Hello, folks!
Big Tech is on our minds, in many headlines, and, as you’re reading this, literally in our hands. More than a year into remote schooling, telemedicine, and endless Zooms, we all know that technology is more than just an industry. It is the architecture of our entire reality. But is this the right foundation for our future?
For too many, the answer is no. At The Markup, we believe we can build towards a better future once we excavate nuanced, difficult-to-uncover facts about our current reality–because we must understand how we got here in order to move forward. In that spirit, our data-driven reporting has uncovered the hidden racial bias in mortgage-approval algorithms, explained the multi-billion dollar market for your location data, and explored what it really means when companies say they do not sell your data.
As you’ll see in our latest Impact Report, The Markup’s journalism is already creating change across the country. We predict this will pick up steam: From the halls of Congress to your local protest, consumers and policymakers are awakening to issues of data privacy and algorithmic bias. And we’re here to help.
We do all of this with a team of 31 and a budget smaller than what a Big Tech company would spend on snacks. Of course, the impact we make, the decision-makers we reach, the algorithms we explain–all of that happens because you have been with us every step of the way. This impact is yours just as much as it is ours.
As part of our journey, we will share issues of Markup Futures on a semi-regular basis. Consider it your place to see The Markup practice what we preach, with our show-your-work mindset, a business approach that prioritizes privacy and respect for our audience, and updates on how our journalism can spark real change.
We’re just getting started, and we’re thrilled that you’re along for the ride.
Always,
Nabiha Syed
President, The Markup
