Top Stories· August 17, 2026 at 02:00 p.m.
Semafor's Ben Smith Discusses Ethics in Journalism and an Anti-Scale Business Model
Key takeaways
- Semafor has evolved into an 'anti-scale company'
- Half of Semafor's revenue comes from events
- Upcoming conference: Silicon Valley & The World
Ben Smith, editor-in-chief of Semafor, recently discussed his media organization's evolution and ethical considerations with Decoder. Four years after launching, Semafor has shifted from its initial goal of reaching 200 million college-educated readers to an 'anti-scale company'. The newsroom still doesn't have a website paywall but generates about half its revenue through events, known as 'convening' in media circles. Semafor hosts large events featuring prominent figures in tech and AI, such as the upcoming Silicon Valley & The World conference. Smith discussed the ethical challenges of putting people they cover on advisory boards, the value of high-quality journalism, and the future of media distribution.
