What I’ve loved about the Pillar since i became a reader (in a good way) is that when i want the news - the straight scoop - i read the articles. When i want to know what JD and Ed think, i listen to the podcast. Keep doing what you’re doing. God bless you guys, your staff and your families.
God bless you both, your families, and the Pillar! May God keep us all safe and fill us with His grace to withstand anything that we confront that is not His will for us. Wisdom and strength is what we need right now. Come, Holy Spirit...
You are welcome. Keep endorsing our Holy Church and we'll keep renewing our subscription. It is a wise decision to leave secular politics to the secular outlets.
This is exactly why I'm a Pillar subscriber. I'm so thankful for the work you do and for your love of the faith and dedication to the truth. Keep up the great work and may God bless you abundantly!
Ed and JD, I love you guys. We need more journalists like you and the rest of the Pillar staff. This post is exactly why I'm a subscriber. You and your families are in my prayers.
I am a happy subscriber. And I will stay that way.
I go FAR MORE for the independent (nearly all Substack) journalism than any established-run-by-managers/funders these days.
And I read MORE outlets than I subscribe to.
And I look for varying positions to listen to (as long as they are capable of holding onto *reason* as they write).
The ones I choose to subscribe to are the ones that I think are doing authentic journalism, helping me to see and understand *deeply* what is going on in the world beyond what I can and/or would find in mainstream media. Some I read that don't go deep. Others can support those outlets. I support the ones that I think either should be read/heard by ALL.
I don't need you to talk specifics about the elections.
I go down the rabbit holes myself and can think for myself. More importantly I, and hopefully everyone, does their own "research" (and I include the work of having a well-formed conscience in that research) and continues to do so.
One podcast I listened to yesterday made a very resonating point: If we think all our eggs are in this one basket, and we check out for the next 4 years, nothing will move in the right direction.
We need to be working and praying every single day to right the direction of the boat of this great nation. A "correction" once every 2 or 4 years means we can so easily get FAR from the mark. Torah. A word derived from the word that means "to hit the mark."
I may not always agree with the two of you. Heck, the two of you don't always agree with each other, which makes for WONDERFULLY hysterical podcast listening! And let me tell you...LOVE the Bonus episodes!
But you both (and those working with you, it seems) are constantly trying to re-aim to hit the mark. And that helps us to do the same.
Spot on, gentlemen. This is another reason why I subscribe. Integrity matters in your mission. I pray for your continued strength standing against the siren song of worldly pressures. God bless you all.
Love the subscription model for this exact reason. You guys are the best!
But not bothered at all by the Bezoa decision. It's his personal company and there's nothing immoral about telling your own business how you want it to be run.
Bezos could have just fired the editorial staff and replaced them with toadies. Instead he kept on people he apparently disagrees with and openly explained his rationale. That sounds pretty close to journalistic integrity to me.
Furthermore - I am not sure how owner "interference" differs materially from a lead editor spiking stories or being heavy handed on reporting of their staff.
For us the comparison is this: If Bezos shades the editorial coverage to his own material advantage or political self-interest, that's an issue for the integrity of the paper, and that's worth considering as a possible reason for his decision. What we see in Catholic journalism is the self-interest of major funders setting the newsroom agenda. That's what we aim to avoid.
I think that's the comparison we're aiming to make.
what we like about the subscription model is that our material interests are aligned with gaining the trust of a large swath of people, rather than pleasing a small cadre of deep-pocketed folks with agendas.
Right now, if a subscriber threatens to cancel because he doesn't like our coverage, it's no big deal. But when people have major donors, there's more at stake...
I, like the other commenters, love you guys and your work, so you have no risk of me cancelling my subscription (although not for lack of trying with JD's endorsement of Luce - btw, when are you going to add "JD you are a horrible person." to your merch?). One point your post made that got lost in the Bezo's Op Ed is the fact that he was dismissive of alternative media and their credibility. I think he was dead wrong on that point. Clearly there are plenty of grifters out there just throwing red meat to supporters, but there have also been plenty of successful journalistic enterprises (like yourselves) and that success is based solely on good and unbiased reporting (i.e. their credibility). In the current decentralized news environment, credibility is the coin of the realm and the MSM has squandered it. Partisan news outlets (secular and Catholic) will always have an audience but they will never have credibility. You guys have it in spades and like integrity, nobody can ever take it from you, you can only give it away. Keep doing what you are doing and fighting the good fight. You are one news source I go to that when you write something that I disagree with (or even pisses me off), because of your credibility, it makes me rethink my position and sometimes, you even change my mind. God bless you and this holy endeavor you are on. My prayers are with you, your family, and the entire Pillar enterprise.
