JOURNALISTIC FREEDOM, AT LAST!

(THIS NEWSLETTER HAS BEEN 100% WRITTEN BY A HUMAN -- ME)

My battle-worn Freedom of the Press T

An email crossed by desk recently from a writer on Grapeloop – an online wine industry community – who put this query out into the ozone: “Anybody doing a Substack well?” I wasn’t sure what he meant by “well” but it was easy to assume that it meant “successfully”.

I was intrigued by the question and dived right in, although perhaps “well” isn’t the right word here. Maybe “OK” or “fine” or “thriving”, even “satisfactory” might fit the bill better. That’s because a preponderance of Substackers, I’m guessing, are not successful in the monetary sense, at least. Save for a few political scribes who have had a longtime profile and following when their own outlets dried up or were fired, are doing very well here. For most of us, it’s most likely that Substack gives us a platform in which to keep writing in a place that is emerging as perhaps the last bastion of journalistic freedom.

So, this is initially how I responded to that very earnest Grapelooper: “I’ve been writing my newsletter, Wine is Bougie (But Not Me), since September. Writing on Substack is the single-most freeing experience of my very long career. For the first time, I have total freedom to write whatever, whenever I like. Also, for the first time, I’m doing this practically for free. I’ve always been an advocate for fair payment for writers. This time, however, payment is secondary to the freedom. The result is I think, because of that freedom, my writing has never been better.”

(I hope you think so, too, re: my writing. I hope, if you have some loose change, maybe throw some my way. I’m altruistic here about money not being as important to me any longer because of the joy I derive from writing on this outlet; but it would be lovely.)

As for the writing freedom part, I think that all of us on this platform have a similar take that has become a mantra of sorts. Journalism unfettered is what we in a democracy have always fought for. And you know, these daze, many of us are fightin’ like hell to uphold the dignity of the press, the charge we’ve been given, and to keep freedom alive. Even in my lane – wine – there is worth and necessity to tell the people what is right – and what is wrong about wine.

It’s your right to know that many wines are not of the quality you might expect. It’s you’re right to know, before you spend your hard-earned paycheck, that other wines are not worth the price some vainglorious vintner is demanding for it.

So, a few days after I sent my reply to the Grapelooper Guy, I received this from him “Sounds like it is fun, at least. What made you pull the trigger for the first time?”

I don’t like to use gun references, so this is what I wrote back: “It’s more than fun; it’s life-affirming journalism for me, and likely many others. I decided to do a Substack — as with many of us Stackers — because outlets have diminished at an alarming threat-to-democracy rate. As you know, journalism is the Fourth Estate decreed by the Constitution. Perhaps Substack is a bulwark to keeping freedom of the press alive and thriving. Of course, writing there is fun, but I take it very seriously.”

He followed up with this: “That is awesome. I just went over and read a few of the public articles. Definitely liking what I see so far.”

Grapeloop Guy didn’t say if he read me. But that’s OK. I think I got my point across and perhaps brought him into the fold. Maybe, if he pulls the lever and enters the fray, even though he may write about wine, I really hope he has fun but sees a greater good to get a substantive message across.

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I sometimes am fond of wearing a T-shirt that reads: “AMERICA NEEDS JOURNALISTS”. I get more positive comments about that shirt than any other.

Viva Freedom of the Press!