Spencer Bailey on the need for “slow media”
Spencer Bailey, a renowned journalist who currently serves as the editor in chief of Surface and editorial director of Surface Media, discusses the changing media landscape and the need for a new kind of coverage.
“People tend to associate transformation with things that are faster, bigger, taller. But I actually think transformation can be something that happens when you slow down. If you look back to the slow food movement, it’s something that is now used for marketing and buzz-speak unfortunately, but the intent is really important, and it’s about understanding where your food comes from, how your food is made, enjoying the food that you consume.
“WE NEED MEDIA THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE
TO SLOW DOWN, TO TURN INWARD.” – Spencer Bailey
“I think you can apply this idea to media, because in media right now everything’s all about digital, video, getting someone to click. But I think we need media that allows people to slow down, to turn inward, and to think about things on a deeper level. They are taking the time to consume that thing, because that thing came from a place of great integrity, of intent. The reporting was done. The story was fact checked. Everything was done to a level of quality that is expected by a person who cares about what they consume.
“It is almost the equivalent of eating at a farm-to-table restaurant, but instead of eating with your mouth, you’re eating with your eyes. And in that sense, I think understanding the ‘who,’ not the ‘how many,’ is going to be very important. I think creating a trusted environment, sort of a safe space, in the world of so much noise, that’s how you can find a really dedicated audience.”
