When it comes to email newsletters, reasons for cancellation are so predictable that our publishing platform automatically assigns exit survey responses to standard categories: Affordability (the subscriber is trying to save money), Temporary Use (the subscriber only wanted to read one specific story), and Misunderstanding (the subscriber was looking for nutritional advice or Rhode Island restaurant tips.)
But it’s a good thing the following reason arrived via email since even I didn’t know how to classify it:
“I spend a lot of time reading your emails, and while it’s a compliment to you, I think it’s not the best use of my time.”
In other words, this TFS subscriber found just one flaw in the newsletter: It was so compelling that it had become a drag on her daily life. I don’t know if she wrote amid a stack of unwashed dishes, or if she’d just fielded a call from a boss wondering what happened to the deck she was supposed to submit, but we fully support folks extricating themselves from unhealthy relationships.
For our part, though, what can we do to keep regular users from swearing off TFS forever? The obvious answer is to lower our standards significantly and switch to running listicles that wouldn’t take more than a few seconds to scan.
Still, readers accustomed to letting back issues of this newsletter accumulate might not even notice the change. While there’s much to admire about The New Yorker, TFS has no ambitions to imitate the magazine’s penchant for piling up and overwhelming its staunchest fans. Our goal is to enhance readers’ lives, not detract from them.
So, we’ve devised a solution that feels more on brand than publishing schlock.
Starting Monday, every TFS newsletter will have one of those handy “click to listen” buttons at the top. While I can’t promise future stories won’t drive readers down rabbit holes that are hours deep, I’m certain that listening is more compatible than reading with such essential tasks as walking, cooking, and showering.
Initially, I hesitated to implement this option because I feared the use of AI would lead TFS readers to think generative AI has its fraudulent fingerprints all over this publication. I’m indebted to my friend James Cave, who publishes a newsletter about upstate New York, for pointing out that an AI policy statement at the start of each recording would clear up any confusion.
Was he right? Check it out! I subjected one of Michael Stern’s recent reviews to the text-to-speech treatment; just click the button below to hear AI voice “Bill” share Stern’s opinions of two hot dog institutions. Keep in mind we’ll be auditioning a range of AI voices next week for the TFS assignment, “Bill” included: Stay tuned for a reader poll to pick the winner.
Let me know what you think! Voice memos only.
(Not really: I’m always available at raskin@thefoodsection.com)
Have a great weekend.
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