"404 Media: Profitable After Six Months as Journalist-Owned Tech Publication"
404 Media, a journalist-owned tech publication, has become profitable within six months of its launch by implementing a paywall after discovering their stories were being scraped and republished by AI text "spinners." The publication, founded by former Motherboard staff, focuses on transparent and relatable reporting on the impacts of technology. Revenue streams include advertising, podcast ads, donations, merchandise, and paid subscriptions, with plans to expand into events, podcasts, and documentaries. The team operates from home, communicates through a free Slack channel, and aims to grow its audience authentically while maintaining a mix of in-depth investigations and shorter blog posts.