Welcome to Hell: A site with personality big enough for the city it covers.
Summary
Host Megan Greenwell interviews Hellgate co-founder Max Rivlin-Nadler about the NYC news outlet’s unique, subscriber-funded model and its irreverent live election broadcasts. They discuss maintaining adversarial journalism under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the evolution of their low-fi streams into polished productions, and the impact of a shifting, younger electorate. Rivlin-Nadler also details their major investigative project on judicial corruption and the realities of running a worker-owned media company.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Hellgate and its worker-owned model
Hellgate's adversarial journalism and editorial stance
Covering Eric Adams' downfall and Zohran Mamdani's rise
Origin and evolution of Hellgate's live election broadcasts
Creative elements: illustrations, gifts, and broadcast production
Technical improvements and the Staten Island map controversy
Analysis of the NYC midterm election results and shifting electorate
Deep dive into the 'Courts of Contempt' investigative project
Hellgate's financial health, future plans, and NYC culture
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