Some people are freaking out in the comments of this announcement post that Substack is suddenly going to be all about shortform video and will turn away from writing.

No. Substack is about culture. The Substack model has helped writers change their lives, and now it is also helping artists and creators who specialize in video, imagery, and audio.

That’s why we talk about Substack being “a new economic engine for culture.” This model is about giving writers and creators ownership and control, and making sure they have a clear and stable way to make money. It’s about giving them independence from the centralized systems controlled by fickle kings who can determine a creator’s fortune with the tap of a button.

I will always love writing and always consider myself a writer. Writing will always be the backbone of Substack. But I love video and audio, too, and I am excited to see what’s possible for video makers and audio creators here. I have a feeling it will be something very special, quite unlike what we see elsewhere on the internet.