news.volyx.in

Disney erased FiveThirtyEight (natesilver.net)

457 points by 7777777phil · 102 days ago · 260 comments on HN

Article summary

The article discusses the demise of FiveThirtyEight, a website founded by the author that was acquired by Disney in 2014 and subsequently shut down in 2025. The author reflects on the site's history, its struggles under Disney's management, and the challenges of maintaining a viable business model. The site's content is now only accessible through the Internet Archive. The author is currently working on a new project, Silver Bulletin, which aims to recreate some of the most popular parts of FiveThirtyEight.

Main themes

  • media bias
  • corporate management
  • link rot
  • Overton window
  • media landscape
  • politics and media
  • online archives
  • business models

What commenters say

  • The perception of media bias is often subjective and influenced by individual perspectives.
  • Some commenters argue that the mainstream media has shifted to the right, while others claim it has a leftward trend.
  • The Overton window has moved to the right, making previously normal views seem leftist by comparison.
  • The treatment of certain individuals and topics by the media can be inconsistent and biased.
  • The demise of FiveThirtyEight is seen as a loss of valuable content and a failure of corporate management.
  • The Internet Archive is a crucial resource for preserving online content and preventing link rot.
  • The role of media in shaping public opinion and policy decisions is a subject of debate.
  • The influence of billionaire interests on the media landscape is a concern for some commenters.