Status in “Status” is multimedia.
The trending media industry newsletter founded in 2024 by journalist and entrepreneur Oliver Darcy is moving to live events. The Status Summit is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, at the Times Center in New York City, and will bring together a large group of influential executives, journalists, creators, and decision makers for a day of discussions about the forces reshaping the media and information landscape.
“We’ve always envisioned Status as more than just a nightly newsletter; at its core, it’s a community of people who care deeply about this industry and its direction. Bringing our audience together for an in-person event, whether they’re newsletter readers, podcast listeners, or YouTube subscribers, was an obvious next step for us, and we’re excited to do it this fall,” Darcey said in a short text conversation Wednesday night. “There’s also something special about live journalism in front of an engaged audience, especially on a stage that promotes frank, open-ended discussion about some of the key challenges facing our industry.”
Meredith Kopit Levien, president and CEO of The New York Times, has already been confirmed as a presenter. Ms. Rebecca Kutler, President of MS NOW. David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker. Wendy McMahon is a media advisor and former president and CEO of CBS News & Stations. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming days. This event is sponsored by beehiiv, the creator platform that hosts ‘Status’ and many other ventures.
Many media outlets, both traditional and emerging, are gravitating towards live events as a way to supplement their business plans. Versant Media’s MS NOW on Wednesday announced a new Texas conference scheduled for September 26th. This is part of a growing number of in-person conferences featuring many prominent anchors and correspondents.
Sessions at this event will feature exclusive interviews, candid panel discussions, networking opportunities, and conversations focused on topics such as the future of the media industry, AI disruption, political pressure, and business strategy. The daylong program will be hosted by Darcy and Status editor-in-chief John Passantino. It begins with opening remarks at 9:45 a.m. and concludes with a closing cocktail reception presented by Bilt, a housing benefit and neighborhood commerce platform. Participants will also be provided with a light breakfast and catered lunch.
New events show Darcy working to expand the revenue mix of the company he founded. “As observers of the media business, one of the lessons we’ve learned is how important it is to diversify your revenue streams,” he says. “We don’t want to be dependent on one platform or medium. We want to deliver our journalism in a variety of ways: online and now in person.” Last July, Darcy and his team debuted the podcast “Power Lines,” which has garnered more than 100,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Early bird tickets are available until July 31st for $495, which is $255 off the regular admission price of $750. A limited number of sponsorship and partnership opportunities remain available.
