Venn
Venn Web Journalism & Opinion
Contact: [email protected]
Venn - Web Journalism

Perspectives on the digital press

Venn is where journalists, editors, and close readers examine how the web shapes what gets reported, and how.

Editorial workspace with screens and notebooks representing web journalism practice
The origin
01

A frustration that turned into a habit of looking closer

Venn started in 2025 when two journalists noticed they were having the same argument repeatedly - about platform incentives, about what editors quietly cut, about the gap between what readers see and what actually happened in a newsroom. Writing it down felt more useful than repeating it.

The site is not a news outlet. It does not break stories. It examines the machinery behind them - the decisions, the structures, the pressures that shape web journalism before a single word reaches a reader.

Close-up of a journalist reviewing editorial notes and source documents

Who is writing this, and why their background matters

Both authors remain actively embedded in digital publishing - this is not retrospective commentary.

Portrait of Saoirse Devlin, editorial analyst

Saoirse Devlin

Editorial Analyst

Spent nine years editing for digital-first outlets across three countries. Focuses on how platform distribution shapes story selection before editors even open a pitch.

Portrait of Tomáš Bureš, media researcher

Tomáš Bureš

Media Researcher

Studies audience trust and algorithmic curation at a European media institute. Brings data into the conversation without letting it replace the argument.

Three ways to read, depending on what you are looking for

Track one

Platform Criticism

Long-form analysis of how search algorithms, social feeds, and recommendation engines redirect editorial judgment. Useful if you work inside a newsroom or study one.

Track two

Editorial Practice

Shorter pieces on specific decisions - headline framing, source selection, correction policies. Less theoretical, more about what editors actually do on a Tuesday afternoon.

Track three

Audience & Trust

Examines the relationship between publications and their readers - how that relationship forms, erodes, and occasionally gets rebuilt. Draws on reader research and Venn virtual reader panels.

An honest account of who reads this and who probably should not

Venn is not written for a general audience. The arguments assume some familiarity with how digital publishing works. That is not a gatekeeping stance - it is a practical one. Context that needs to be explained in every piece stops the thinking from going anywhere interesting.

A newsroom environment showing journalists collaborating on digital stories

More likely to find this useful

  • Journalists and editors working in digital or hybrid newsrooms
  • Media researchers and journalism students in the later stages of study
  • Readers who already follow media criticism and want another perspective
  • Product and strategy people at publishing companies

Less likely to be the right fit

  • Readers looking for general news commentary or current events coverage
  • Anyone expecting a neutral, both-sides presentation - Venn has a point of view
  • Those looking for practical how-to guides on writing or pitching
Sources & affiliations

Where the material comes from and who checks it

The analysis at Venn draws on published research, institutional data, and direct conversations with working journalists. Where we cite findings, the source is named. Where we express opinion, it is framed as such. The organisations below have contributed data access, peer review, or editorial feedback at various points.

Reuters Institute

Annual digital news reports and audience trust studies

Pew Research

Longitudinal data on media consumption and trust patterns

Columbia Journalism Review

Peer editorial review and industry commentary exchange

European Journalism Observatory

Cross-border comparative research on digital newsrooms