead to 2024. We also discuss the consequences of his frankly bizarre decision to start a print publication earlier this year!I think the conclusion we came to in the conversation is that there are undoubtedly real problems and big issues to be tackled in the industry, but the next 12 months will offer some real opportunities too. I look forward to chatting through them all with some great guests from January!* Media Moments 2023* SPECIAL EPISODE: A Crossover With Media Voices* Media Voices* Magazine Diaries* Grub Street Journal* Starting a Print Magazine... in 2023?!* Peter Houston on Twitter* Peter House on LinkedIn* Charlotte Henry on Threads* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition blog* The Addition on YouTubeICYMI This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

The BBC is always under huge scrutiny. That will only increase over the next 12 months as it has to navigate coverage of both the UK and US elections. There are also issues surrounding local coverage and flagship shows like “Newsnight”, both of which are being reduced in various ways. Adam Sherwin, who reports on arts and media for the i, joined the show to discuss all the controversies plaguing Aunty. The BBC is in many ways a great institution, but there can be little doubt that it gets itself in a tangle too, often unnecessarily so. We’ve seen that in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, for instance. Its news coverage becomes a lightning rod for so much else and the corporation can spend too much time talking about itself. It is hard to see how we’d be better off with it gone, though. Our conversations tries to unpack all these contradictions.* The British Media Has Disgraced Itself Over Israel* It Doesn't Matter Whether or Not You Watch Newsnight* Huw Edwards set to leave BBC News after internal inquiry, insiders say - i* Adam Sherwin on Twitter* Adam Sherwin at the i* Charlotte Henry on Threads* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition blog* The Addition on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

It’s a two-podcast week - the final “TV+ Talk+” 2023 is here. It's a special show this month as Chuck Joiner and I assess the year that has been in Apple TV+. This includes a final review of "The Morning Show" (spoiler alert) and discussions about "The Buccaneers" and "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters". “The Morning Show” was quite chaotic, with a lot of storylines going on all at once. They wrapped it up pretty well though (mostly). There were some excellent individual performances in the show too - we didn’t even mention Billy Crudup!My personal favourites on Apple TV+ this year have been “Shrinking” and “Slow Horses”. (“Mythic Quest” might also sneak in, but technically only one episode of the show was released in 2023!)We also have a rundown of what there is to look forward to in the next couple of months. I’m looking forward to thriller “Criminal Record”, starring Peter Capaldi. There is a lot slated already and it looks like 2024 is going to be a big year for Apple TV+.* The Addition on YouTube* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Threads* Charlotte Henry on TikTok* The Addition on YouTube* The Addition blog* MacVoices* Chuck Joiner on Twitter* MacVoices on Twitter* Chuck Joiner on Mastodon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

This week’s show is a bit different. I joined Chris Sutcliffe and Esther Thorpe from the Media Voices team for a special crossover episode. We discussed the state of broadcast media - both how things stand as 2023 comes to an end and what might be next. It is all on the back of me having had the pleasure of writing the broadcast chapter of their soon-to-be-released “Media Moments 2023” report.There is, of course, a bit on the BBC. We mostly focus though on changing viewing habits and the importance of broadcasters owning unique, original content. This obviously includes live sport but hit shows really matter as well. We take a look at the state of the ad market too.Register to receive the “Media Moments 2023” report.* Media Voices* Esther Kezia Thorpe on Twitter* Chris Sutcliffe on Twitter* Media Voices on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Threads* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTube* The Addition blog This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

The world of tech is rarely quiet, but it has been particularly frantic over the last few weeks. Firstly, we had Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrove resign over comments relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The major conference in Lisbon did go ahead successfully, but some of the world’s companies had already pulled out by then. After that, we had the Sam Altman/OpenAI drama, in which the story seemed to change by the hour. Things seem to have stabilised… for now… and Altman is back as CEO. Journalist and author James Ball returns to the show to discuss it all. We also further ponder the consequences of AI for journalism and the wider world.* Web Summit fights back after wave of cancellations, CEO exit - Politico* OpenAI set out to show a different kind of tech giant was possible. It might prove the opposite. - Techtris* James Ball on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Threads* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTubeBuy “The Other Pandemic” by James Ball[Affiliate links - buying may earn a commission that helps support The Addition]* Amazon* Bookshop.org* Waterstones This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