True, and its possible that he did in fact do this for his own self interest. But his public note made some reasonable arguments for pulling the endorsement that seem very much public interest. At least it was out in the open.
and to your second point, I see nothing but integrity from the Pillar, and would never have thought to compare the pillar to wapo
I would presume Ed. to be deeply acquainted with the British press...I suppose that could influence his opinion on this point either way.
Certainly being an honest publication, and having an open political lean, are concepts that are naturally in tension but by no means mutually exclusive...and I'll usually take a publication that has occasional trouble balancing the two over one that pretends to a neutrality and objectivity which only people securely within the same bubble could ever find plausible.
I think opinions of Mr. Bezos' move depend greatly on how much one credits the case he makes for it. Personally I'm far more at ease with "endorsing national candidates was an unwise idea and this paper shouldn't do it anymore" than with "oh no you're not endorsing THAT candidate." I would not presume to know precisely how much of column A and how much of column B we've truly got in the present instance though.
There are very few journalists that I trust to convey news in an accurate and unbiased fashion. The times where there may be bias or supposition by the writer, The Pillar clearly denotes this within the copy. Honesty and integrity get thrown to the side for likes, clicks, subscriptions, and adulation far too easily. I trust the Pillar crew and THAT is why I'm a subscriber.
Yet, you and your team are the owners who decide, right? And we subscribers are similar to those paying for WaPo, NYT, etc. Thus, owners across the board definitely have input and final say on any public position taken on behalf of the business. That’s not “messing” with journalism or editorial content. Someone has to filter out all the “noise” sometimes to remain neutral on subjects like this.
When I first heard about the Pillar in 2020, that there was a Catholic news source whose intention was to stay above Western secular political divisions and be faithful to the teachings of the Church, I was like, “Yeah, right. No way is that possible.” Four years later, here we are, and The Pillar is actually real. Thank you so much for not endorsing anyone making truth and faithfulness your main goal.
Great post, love you guys and will continue to support the Pillar for reasons like these. Thank you!
What I’ve loved about the Pillar since i became a reader (in a good way) is that when i want the news - the straight scoop - i read the articles. When i want to know what JD and Ed think, i listen to the podcast. Keep doing what you’re doing. God bless you guys, your staff and your families.
Amen! You are welcome!
God bless you both, your families, and the Pillar! May God keep us all safe and fill us with His grace to withstand anything that we confront that is not His will for us. Wisdom and strength is what we need right now. Come, Holy Spirit...
Thank you for your integrity and witness!
You are welcome. Keep endorsing our Holy Church and we'll keep renewing our subscription. It is a wise decision to leave secular politics to the secular outlets.
This is exactly why I'm a Pillar subscriber. I'm so thankful for the work you do and for your love of the faith and dedication to the truth. Keep up the great work and may God bless you abundantly!
Ed and JD, I love you guys. We need more journalists like you and the rest of the Pillar staff. This post is exactly why I'm a subscriber. You and your families are in my prayers.
This is about Luce, isn't it? HAHA! Just kidding.
I am a happy subscriber. And I will stay that way.
I go FAR MORE for the independent (nearly all Substack) journalism than any established-run-by-managers/funders these days.
And I read MORE outlets than I subscribe to.
And I look for varying positions to listen to (as long as they are capable of holding onto *reason* as they write).
The ones I choose to subscribe to are the ones that I think are doing authentic journalism, helping me to see and understand *deeply* what is going on in the world beyond what I can and/or would find in mainstream media. Some I read that don't go deep. Others can support those outlets. I support the ones that I think either should be read/heard by ALL.
I don't need you to talk specifics about the elections.
I go down the rabbit holes myself and can think for myself. More importantly I, and hopefully everyone, does their own "research" (and I include the work of having a well-formed conscience in that research) and continues to do so.
One podcast I listened to yesterday made a very resonating point: If we think all our eggs are in this one basket, and we check out for the next 4 years, nothing will move in the right direction.
We need to be working and praying every single day to right the direction of the boat of this great nation. A "correction" once every 2 or 4 years means we can so easily get FAR from the mark. Torah. A word derived from the word that means "to hit the mark."
I may not always agree with the two of you. Heck, the two of you don't always agree with each other, which makes for WONDERFULLY hysterical podcast listening! And let me tell you...LOVE the Bonus episodes!
But you both (and those working with you, it seems) are constantly trying to re-aim to hit the mark. And that helps us to do the same.
