Joanna Stern, the award-winning consumer technology columnist and a familiar face of digital journalism, announced her departure from the Wall Street Journal to launch an independent YouTube channel.
The move marks a significant shift for the journalist who spent 12 years at the prestigious financial publication, building a reputation for creative, high-production tech reviews.
Stern’s new venture, titled The New Things, aims to provide human-centric reporting on artificial intelligence (AI) and the evolving consumer technology landscape.
The decision to go independent stems from a desire to move beyond the traditional editorial constraints of legacy media.
Stern explained that the current era of rapid AI advancement requires a more personal and agile approach to storytelling that incorporates humour and a distinct human voice.
She noted that while her career began during the smartphone revolution, she believes the current shift toward artificial intelligence represents an even more significant technological milestone for society.
To kick off her independent journey, Stern filmed part of her debut video at the studio of Casey Neistat, a pioneer of YouTube vlogging known for his “do hard things” philosophy.
Neistat advised Stern to remain authentic to her own perspective to stand out in a saturated digital media market.
He emphasized that modern audiences have highly refined “bullshit detectors” and that viewers are actively seeking out creators who offer a genuine, human connection rather than soulless content.
Aspiring creators should note that Stern is adopting a diversified revenue model common in the creator economy. She plans to fund her operations through newsletter subscriptions and brand sponsorships.
To maintain her journalistic integrity, she introduced the money mic, a specific visual cue for sponsored segments. Stern clarified that sponsorships will have no influence on her editorial reviews and that she will continue to critique products regardless of financial ties.
Stern’s career, spanning two decades, includes early work at various technology publications before her lengthy tenure at the Wall Street Journal.
At the Journal, she became known for elaborate video segments, such as wearing a robotic “Neo” suit or interviewing Apple executives about privacy.
She currently has over 25,000 subscribers on her new channel within the first day of launch, signalling a strong start for her solo career in the creator space.