After all the OpenAI chaos in recent days, it seemed valuable to return to a conversation about AI from earlier this year with Adweek’s senior media reporter Mark Stenberg. Of course, we don’t discuss the Sam Altman brouhaha - because it hadn’t happened! However, much of what we touch on has only become more pertinent.It is clear that AI tools are going to seriously disrupt journalism. We’ve already seen some publications try to get Large Language Models (LLMs) to create content. It did not end well. But we are only at the start. There are also concerns about what the AI revolution will mean for journalism jobs, especially the more junior ones. We also talked about some fairly significant AI-related changes from Google. Publishers are not very happy about them.* How Publishers Are Preparing for Google's AI-Enhanced Search - Adweek* Mark Stenberg on LinkedIn* Mark Stenberg on Twitter* Mark Stenberg at Adweek* Charlotte Henry on Threads* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

It has been seven very trying few months in Hollywood, with first the writers, and then the actors, going on strike. Thankfully, unions representing both groups have now struck agreements with the studios and everyone is back at work. Sean McNulty, author of The Wakeup at The Ankler, joins the show to explain how the difficult deals were done and where we go from here.Even though the strikes are over, the ripple effects will continue. There is a cascading effect on release dates and the economy has taken a hit. However, it can only be a good thing for everyone in the industry that these issues are settled. For now.* Sean McNulty on LinkedIn* The Ankler* The Wakeup* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Threads* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTubeThanks to HelloFresh for sponsoring the show this week. With HelloFresh, you get farm-fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and seasonal recipes delivered right to your doorstep. Skip trips to the grocery store and count on HelloFresh to make home cooking easy, fun, AND affordable – that’s why it’s America’s #1 meal kit!And they are giving listeners to “The Addition Podcast” FREE breakfast for life! Go to HelloFresh.com/additionfree and use code additionfree and get one breakfast item per box while your subscription is active. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

Life as a foreign correspondent can seem daring, dangerous and… fun. Often, it is! You get to travel the world and meet fascinating people, but there are also huge risks that come with the job, especially if you are a freelancer reporting on war zones. We are seeing those issues in real-time right now with the imprisonment of Evan Gershkovich and the deaths of journalists covering conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.Lynne O'Donnell has reported from places like China and Afghanistan for decades, covering some of the biggest moments in recent history. On this week’s episode, she discusses those experiences and sheds some light on the reality of working in a war zone.* Lynne O’Donnell on Substack* Lynne O’Donnell at Foreign Policy* Lynne O'Donnell on Twitter* Lynne O’Donnell on Threads* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTube* Charlotte Henry on InstagramHave You Read?TikTok is Changing Comedy - Stand-ups are shooting to fame on the short-video app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

On his company’s latest earnings call, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg said that Threads had almost 100 million monthly users. It’s no mean feat, given that the app has only launched in July. It clearly launched unfinished, but has consistently added new features. However, the app doesn’t totally replicate the good bits of Twitter (hello, tweeting through a football match).Jeff Gamet of “The Context Machine” podcast returns to the show to discuss the current state of the battle between Threads and Twitter. Can the power of Meta help the newcomer get success, or is X Twitter just too established? It is also worth asking - do we even want Threads to look like Twitter, pre or post-Elon Musk? Maybe it’s time we make something new. We also look at how other Twitter rivals, namely BlueSky and Mastodon, are holding up.* Zuckerberg says Threads has almost 100 million monthly users* The British Tech Network* ‘The Context Machine’ podcast* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry TikTok* The Addition on YouTube* Charlotte Henry on Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com

This month, Chuck Joiner and I discuss the news that Ridley Scott has decided Apple TV+ viewers need a four-hour director’s cut of his movie “Napoleon”. Are we worthy of such genius? Talking of overly long films, “Killers of the Flower Moon” has made it to cinemas. We look at the numbers. (Spoiler alert: Taylor Swift did better.)Recently, there has been a bust-up between Jon Stewart and Apple TV+, reportedly over topics he was not allowed to cover on his “The Problem” show. So much so, in fact, that the host is leaving the streamer. Does Apple have the right to dictate the journalism that appears on its streaming service? I think, at least to some extent, that it does. However, it is a fine line to tread and a fascinating moment in the development of Apple TV+.Quick note: we recorded this episode before the price rises were announced. We will have thoughts next time.* Ridley Scott has chopped down his Napoleon director’s cut, but it's still over 4 hours - Total Film* APPLE's Magical $200M 'Killers' Math: The Breakdown - The Wakeup* Jon Stewart’s ‘The Problem’ Not Moving Forward at Apple Amid Creative Differences - The Hollywood Reporter* The Addition on YouTube* Charlotte Henry on Twitter* Charlotte Henry on Threads* Charlotte Henry on TikTok* MacVoices* Chuck Joiner on Twitter* MacVoices on Twitter* Chuck Joiner on Mastodon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theaddition.substack.com