Some Changes From Your Resident Media Nerd

How Fourth Watch will evolve over the next few months

My first summer job was at my local town newspaper, covering men’s softball for the sports section. The summer before my senior year of high school, I went to journalism camp for five weeks (the “Cherub” program at Northwestern).

I have, for a very long time, been a media nerd.

In that capacity, I’m grateful to have what is truly my ideal job as we approach the insane 2024 to come, in an increasingly fractured media environment — as the executive producer of The Megyn Kelly Show. I’m honored to work with Megyn and our fantastic team every day, building one of the top independent news shows in the country.

At the same time, media analysis and reporting has remained my only real hobby. I was lucky to do it through my book, “Uncovered,” earlier in February (and paperback out next year!). And to do so through Fourth Watch, both on Substack and before, for close to four years.

The “hobby” side gig will be shifting a bit now. Beginning this month, I'll be writing a weekly column on the intersection of media, politics, culture, and technology for TheHill.

My first column, "Let the antisemites speak freely,” was published last week, and my second column, “On Israel, a media that lies to itself will lie to you too,” was published today.

In addition the TheHill, I’ll also become a contributor to NewsNation, the new cable news channel under the Nexstar umbrella. I've been an admirer and frequent guest of the network for more than a year. Their philosophy has resonated with me and my perspective that you see through Fourth Watch. It’s not news for the "center" or "independents” — it’s a place where anyone can feel welcomed. All points of view. No view treated as unworthy of coverage, or unworthy of being listened to. And most importantly to me, it’s aimed at most of the country rather than its coasts — where, I can speak from experience, that vibe is more prevalent than in the Acela Media.

Here was my first appearance as a contributor last week, with my former boss, Dan Abrams:

I also was on to talk about my debut TheHill column.

With the new areas to get my media nerd hobby fix, I’m going to be stepping back from Fourth Watch. “Rabbit Hole” columns will instead be published at TheHill, and the overall cadence of publishing will be reduced. I still plan to publish the free newsletter a couple times a month, and the Fourth Watch Podcast will post occasionally as well.

But because of the changes, I’m going to be pausing the paid subscription function, effective immediately. I likely will turn it back on at some point early in the new year. Until then, the pause means all paying subscribers will not be billed for the rest of this year, and your paid subscription will resume once it is turned back on.

Thanks so much for being a subscriber over these past few years, and more to come — the next newsletter will publish here on Sunday!

Any questions or comments, you can reach me at FourthWatchMedia@gmail.com — I always love hearing from you.

Thanks,

Steve