On March 20, I crossed seven years of writing this little newsletter, and it’s been one of the best journalism experiences ever. I missed the anniversary initially, but hey, it’s a holiday today, so why not write about it?
Per Reddit, a seven year anniversary symbolizes a “durable, warm, and comfortable relationship,” and a year of renewal, encouraging a deeper connection.
Sounds good to me!
I started this project while still at USA TODAY, when I interviewed the young co-founder of a new platform that promised to make it easier and way less costly for writers to reach out directly to readers. His name was Hamish McKenzie, and the platform is Substack. (USA TODAY being USA TODAY, the article seems to have disappeared, so I can’t share it with you!)
Before Substack, I had experimented with Mailchimp and Constant Contact, e-mail platforms that charged a good deal to use, with escalating prices depending upon how many people you reached. Their software was clunky, and just composing a post could take hours.
Then I found Subtack, the easiest, most user friendly program I’d encountered—and that was before they added audio and video tools and urged us all to go live as often as possible—and bug people to pay to support you. (And did I mention it’s free to use?)
You open a page, compose a headline, write some words, throw in a photo or two and with that, you could click send and reach your list immediately.
Spend some more time to add A/V tools, plug it on their Notes social platform, which has replaced Twitter for me as a place to throw out and share quick thoughts and yeah, it’s still 100% free. (Speaking from my perch as a writer.)
I worked at what was once the largest newspaper in the nation for three decades and rarely heard from readers. (Publicists yes. Readers not so much. Only on Twitter. And usually to complain about something disagreed with in an article.)
But on Substack, I’ve developed this large group of fans who I do hear from all the time, and I love it. When you write in a vacuum, you want feedback, good and negative.
(Look at all the former legacy media journalists who have since built a career on Subtack, like Chris Cillizza, Jim Acosta and Chris Matthews, just to name a handful. Bari Weiss left the New York Times, founded a Substack called the Free Press and ended up selling it to Skydance Paramount for $150 million. If interested, I’d be happy to offer my wares for only $1 million. Just sayin.’)
I started my little newsletter while still at USA TODAY, as an adjunct to the Saturday column I wrote there, a way of showing off my beach sunrise and sunset photos.
What I said at the time: “I’d love to share my latest videos, photos and musings more often. Up for it? You won’t have to go to Facebook and Twitter daily to see them.”
I still do Facebook, haven’t posted on the former Twitter since Elon Musk took it over and now have a “newsletter first” policy on posting. You readers have top priority.
As for those pier photos, after I left my longtime job in 2021, I started traveling a lot more for Photowalks, and wanted to expand my photography beyond the same Manhattan Beach images I was photographing all the time. (Do you blame me?)
So hello Route 66, New York, Savannah, Monument Valley, Catalina, Atlanta, et. al. And yes, every shot seen below was shot on an iPhone. (Questions? I’m all ears.)
I’ve developed here what I think is a nice rhythm of tech meets photo meets travel posts on Saturday, and travel photo ones on Sunday, usually alerting you to the latest Photowalks episode as well.
Is that what you want? Anniversary time is a great opportunity to fill me in.
I know you always want more photo tips, more intelligence on new mobile photo/video gear and apps, as well as my hot takes—right?
Here’s your chance to tell me directly about what you like and don’t like: Survey Says: https://www.jeffersongraham.com/survey/6712045
Listen to my interview with fellow Substacker Simon Owens on life post USA TODAY: Newsletter, YouTube channel and TV.
Stats
Most of my newsletter readers live in California, followed by New York, Illinois, Florida and Ohio.
Eighty-seven percent live in the United States, followed by Canada, United Kingdom, India and Morocco. Morocco? Really? Please raise your hand. I want to hear from you.
We have been to 33 states so far to film episodes of Photowalks, with a goal of hitting 50 sometime in the next two years.
(The remaining 17: Alaska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, W. Virginia, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Wisconsin.)
Good news: we’ll hit five of those in the second half of the year, getting the list to 38.
Most desired place to visit? Most travel bloggers would cite an exotic country. I like where we live, and my choice is the Mississippi Delta. And Memphis. As you’ve probably surmised, I love music.
Next stops: Bakersfield, followed by Las Vegas, Paris, Torino, the Indiana and Kentucky backroads, Juneau and Fairbanks, Alaska.
Latest stop—idyllic St. Augustine, Florida.
Help Me Celebrate!
Now’s a great time to watch the latest episode of Photowalks, from the aforementioned St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest city in the United States and the one that has trademarked this phrase: “The Most Photogenic City.”
Truth or fiction? Tune in to find out.
Thanks again to everyone for sticking with me through the years, and reading, watching and listening.
Jeff
Congratulations Jefferson!
Happy anniversary, and lucky us!