The New New New Journalism at Escape Collective

Riding With: A Podcast by Jonathan E. Kaplan

During the past 15 years, too many journalists have experienced too many layoffs, including myself. It was July 2008. I was sitting through a congressional hearing on derivatives when I got an inadvertent email from HR to the editor that read, “When are you going to tell Kaplan he’s being let go.”
Well, today’s guest experienced something similar. It was not an email sent by mistake, but a hastily scheduled 15 minute meeting added to his calendar during which he was told he was finished as editor of CyclingTips.
Caley Fretz has experienced the ups and downs of today’s difficult media environment. He’s taken his punches and landed some, too. Many of you have read his work when he was with Velo News and CyclingTips.
In November 2022, Outside, Inc., the owners of Outside Magzine, VeloNews and CyclingTips, axed several top writers and editors, including Caley.
While he could have wallowed in self-pity and left journalism altogether, he chose to take advantage of the situation and create something new. Six months later, he launched Escape Collective, an online platform designed “inform, inspire, entertain, connect, and improve the lives of people around the world through our common
love of cycling and the power of the bike.”
Escape Collective’s goal is to build the “world’s largest and most significant cycling community.” Full disclosure: I paid the $99 membership fee.
Escape Collective offers a group of writers, including some of the best-known names in cycling journalism, who cycling fans want to read. Please give RIDING WITH a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts or where ever you might be listening.
My newsletter, RIDING WITH, can be found at RIDINGWITHKAPLAN@ SUBSTACK.COM. RIDING WITH tells the stories of Americans and Israeli cyclists, among others, making their way on the WorldTour, as well as the journalists, analysts, and television personalities who write and report on professional cycling.
I love hearing from you—especially the positive feedback—ideas for guests are always welcome. You can find me on Instagram at @RIDINGWITHJEK or on LinkedIn.
To learn more about Escape Collective, go to
https://escapecollective.com

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RIDING WITH is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.