The Takeaway by Jessica Lessin — The Information

Periodically

The Takeaway

By Jessica Lessin

An inside perspective on tech, media and startups from a reporter and founder who tells the truth about Silicon Valley.

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Recent Editions

What the Heck Is Going On in China?

By Jessica Lessin · Jul 31, 2021 7:45am PDT · 3 comments

It’s been a few months of startling headlines out of the China tech sector as the government has initiated an unprecedented crackdown across all corners of China’s tech economy. More on why it is happening later—first let’s consider some of the carnage. It’s been a few months of startling headlines out of the China tech sector as the government has...

Are Reporters Too Negative? Well, It Depends

By Jessica Lessin · Jul 24, 2021 7:45am PDT · 2 comments

These days, when I ask sources in Silicon Valley what I should write about, I get some version of: “The big story is really how great everything is going.”At that I roll my eyes. As a journalist, I’m wired to believe that the hype isn’t always as it appears. But lately I’ve been thinking more about the negative consequences of—well, being so... These days, when I ask sources in Silicon Valley what I should write about, I get some version...

What Makes a Good CEO?

By Jessica Lessin · Jul 17, 2021 7:46am PDT · 1 comment

Tech CEOs are grabbing their fair share of headlines, per usual. Mark Zuckerberg is in the news again in the wake of a negative new book about Facebook and a controversy over his Fourth of July watersports moment (patriotic or not?). Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson are duking it out over their journey to space, or somewhere close to it,... Tech CEOs are grabbing their fair share of headlines, per usual. Mark Zuckerberg is in the...

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking at an event to mark the centenary of the Chinese Community Party last week. Photo by Bloomberg.

Why China’s Corporate Crackdown Isn’t What It Seems

By Shai Oster · Jul 10, 2021 7:45am PDT

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking at an event to mark the centenary of the Chinese Community Party last week. Photo by Bloomberg.

Why China’s Corporate Crackdown Isn’t What It Seems

By Shai Oster · Jul 10, 2021 7:45am PDT

China’s moves to rein in its ride-hailing giant Didi Global this past week, just days after the company went public in the U.S., seemed to signal a far-reaching shift in the government’s policy toward its tech giants. Not only is China hassling Didi over its data policy—it also appears to be rethinking its attitude toward the corporate... China’s moves to rein in its ride-hailing giant Didi Global this past week, just days after the...

The Advice Founders Really Need to Hear

By Jessica Lessin · Jul 3, 2021 7:44am PDT · 4 comments

It has been the season of graduation speeches, virtual graduation speeches, essays pondering graduation speeches one would have given if asked—and more.And reading all that advice prompted me to reflect on the good and bad counsel I’ve received over the years.One piece of bad advice immediately jumped out—and it is pretty ubiquitous. Indeed,... It has been the season of graduation speeches, virtual graduation speeches, essays pondering...

Illustration by Mike Sullivan

Is Clubhouse the Next Foursquare?

By Jessica Lessin · Jun 19, 2021 7:45am PDT · 14 comments

More than a decade ago, I was covering tech out of New York when a hot New York–based app hit the scene. It was called Foursquare, and the idea behind it was pretty radical—it allowed people to “check in” to locations from their phones to let their friends know where they were. If you had the most check-ins in one location, you could even become... More than a decade ago, I was covering tech out of New York when a hot New York–based app hit the...

Founder Burnout and Why You Should Care

By Jessica Lessin · Jun 12, 2021 7:45am PDT · 2 comments

Before we dive into The Takeaway, I want to draw your attention to two quick things.First, thank you to everyone who has filled out our major tech comp survey. Many of you asked that we survey our community about the nitty-gritty of comp, benefits and performance reviews and how they are changing, and we obliged. The results have been pouring in... Before we dive into The Takeaway, I want to draw your attention to two quick things.First, thank...

Twitter Blue and the Consumer Tech Subscription Dilemma

By Jessica Lessin · Jun 5, 2021 7:45am PDT · 2 comments

Twitter Blue and the Consumer Tech Subscription Dilemma

By Jessica Lessin · Jun 5, 2021 7:45am PDT · 2 comments

For years, the majority of tech companies—with their free-for-everyone, change-the-world, massive-reach mentality—led the resistance to digital subscriptions. When Apple started charging for digital music downloads, a whole industry of free-to-stream services popped up. When Facebook, MySpace, Friendster and the rest of the social media... For years, the majority of tech companies—with their free-for-everyone, change-the-world,...

What Comes Next

By Jessica Lessin · May 29, 2021 7:45am PDT · 2 comments

Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone. We made it. Congratulations! The past year has been hard—very hard. And while I expect the remainder of the year will be immensely challenging too as we figure out new working rhythms back in the office, now is a good time to take a pause, reflect on all the hard work of the last several months and look... Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone. We made it. Congratulations! The past year has been hard—...

The Spectacular End to the Myth That Content Needs Distribution

By Jessica Lessin · May 22, 2021 7:45am PDT · 2 comments

Dear Readers,In six weeks, the dons of media and tech will reconvene in Sun Valley, Idaho, at Allen & Co.’s annual conference. With last year on hiatus—and the headlines we’ve seen of late (Discovery! WarnerMedia! Gates!)—it is sure to be a lively affair.Let me suggest a panel discussion for the vaccinated tech and media moguls as they sit... Dear Readers,In six weeks, the dons of media and tech will reconvene in Sun Valley, Idaho, at...

