404 Media
| Unparalleled access to hidden worlds both online and IRL. | |
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| Format | Digital |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) |
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| Founded | August 22, 2023 |
| Website | 404media |
404 Media is an online publication focusing on technology and internet reporting.[1][2] The publication covers topics such as hacking, sex work, niche online communities, and the right to repair movement.[3][4] The publication is worker-owned.[5]
History[edit]
404 Media was founded in 2023 by former staff of Vice Media's Motherboard after it filed for bankruptcy.[6][7] Among the founding members of 404 Media were Jason Koebler, the former editor-in-chief at Motherboard, as well as senior editors Emanuel Maiberg and Samantha Cole, and writer Joseph Cox.[1][3] Fast Company summarized the outlet's creation as "bootstrapp[ing] a spartan setup consisting of a Stripe account and the Ghost web-hosting platform".[8]
Business model[edit]
404 Media is owned by its reporters, a model that was inspired by organizations such as Defector Media and Hell Gate.[3] The company offers two paid tiers, from a $100 annual subscription to a $1,000 annual subscription.[8]
In January 2024, the website began requiring email addresses to read stories following revelations that artificial intelligence (AI) text "spinners" were scraping articles. As of February 2024, the company is profitable.[9]
Notable reports and coverage[edit]
In January 2024, the outlet reported claiming that AI-generated rewrites of 404 Media articles had begun to show up on search engines, with some of these AI-generated stories prioritized over the original article on Google Search.[10][11]
During the Taylor Swift deepfake pornography controversy, a 404 Media investigation discovered that the images originated from 4chan and were being distributed on Telegram before making it onto social media platforms.[7][5]
In February 2024, 404 Media released a report alleging that Tumblr and WordPress were selling users' data to AI companies OpenAI and Midjourney for training purposes.[2] 404 Media has also covered how so-called "ghost kitchens", delivery-focused restaurants on apps such as UberEats and DoorDash that sell food from other restaurants, have utilized generative AI to create product images.[12]
In April 2024, 404 Media cited a Signpost report in an article about Ruviki, a pro-government fork of the Russian Wikipedia.[13]
Reception[edit]
In an article about 2024 media industry layoffs, the Financial Times highlighted 404 Media as a successful new media venture amid an "existential crisis" in the industry. The article stated that the publication has been noted for "publishing an eye-catching range of stories about the tech sector", and noted that "Not only is it producing good stories but its founders say it is breaking even".[10]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Korach, Natalie (August 22, 2023). "Four Top Vice Journalists Launch Independent Tech Publication". The Wrap. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Leeman, Zachary (August 22, 2023). "Former Vice Journos Launch 404 Media After Company's Bankruptcy". The Messenger. Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c Robertson, Katie (August 22, 2023). "After Vice's Downfall, Top Journalists Start Their Own Tech Publication". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ Bethlehem, Lily (August 23, 2023). "Former Vice Media Staffers Found 404 Media". Jewish Business News. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Barwick, Ryan (December 12, 2023). "How new tech publication 404 Media is pitching itself to advertisers". Marketing Brew. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ^ Bolies, Corbin (August 22, 2023). "Ex-Vice Editors Launch New Outlet Weeks After Bankruptcy Sale". The Daily Beast. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Moses, Lucia (August 23, 2023). "How 4 Vice alums are building a new media company with ambitions to turn its journalism into film and TV". Business Insider. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Berkowitz, Joe (November 9, 2023). "Why worker-owned publications like Defector and 404 Media are winning". Fast Company. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ Tameez, Hanaa' (February 12, 2024). "Six months in, journalist-owned tech publication 404 Media is profitable". Nieman Lab. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Notopoulos, Katie. "AI spam is already starting to ruin the internet". Business Insider. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ Zeff, Maxwell (January 19, 2024). "Google Sheds Responsibility for AI Sites Dominating Search Results". Yahoo Tech. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ Mendoza, Diego (February 28, 2024). "Willy Wonka fiasco highlights risks of AI-made ads | Semafor". Semafor. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Roscoe, Jules (April 29, 2024). "Russia Clones Wikipedia, Censors It, Bans Original". 404 Media. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
External links[edit]
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