The Monday Media Diet with Carson Griffith

Key Takeaways

• RPS newsletter launched Jan, quickly built a paid subscriber base
• Griffith plans a paid RPS event for subscribers in June
• Media diet spans local papers, WSJ, FT, Vanity Fair, Substacks
• Recommends independent mags Cultured and Racquet for fresh perspectives
• Highlights niche podcasts like How Long Gone as daily news source

Pulse Analysis

The rapid rise of niche newsletters like Carson Griffith’s "Rich People Shit" illustrates a broader industry trend: affluent readers are willing to pay for curated, high‑touch content that blends cultural commentary with financial insight. By positioning RPS at the intersection of money and behavior, Griffith taps into a market segment that values exclusivity and depth over the noise of mass‑market media. This model leverages the Substack platform’s low‑cost distribution while delivering a premium experience, a formula that many journalists are replicating to diversify revenue streams beyond traditional newsroom salaries.

Griffith’s eclectic media diet—spanning local papers, legacy dailies such as the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times, glossy titles like Vanity Fair, and a plethora of Substacks and podcasts—reflects the fragmented consumption habits of today’s information professionals. Her reliance on niche newsletters and podcasts such as "How Long Gone" signals a shift toward hyper‑specialized sources that offer curated perspectives unavailable in mainstream outlets. This behavior fuels the growth of independent publications, which can attract dedicated audiences by filling gaps left by larger media conglomerates.

The endorsement of independent magazines like Cultured and Racquet underscores the strategic importance of small‑scale, high‑quality journalism in an era of media consolidation. These titles provide fresh angles on culture, lifestyle, and sport, appealing to readers seeking depth without the corporate filter. As advertisers and brands chase the affluent, highly engaged audiences that newsletters and indie mags command, the ecosystem is likely to see increased investment in boutique media ventures, further blurring the line between traditional publishing and direct‑to‑consumer content platforms.