The status of “Status” is multimedia.
The buzzy media-industry newsletter that journalist and entrepreneur Oliver Darcy founded in 2024, is moving into live events. A “Status Summit” is planned for Wednesday, September 9, at The Times Center in New York City, convening what is expected to be a crowd of influential executives, journalists, creators, and decision-makers for a day of conversations about the forces reshaping media and the information landscape.
“We’ve always envisioned ‘Status’ as more than just a nightly newsletter. At its core, it is a community of people who care deeply about this industry and where it is headed. Bringing our audience — whether newsletter readers, podcast listeners, or YouTube subscribers –together for an in-person event is an obvious next step for us and we’re thrilled to do it this fall,” says Darcy during a brief conversation via text Wednesday evening. “There is also something special about live journalism before an engaged audience– especially on a stage in which we push for a frank, no-holds-barred discussion about some of the major challenges confronting the industry.”
Speakers already confirmed include Meredith Kopit Levien, president and chief executive of The New York Times; Rebecca Kutler, president of MS NOW; David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker; and Wendy McMahon, media advisor and former president and chief executive of CBS News and Stations. Additional speakers are expected to be announced in days to come. The event will be sponsored by beehiiv, the creator platform that hosts “Status” and many other ventures.
Many media outlets, both traditional and upstart, are gravitating to live events as a means of supplementing their business plans. Versant Media’s MS NOW on Wednesday unveiled a new Texas conference slated to take place September 26, part of a growing slate of in-person conferences featuring many of its best known anchors and correspondents.
The event’s sessions will feature exclusive interviews, candid panel discussions, networking opportunities, and conversations focused on the future of the media industry, A.I. disruption, political pressures, business strategy, among other topics. The all-day program will be hosted by Darcy and Jon Passantino, the executive editor of “Status.” It will begin with opening remarks at 9:45 a.m. and conclude with a closing cocktail reception presented by Bilt, the housing rewards and neighborhood commerce platform. Attendees will also be treated to a light breakfast and catered lunch.
The new event shows Darcy working to broaden the revenue mix of the company he founded. “As observers of the media business, the one lesson we’ve learned is how important it is to diversify sources of revenue,” he says. “We don’t want to be dependent on one platform or medium. We want to distribute our journalism in a multitude of ways online, and now in person.” In July of last year, Darcy and his team debuted “Power Lines,” a podcast that has garnered more than 100,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Early bird tickets are available for $495 through July 31, representing a $255 savings off the regular $750 admission price. A limited number of sponsorship and partnership opportunities remain available.