Thank you!
~ Happy subscriber
This is one of the reasons why I so enjoy and subscribe to The Pillar. Thank you for being faithful to your mission.
Spot on, gentlemen. This is another reason why I subscribe. Integrity matters in your mission. I pray for your continued strength standing against the siren song of worldly pressures. God bless you all.
Love the subscription model for this exact reason. You guys are the best!
But not bothered at all by the Bezoa decision. It's his personal company and there's nothing immoral about telling your own business how you want it to be run.
Bezos could have just fired the editorial staff and replaced them with toadies. Instead he kept on people he apparently disagrees with and openly explained his rationale. That sounds pretty close to journalistic integrity to me.
Furthermore - I am not sure how owner "interference" differs materially from a lead editor spiking stories or being heavy handed on reporting of their staff.
For us the comparison is this: If Bezos shades the editorial coverage to his own material advantage or political self-interest, that's an issue for the integrity of the paper, and that's worth considering as a possible reason for his decision. What we see in Catholic journalism is the self-interest of major funders setting the newsroom agenda. That's what we aim to avoid.
I think that's the comparison we're aiming to make.
what we like about the subscription model is that our material interests are aligned with gaining the trust of a large swath of people, rather than pleasing a small cadre of deep-pocketed folks with agendas.
Right now, if a subscriber threatens to cancel because he doesn't like our coverage, it's no big deal. But when people have major donors, there's more at stake...
I, like the other commenters, love you guys and your work, so you have no risk of me cancelling my subscription (although not for lack of trying with JD's endorsement of Luce - btw, when are you going to add "JD you are a horrible person." to your merch?). One point your post made that got lost in the Bezo's Op Ed is the fact that he was dismissive of alternative media and their credibility. I think he was dead wrong on that point. Clearly there are plenty of grifters out there just throwing red meat to supporters, but there have also been plenty of successful journalistic enterprises (like yourselves) and that success is based solely on good and unbiased reporting (i.e. their credibility). In the current decentralized news environment, credibility is the coin of the realm and the MSM has squandered it. Partisan news outlets (secular and Catholic) will always have an audience but they will never have credibility. You guys have it in spades and like integrity, nobody can ever take it from you, you can only give it away. Keep doing what you are doing and fighting the good fight. You are one news source I go to that when you write something that I disagree with (or even pisses me off), because of your credibility, it makes me rethink my position and sometimes, you even change my mind. God bless you and this holy endeavor you are on. My prayers are with you, your family, and the entire Pillar enterprise.
True, and its possible that he did in fact do this for his own self interest. But his public note made some reasonable arguments for pulling the endorsement that seem very much public interest. At least it was out in the open.
and to your second point, I see nothing but integrity from the Pillar, and would never have thought to compare the pillar to wapo
I would presume Ed. to be deeply acquainted with the British press...I suppose that could influence his opinion on this point either way.
Certainly being an honest publication, and having an open political lean, are concepts that are naturally in tension but by no means mutually exclusive...and I'll usually take a publication that has occasional trouble balancing the two over one that pretends to a neutrality and objectivity which only people securely within the same bubble could ever find plausible.
I think opinions of Mr. Bezos' move depend greatly on how much one credits the case he makes for it. Personally I'm far more at ease with "endorsing national candidates was an unwise idea and this paper shouldn't do it anymore" than with "oh no you're not endorsing THAT candidate." I would not presume to know precisely how much of column A and how much of column B we've truly got in the present instance though.
Spot on, dsvc.
There are very few journalists that I trust to convey news in an accurate and unbiased fashion. The times where there may be bias or supposition by the writer, The Pillar clearly denotes this within the copy. Honesty and integrity get thrown to the side for likes, clicks, subscriptions, and adulation far too easily. I trust the Pillar crew and THAT is why I'm a subscriber.
Yet, you and your team are the owners who decide, right? And we subscribers are similar to those paying for WaPo, NYT, etc. Thus, owners across the board definitely have input and final say on any public position taken on behalf of the business. That’s not “messing” with journalism or editorial content. Someone has to filter out all the “noise” sometimes to remain neutral on subjects like this.
When I first heard about the Pillar in 2020, that there was a Catholic news source whose intention was to stay above Western secular political divisions and be faithful to the teachings of the Church, I was like, “Yeah, right. No way is that possible.” Four years later, here we are, and The Pillar is actually real. Thank you so much for not endorsing anyone making truth and faithfulness your main goal.
Thanks for saying what needs said. You guys are the best.