Kathryn Morrisby is a journalist, copywriter, and total word nerd. If she’s not researching and writing about the latest social and cultural trends or creating crisp copy for small but brilliant brands, you’ll find her engrossed in clichéd Gen Y pastimes such as gardening, triathlon training, and fretting about her kids’ screen time.

Aware of hidden agendas, people no longer believe in the possibility of absolute truth or complete transparency from institutions, public figures, and individuals. Yet they are still drawn to honesty, integrity, and – at times – even vulnerability, which they expect from peers and brands alike.

Radical Transparency 

From decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs)  run on Discord to city-wide mutual aid groups, people are finding safety and optimism in numbers. For growing numbers of people, collective action is emerging as the only viable solution to compounding crises and deepening alienation.

World Builders

Rawiya Kameir is a writer, critic, editor and producer. She’s an Assistant Professor at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and a contributing editor at Pitchfork. She was a finalist for a 2020 National Magazine Award in the Essays and Criticism category for three reviews published in Pitchfork and has served as deputy editor at The Fader and culture editor at The Outline.

United States

Communications

Media and Entertainment

Publishing

The New York Times

Slate

Variety

Pew Research Center

Reuters

Canvas8

Interview with Rawiya Kameir conducted by the author

Fortune

Gallup

San Diego Workforce Partnership

NCEO

Cumulus Media

Vulture

Morning Consult

Reuters Institute

Free from the shackles of shareholders but without the cash that VCs have historically splashed, 404 Media is joining the small but significant number of journalist-owned-and-operated publications looking to offer readers the kind of distinctive journalism they feel is worth paying for.