On Fan Service

Zoë Rom doesn’t just hit the nail on the head, but also gets the timing perfect with her article “How Fan Service Is Changing Running Media“:

It’s not enough in this day and age to just have followers. To really scale up any media pursuit, you need to have fans. When the most die-hard and vocal fans have the biggest say and greatest sway via subscriptions, it can warp the content you’re willing to make.

This really goes way beyond trail running, but in these super polarized times, it’s a great reminder.

Audiences don’t have to file obediently in line. While we can’t change some macro factors that contributed to this lopsided attention economy, we can partially help restabilize it. We can all start by investigating our own preferences and desires and supporting voices that challenge our preconceived beliefs and ideas. We can pay attention to our attention and spend that precious attention more wisely.

Checking one’s own biases is probably one of the hardest things we have to do on a regular basis. And if you never experienced life outside your own echo chamber it’s even harder.