The moment I thought about creating change in media
“People deserve better than this.”
It was 2017, and Hurricane Maria had just swept through Puerto Rico, devastating the island. I glanced up at the television mounted on the wall in my apartment building’s gym to see a major network’s live coverage.
I wasn’t happy with what I saw.
In fact, I was struck so profoundly in the moment that I pulled up the Notes app on my phone and typed in a few sentences so I wouldn’t forget what I was thinking and feeling.
But, of course, I did forget — until now.
I wrote: “Friday, Oct. 13, 7:30pm-ish… Was finishing up a workout on the stationary bike in the gym downstairs and (Network)News Tonight was on TV. I couldn’t hear, but the subtitles were up. I was watching (TV anchor) in his tight black T-shirt and pants mansplain all over the TV to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. People deserve better than this. I feel motivated to create something new. I need allies.”
Hurricane Maria killed nearly 3,000 people in Puerto Rico and left thousands more without homes, food and water for months. And here was this celebrity network news anchor flown in and dropped in the middle of the disaster zone just long enough to appear in the highly promoted Special Report. Almost every frame of video was a 2-shot, meaning News Anchor with Face of Deep Concern was almost always on screen along with whomever he was supposed to be interviewing, his questions much more important than their answers. He took about 15 seconds to ask a question and gave the women only a few seconds to respond in agreement. He spoke to the women who lived there like he was the expert in their experiences. It was clear the network prioritized the performance of News Anchor who Cares over the voices and concerns of the people most impacted.
Of course, I had seen this play out many times before in newscasts across the country. But for some reason, this time was different. I felt my reaction was important but didn’t know why or what it meant. I thought about it a few more times here and there, but I quickly became absorbed in my new fast-paced reporting job, scurrying back-and-forth between breaking news scenes in and around Boston.
Three years later, my contract came to an end and I decided not to renew it. I had 100 percent clarity I needed to leave that job behind and move in the direction of growth and change. I set out to “…find a better way to share stories that matter. No BS.”
I believe my plans for Outlet will meet that goal. I’m building a video journalism platform with a direct relationship between creators and viewers. No ads, no outside influence, no theatrics. Creators who are knowledgeable and passionate about particular topics share short videos with viewers. Viewers can reward good work with high fives to pay the creators and help more people see the videos. This business model roots out low quality journalism and restores trust through transparency.
In the interest of transparency, I’ll admit I’ve questioned myself often in this process, thinking, “Do I have the right skills to run a business? Will people really engage with video stories and information on a platform that doesn’t try to extract every last ounce of their time and attention?”
I was thinking through some of these questions this week when I remembered how I felt looking up at that TV in 2017. I searched through my phone and the old note was still there. And now, as I read my own words back to myself, I see both confirmation I’m on the right path and instruction on what to do next: “I need allies.”
A dear friend of mine told me recently, “Reinventing yourself was never going to be easy.” But I’m also reminded that creating change in media has been a part of me all along; I simply didn’t know it yet.
I’m building a team of people with complementary skill sets who care about truth-telling and sharing stories that matter without the BS. Have questions, ideas, criticism? I’d love to hear from you. Please email me at kmcculley@outlet-media.com
