2 chapters across the catalog
The hosts critique Renee DiResta, a researcher formerly of the Stanford Internet Observatory, regarding her new book "Invisible Rulers." They discuss the shift in terminology from "podcaster" to "content creator," noting that Spotify recently rebranded its platform for creators. Dvorak argues the term is a "meaningless trope" designed to disparage independent journalists.
Renee DiResta discusses "audience capture," where influencers are pressured by their followers to adopt specific ideological stances to maintain their livelihood. The hosts reflect on their own history of resisting audience pressure during events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia conflict. They argue that legacy media and new media influencers often share the same flawed incentives for sensationalism.
