You might have noticed Crikey advertising a new role a couple of months ago. After a few weeks getting settled in with the team, it’s finally time to introduce myself: Hi, I’m Crystal, your new readers’ editor. Here’s what you can expect from me.
The readers’ editor is a unique role and, transparently, an experimental one. It’s no secret the news industry is facing challenges on all fronts: battles against AI, the tug-of-war between tech giants and the government, declining public trust. At a time when many media companies are contracting, Crikey is doubling down on investment in what has been our point-of-difference from day one: our readers.
So this gig has two goals: make Crikey the most exciting news community to be a part of, and make it bigger.
Crikey readers are perhaps the most passionate and deeply engaged news audience in the country. So as readers’ editor I’ll be finding ways to bring the unique perspectives and lively debates of our audience into the pages of Crikey. Our comment sections and letters inbox are filled with gems that make the team laugh out loud or think a little harder, but we shouldn’t be the only ones who get to see them — they deserve to be showcased for others to enjoy too.
I’ll also be working to help introduce Crikey’s journalism to new audiences. As has been shared in previous “Crikey Insider” instalments, running a predominantly reader-funded publication keeps our hands clean of the influence of big business, and means our growth relies on finding more people who believe in the work that we do — enough to contribute to it financially.
All of this means I’m fortunate enough to have one of the few roles in digital news where we get to experiment. There are so many avenues to expand the reach, impact and engagement with Crikey’s journalism. How does the brand show up on TikTok? What would a Crikey podcast sound like? Where can reporters share the tidbits that didn’t make it into a story, but are interesting nonetheless?
Those aren’t promises — maybe we’ll do some of it, maybe none at all — but the kinds of questions I’ll be trying to answer in this new job. So if you see us trying new things on digital platforms, changes to the website, or a new email in your inbox, that’s why!
Of course, feedback is essential to the success of the readers’ editor position. This role will represent the voice of the reader in our internal meetings to make sure your wants and needs are heard. If you send an email to letters@crikey.com.au, know that it’s me reading your thoughts on the other side.
As a rule, Crikey subscribers are a plugged-in and knowledgeable cohort that always have something to say. This year we’ve published reader submissions from a migration agent, a playwright and a regional supermarket owner, just to name a few.
I want to hear from all kinds of readers in the Crikey audience, but I do have one special request: If you’re a subscriber who has never written in before, I want to hear from you. If you’re reading this but have never left a comment on the site, send me an email. Tell me what you love about our work, what bugs you, why you subscribe or something new you’d like to see us try.
That’s all for now. But you’ll be hearing from me again (and I hope to be hearing from you) very soon.
