Terrible Journalism & Interesting Statistics - Rob Orchard

Rob Orchard is a journalist and the co-founder and editor of Delayed Gratification Magazine. Journalism isn't working. Media outlets are more concerned with being first than being right and stories are built to create outrage rather than insight. Customers aren't happy with this setup, so Rob and his team began a Slow Journalism project which focuses on finding signal from the noise, rather than speedy delivery. Then he found a lot of fascinating statistics about the world. Expect to learn what the most popular crossbreed of dog was in 2020, how the Amanda Knox story shows how modern journalism is totally broken, what you should statistically do if you want to win an Oscar, why the 2010's was a terrible year for original cinema, why there's 2 golf balls on the moon and much more... Sponsors: Join the Modern Wisdom Community to connect with me & other listeners - https://modernwisdom.locals.com/ Get 20% discount on the highest quality CBD Products from Pure Sport at https://bit.ly/cbdwisdom (use code: MW20) Get perfect teeth 70% cheaper than other invisible aligners from DW Aligners at http://dwaligners.co.uk/modernwisdom Extra Stuff: Check out Rob's Magazine - https://www.slow-journalism.com/ Follow Delayed Gratification on Twitter - https://twitter.com/dgquarterly Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom #journalism #media #news - 00:00 Intro 00:29 What is Slow Journalism? 05:11 Why the Current Media System is Broken 12:25 Is it Better to be First or to be Right? 16:27 What the Press are Getting Wrong 30:55 Rob’s Side Interest of Data Science 38:45 Data Surrounding Emissions & China 47:13 Post-pandemic Lifestyle Changes Data 54:27 People’s Distrust in Big Tech 59:41 Interesting Sets of Data 1:11:50 Rob’s Favourite Infographics 1:20:31 Where to Find Rob - Join the Modern Wisdom Community on Locals - https://modernwisdom.locals.com/ Listen to all episodes on audio: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

Rob OrchardguestChris Williamsonhost

Nov 18, 20211h 22mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: November 18, 2021
Duration: 1h 22m
Channel: Modern Wisdom
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Rob Orchard is a journalist and the co-founder and editor of Delayed Gratification Magazine. Journalism isn't working. Media outlets are more concerned with being first than being right and stories are built to create outrage rather than insight. Customers aren't happy with this setup, so Rob and his team began a Slow Journalism project which focuses on finding signal from the noise, rather than speedy delivery. Then he found a lot of fascinating statistics about the world. Expect to learn what the most popular crossbreed of dog was in 2020, how the Amanda Knox story shows how modern journalism is totally broken, what you should statistically do if you want to win an Oscar, why the 2010's was a terrible year for original cinema, why there's 2 golf balls on the moon and much more... Sponsors: Join the Modern Wisdom Community to connect with me & other listeners - https://modernwisdom.locals.com/ Get 20% discount on the highest quality CBD Products from Pure Sport at https://bit.ly/cbdwisdom (use code: MW20) Get perfect teeth 70% cheaper than other invisible aligners from DW Aligners at http://dwaligners.co.uk/modernwisdom Extra Stuff: Check out Rob's Magazine - https://www.slow-journalism.com/ Follow Delayed Gratification on Twitter - https://twitter.com/dgquarterly Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom #journalism #media #news - 00:00 Intro 00:29 What is Slow Journalism? 05:11 Why the Current Media System is Broken 12:25 Is it Better to be First or to be Right? 16:27 What the Press are Getting Wrong 30:55 Rob’s Side Interest of Data Science 38:45 Data Surrounding Emissions & China 47:13 Post-pandemic Lifestyle Changes Data 54:27 People’s Distrust in Big Tech 59:41 Interesting Sets of Data 1:11:50 Rob’s Favourite Infographics 1:20:31 Where to Find Rob - Join the Modern Wisdom Community on Locals - https://modernwisdom.locals.com/ Listen to all episodes on audio: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

SPEAKERS

Rob Orchard
guest
Chris Williamson
host
Narrator
other

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Modern Wisdom, featuring Rob Orchard and Chris Williamson, Terrible Journalism & Interesting Statistics - Rob Orchard explores slow journalism fights clickbait: data, media incentives, and consequences Chris Williamson and editor Rob Orchard discuss 'slow journalism' as an antidote to fast, click-driven news that prioritizes novelty over accuracy, depth, and closure. Orchard explains how Delayed Gratification revisits major stories months later, adding context, follow‑ups, and data‑rich infographics to show what really happened next. They unpack the broken economics of free online content, perverse incentives for journalists, and the psychological impact on audiences of constant, unresolved, anxiety-inducing news. The conversation expands into data storytelling—from COVID search trends to fertility rates and space travel—showing how well-used statistics can illuminate culture, politics, and the future.

RELATED EPISODES