Revamping the News: X’s Ambitious Vision for Journalism
X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, is setting its sights on becoming a pivotal hub for the future of news and journalism. In a bold move to solidify this ambition, X has welcomed John Stoll, a seasoned editor and former Detroit bureau chief at The Wall Street Journal, to spearhead their news group and partnership team. This exciting development was revealed during X Corp’s keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025) in Las Vegas.
When pressed by interviewer Catherine Herridge about potential plans for launching a dedicated news portal, X Corp CEO Linda Yaccarino expressed her enthusiasm. She emphasized the opportunity for journalists on X to flourish creatively and financially through the platform’s creator revenue share program. This initiative rewards content creators who boost engagement with their work, provided they meet certain criteria like having a paid subscription and achieving specific follower and impression benchmarks.
“The future of news is not legacy media,” Yaccarino declared during the keynote. “Legacy media has morphed into serving niche audiences just to stay afloat. Here at X, we aim to ignite journalistic curiosity anew.”
{Linda Yaccarino, CES 2025}
Yaccarino pointed out that traditional models where journalists are paid based on clicks aren’t novel—BuzzFeed’s experience with this strategy showed its inherent risks when faced with algorithm changes. In contrast, X envisions a dynamic platform where user engagement drives the narrative, supported by free speech and interactive dialogue.
While details about Stoll’s specific role remain under wraps, it’s clear that his leadership will play a crucial part in expanding X’s news presence on a global scale. Yaccarino’s vision paints a picture of transformation where users have more control over the news narrative, fostering an environment ripe for innovative journalistic endeavors.
