News and a Suggestion
For the past two months, I have served as Interim Senior Editor at The Intercept, editing its two top writers, Ken Klippenstein and Dan Boguslaw. I didn’t ingratiate myself with management there, nor was I particularly welcome, and now I’m leaving. Ken is as well, announcing today that he is redoubling his efforts on Substack. I will be his editor on his site.
Substack is an intriguing platform but it isn’t really for me. I like to write books and when it comes to journalism, I tend towards large, investigative explainer pieces. I could report on the news and the day-to-day fracas, but as they say been there done that. So, I don’t quite fit in to the current news media ecosystem. No one reads books and investigative long-form demands an investment that is beyond the capacity of my meager followers. I’m also just getting older; in June 2024 I will mark 50 years in this business, from the day I joined the Army to be an intelligence analyst assigned to West Berlin.
National security is and continues to be my passion and I have pursued many paths to practice — working for think tanks, advocacy groups, as a government consultant, as journalist and editor. But it’s time to pass the torch, and I have particularly enjoyed being Ken’s mentor. I hope in the coming months and years to work with other young (younger) journalists and researchers to help them to pursue their passion.
To me readers and supporters, thanks and I’m sorry. Subscribe to Ken’s Substack newsletter, and even more, give him the money to be able to pursue his dream. I might continue to post here, to share the fruits of my research, but I’m no longer going to pursue any sort of income here.
Thanks for everything, Bill. I followed your substack a while back and I couldn't even tell you how I found it. I didn't connect the dots today that this was the same Bill Arkin who Ken referred to, but when I read Ken's going away present to The Intercept I gained respect for you.
I think loss of institutional knowledge is a huge issue in journalism, and in other industries. Your experience is the best gift you could give to us future news readers.
Thank you for all your work in the part and for supporting Ken in his next venture.
I have a daughter just finishing a masters degree in Science Communications. Aside from being a very good scientist, she’s a fierce and fearless writer, and I pray for her that she finds mentors along the way like you who will help and encourage her such that she find a way to authentically share stories people need to read whether they’re palpable to the powers that be or “dangerous”.