Jaya: We are going to have a weekly newsletter, we are exploring a podcast, and I imagine in the future we will incorporate video, but only where it makes sense. With Ravenous, we really wanted the focus to be a simple value exchange: our writing for subscribers’ money. We are not looking for hockey stick growth or to appeal to everyone. We just want to reach people who want to read what we write, and we think that is more sustainable.
Mark: How are you monetizing Ravenous?
Jaya: We just kicked off our subscriber drive, a monthlong effort to reach $160,000 in funding that will allow the five of us to do this part-time and pay some freelancers, just to get the operation off the ground. In the future, we might incorporate advertising in specific places, and I could see events playing a role in the business as well, but we are mostly looking to operate primarily through subscription revenue.
Mark: The worker-owned model came about in response to your frustrations working at Vox Media. What happened there?
Jaya: We all experienced the frustration that comes with companies making a lot of money but not seeing where that goes. As the people creating the product, that profit never found its way back to us. With this model, the calculus is so much more straightforward.
