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The mistake that people made around 2000 with the…

“The mistake that people made around 2000 with the emergence of the web was that they thought that people would not read long-form on a screen. Following from that idea, they quit doing long-form on screens. It got shorter and shorter, and then came cats toying with flowers and all of those…” quote by Terry McDonell
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“The mistake that people made around 2000 with the emergence of the web was that they thought that people would not read long-form on a screen. Following from that idea, they quit doing long-form on screens. It got shorter and shorter, and then came cats toying with flowers and all of those clichés, but it was wrong. People will read long-form on a device if they want to read long-form.”

Terry McDonell

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The early 2000s underestimated readers' willingness to engage with long‑form content online, leading to a decline in depth, but demand persists when desired.

In simple terms: Long‑form content still valuable online.

Key Takeaway

Invest in quality long‑form content for engaged audiences.

Themes

media content strategy reading habits digital depth

Mood

analytical strategic

Type

informative reflective

When to use this quote

  • website design
  • newsletter creation
  • e‑books
  • educational platforms

Key Concepts

journalism attention economics user experience

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you make long‑form content compelling?
  • What topics deserve deep exploration?
A Different Perspective

Short‑form trends dominate ad revenue, making long‑form risky.

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