Screen Skills Goes Paid

Four Years of The Planet, One Month of Screen Skills, and an Exciting Step Forward

Four years ago today, as the world retreated into lockdown, I sat at my desk and wrote the first words of what would become The Planet newsletter. I remember the uncertainty of that moment—not just about whether anyone would read what I wrote but about the world itself. Outside my window, Ottawa had gone quiet. The combination of the pandemic with winter in Ontario silenced the streets outside in a way I'd never experienced before.

Today, that small beginning has grown into a community of nearly 10,000 subscribers. Last week's article was read by 13,000 people, a number that still astonishes me. What began as a way to make sense of our changing world has become a conversation spanning continents, bridging perspectives, and hopefully illuminating paths forward.

And now, a new journey begins.

A Sister Publication Is Born

Nearly a month ago, I launched Screen Skills — a newsletter born from the questions many of you have asked over the years about the digital tools and techniques I use in my work. While The Planet explores our relationship with the natural world and each other, Screen Skills examines our relationship with the digital landscape that increasingly shapes our lives.

This morning, I received an email from Substack with the subject line: "Your subscribers want to pay for your writing." They had analyzed the early response to Screen Skills and concluded there was "a clear signal that there's a market for your publication."

I had planned to wait until March 22—Screen Skills' one-month birthday—before opening paid subscriptions. But sometimes, an unexpected gentle push helps us make decisions we're already contemplating.

So today, Screen Skills will become a paid newsletter.

What This Means

Just as with The Planet, this doesn't mean all content will disappear behind a paywall. Most articles will remain free, with certain in-depth guides and resources reserved for paying subscribers. My commitment remains: accessible information for all, with additional value for those who can support the work financially.

To the 361 readers who have already subscribed to Screen Skills, thank you. And to those who have already pledged their support, I am deeply grateful.

A Rare Intersection

This is a rare newsletter that I'm posting to both accounts — a family reunion of sorts. I won't make a habit of it; after all, the reason for starting a second newsletter was precisely that I couldn't find an elegant way to bridge two entirely different worlds.

My latest article in The Planet explored Berlin's monuments and their urgent lessons about democracy's fragility. Meanwhile, Screen Skills offered a non-technical guide to AI writing tools for everyday users. Different paths, different destinations.

But today, as we celebrate both a fourth birthday and a new beginning, the paths briefly converge.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Curiosity drew me back to my very first newsletter, published on March 17, 2021. I wrote then:

"I will update you on the news and write about the background stories, the available solutions, and why politicians (whatever their political background) don't always choose the most logical path out of this mess. When you lose hope, I will tell you that it is not too late to take meaningful action; we can still avoid the worst-case scenarios. But when you forget about the urgency, I will share stories to remind you that we have no time to lose."

How different our world is now, and yet how relevant those words remain. The climate crisis has deepened, democracy faces challenges I couldn't have imagined four years ago, and the need for both hope and urgency has never been greater.

Two Paths Forward

After today's brief convergence, each newsletter will return to its distinct journey.

The Planet will continue exploring our relationship with the natural world and each other. I'll soon take you back to Berlin, where I was unexpectedly confronted with another lesson from history. And I still need to share what brought me there in the first place — a story about sustainable solutions our planet desperately needs.

Screen Skills will develop its own path, still finding its voice much as The Planet did four years ago. Your suggestions and comments are invaluable in this formative stage. My aim remains simple: to make our time spent behind screens more pleasant and efficient, explained in accessible language that doesn't require a computer science degree.

Most digital newsletters I follow are either too specialized or focused solely on growing Substack audiences. My ambition is different: to lower the bar, to make technology accessible, and to help you navigate the digital and social media world with greater ease and confidence.

An Invitation

I wonder where we'll be with Screen Skills four years from now. What digital landscapes will we be navigating together? What challenges and opportunities will we face?

It's an exciting journey, and I hope you'll join me — perhaps even as a paying subscriber if you find value in what I share.

Whether you've been reading The Planet since that first uncertain newsletter four years ago or just discovered my work through Screen Skills, thank you for being part of this growing community. In a fragmented world, these connections matter more than ever.

Every subscription helps make this work sustainable.

If you'd like to support Screen Skills as a paying subscriber, you can do so here: