Off the Wire

Independent Journalists May Just Be Your Last Line of Defense

This will surely turn some people off. If not, come along. Let it be so.

I’ve published thousands of stories and millions of words across platforms since social media first became a thing. Storytelling is embedded in my DNA. More than that, I often don’t truly know what I think about a topic until the words flow from my brain to my fingertips and onto the screen.

Because of how the internet has evolved—and because so many yahoos are publishing unvetted garbage (everyone’s a “journalist” now)—we’ve come to wrongly believe that good writing is free. That’s wrong. (Hat tip to an esteemed colleague, Ron Fournier, who captured this exact sentiment in his own work today @ Convulsions.)

My blogs from yesteryear and my Substack of the present are the product of deep thinking, a passion for truth, and 35 years as a professional writer. These pieces are crafted to entertain, enlighten, and—above all—make readers think. In its first two months alone, my Substack climbed into the Rising Top 100 in the education category.

The good fairy doesn’t fly in and write these pieces. Nobody sees you downing coffee or smoking cigarettes at 4 a.m. to deliver a timely, thoughtful, and relevant article that might just make a difference in someone’s day. This isn’t 30-second TikTok nonsense; it isn’t fake news, and it isn’t a bot generating synthetic AI content. It’s real journalism.

Moving forward, I’m making three core changes to my publishing model:

• A fresh name that reflects the work: Reckon by Steve Watkins.

• No more holding back: If you think my work is sometimes provocative or irreverent, you haven’t seen anything yet. I’ve been holding way back. No more apologies for facts, truth, or reality. I’m over it.

• Skin in the game: Good work has value. I’ve reduced subscription prices to Substack’s minimum—$5 per month or $50 per year. It is well worth that. I invite you to join the conversation and support independent journalism.

It is an honor every time you read. You are my tribe.

(Note to existing subscribers — thank you for coming on board early. My deepest gratitude.)

Subscribe here:

stevewatkins.substack.com/subscribe

-30-