How Our Amazon Trucking Investigation Came Together

By Jessica Lessin · May 15, 2021 7:45am PDT · 2 comments

One of my favorite things about being an editor is watching other reporters in action. I’m routinely amazed by their techniques and perseverance, both of which are necessary to produce excellent journalism.Paris’s efforts around her five-month investigation into the safety of Amazon’s highway trucking expansion were nothing short of impressive.... One of my favorite things about being an editor is watching other reporters in action. I’m...

The Next Big News Disruption

By Jessica Lessin · May 8, 2021 7:45am PDT · 21 comments

The Next Big News Disruption

By Jessica Lessin · May 8, 2021 7:45am PDT · 21 comments

Anyone who works in media—and especially in news—can feel the change. Everything about this business, from the editorial content to the talent to the (restless) energy of virtual newsrooms, is growing more intense.The pandemic is obviously a big part of the story. But there’s something bigger going on: a new phase of disruption as powerful as... Anyone who works in media—and especially in news—can feel the change. Everything about this...

Why There Is More to the Big Tech Growth Story

By Jessica Lessin · May 1, 2021 7:47am PDT · 7 comments

Ahead of the largest tech companies’ earnings reports this week, expectations were high. But when Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple reported their quarterly numbers, they exceeded analysts’ expectations and sent their stocks (mostly) soaring. There is one easy explanation: the pandemic. Our lives and businesses were... Ahead of the largest tech companies’ earnings reports this week, expectations were high....

Why We Need Female Networking

By Jessica Lessin · Apr 24, 2021 7:47am PDT · 8 comments

When I reflect on what it has been like to be a female founder, I feel very fortunate. I haven’t raised money so I haven’t faced bias from investors. I feel very well respected by our business partners and my team. I only once had to storm out of an interview because the person interviewing me implied that my husband actually ran The... When I reflect on what it has been like to be a female founder, I feel very fortunate. I...

Why I Love and Fear Amazon Basics

By Jessica Lessin · Apr 17, 2021 7:47am PDT · 5 comments

Jeff Bezos this week wrote his final shareholder letter as he steps aside as CEO of Amazon. It is remarkable what he and the company have accomplished. I vaguely remember buying my first book on Amazon. Today, I buy…well, that brings me to the point of this week’s column. I recently realized that my kids’ whiteboard markers... Jeff Bezos this week wrote his final shareholder letter as he steps aside as CEO of Amazon. It is...

What Tech Can Do for Local Governments, Pandemic Edition

By Jessica Lessin · Apr 10, 2021 7:46am PDT · 2 comments

What Tech Can Do for Local Governments, Pandemic Edition

By Jessica Lessin · Apr 10, 2021 7:46am PDT · 2 comments

There was a period early in the pandemic when I wondered if Covid-19 would be the crisis that finally pushed Silicon Valley and Washington together. Google was promising to develop a website with nationwide information about testing and risk levels. In a rare collaboration to help the government and health officials, Apple and Google said they... There was a period early in the pandemic when I wondered if Covid-19 would be the crisis that...

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos speaks via videoconference at a House hearing last June. Photo by Bloomberg

How Bezos’ Long-Term Vision Has Faltered on PR

By Nick Wingfield · Apr 3, 2021 7:47am PDT

Many years ago, a former executive at Apple told me that the company really only had one public relations person: Steve Jobs. That was, of course, an exaggeration since the company had a sizable PR department, but the statement captured the reality of communications at Apple, which is that Jobs micromanaged any PR that mattered. The subject of... Many years ago, a former executive at Apple told me that the company really only had one public...

Why Media Brands Aren’t Dead

By Jessica Lessin · Mar 27, 2021 7:47am PDT · 6 comments

Today, credibility and affinity are primarily built by people—individual voices—rather than brands.—Ev Williams, Medium Williams wrote those words this week while explaining why he was winding down his investment in original publications on Medium and offering all editorial employees buyouts. In his view, the era of... Today, credibility and affinity are primarily built by people—individual...

Preparing for a Pandemic Reset? Not So Fast.

By Jessica Lessin · Mar 20, 2021 7:46am PDT · 7 comments

As the U.S. vaccine rollout accelerates, companies are planning for life once we return to our offices and (eventually) our post-pandemic lives. The media, and casual conversation, are quick to turn to what will be different: Fully remote work. No commuting. The end of physical retail. The end of cities. As the U.S. vaccine rollout accelerates, companies are planning for life once we return to our...

What I Learned as a Founder During Covid-19

By Jessica Lessin · Mar 13, 2021 7:46am PST · 4 comments

What I Learned as a Founder During Covid-19

By Jessica Lessin · Mar 13, 2021 7:46am PST · 4 comments

A few weeks ago, one longtime team member at The Information asked one of her colleagues on Zoom: “So, how tall are you?” She’d never met her in person. It’s one of many examples of the utter strangeness of the last year. A year ago this week, like all of you, we at The Information shut down our offices. In a note to... A few weeks ago, one longtime team member at The Information asked one of her colleagues on Zoom:...