Newsweek #2: Paywalls, Kylie Cosmetics, Amber Heard
Hey there, we have a mixed bag this week: What do we really think of paywalls, what happened to Kylie Cosmetics, and who trolled Amber Heard?
Welcome back to another newsweek round-up. The internet never sleeps, and neither do I (gotta love insomnia). I’ve been busy devouring articles, podcasts, and who knows what else the internet rabbit hole threw my way. Get ready for a mix of unexpected discoveries, my insights on trending topics, and some genuinely interesting stuff to fuel your curiosity. Let's go!
Unsplash, by Umberto Cofini
Newsletters
One of my all-time favorite podcast is “Shameless” by Zara and Michelle from Shameless Media. I’ve recently subscribed to their newsletter “Smart, Dumb Stuff” and love it. It has interesting takes on recent celebrity and pop culture stories and generally has the same great vibe as their podcast, in written form.
Articles
“Democracy Dies Behind Paywalls” by The Atlantic. This article stopped me in my tracks. Internally I screamed “yes!”, which was immediately followed by a “ah, no, we need to pay journalists fairly.” This article is something everyone has been thinking for a while I believe and it is the first of its kind I’ve seen by a big magazine like The Atlantic.
I do understand why paywalls exist and am a firm believer of journalists and newspapers to be paid fairly. BUT I have often wondered “why is this article behind a paywall”? Imagine an article that explains new rules during Covid-19 in your country. Many of those were behind paywalls. Should they be? Paywalls “get in the way of the public being informed, which is the foundation of democracy.”
Quotes I loved:
“The problem is not just that professionally produced news is behind a wall; the problem is that paywalls increase the proportion of free and easily available stories that are actually filled with misinformation and disinformation.”
“In the pre-internet days, information wasn’t free—it just felt that way. Newsstands were everywhere, and you could buy a paper for a quarter. But that paper wasn’t just for you: After you read it at the coffee shop or on the train, you left it there for the next guy.”
Podcasts
I’ve never been a fan of lipstick. My idea of one is Black Honey by Clinique, which most would describe as colored lip balm. So, Kylie’s lip kits went straight over my head back then, but I still couldn’t escape the hype around them. Kylie Cosmetics was the first celebrity make up brand and now they are so many of them. I had completely forgotton about this brand until I saw a clip on TikTok by the “Share Your Screen” Podcast. The Disastrous Demise of Kylie Cosmetics is a great analysis of what went wrong with the brand. Loved listening to this.
Deep v Heard: Who trolled Amber? - This is by far one of the best investigative podcasts I’ve listened to in a while. As someone who only semi-followed the trial back in the day, I never fully understood where everyone’s hate for Amber came from. I never fully understood why I disliked her, despite knowing nothing about her. While I do think it did take two (Amber and Johnny) for all of this to happen the way it did, after listening to this podcast I also have to admit that there were forces around that shaped my opinion without me realizing - and that is scary. I’ve listened to all six episodes in one go while weeding my garden and didn’t want it to end. Not because it leaves many questions at the end, but because the journalism here is so incredibly well done.
People
akiandkoichi on Instagram: An elderly couple sharing their OOTDs on Instagram and TikTok. Seeing these two on my feed always puts a smile on my face. The outfits are gorgeous, the vibes are fun, and it is just a wholesome account to follow.
XOXO
Annika