On writing in three modes

Writing for product, press, and academia look like three different things. To some extent they are. But the borders are more porous than we admit, and the exercise of crossing all three has taught more about each than specializing in any one would have.

A well-written product spec has the rhythm of a feature article: it starts with the lead, anticipates counter-arguments, cites sources. A well-written academic essay has product discipline: focus on the problem, evidence over opinion, clear scope. And the best reporting has academic rigor — it just shows in the seams, not on the page.

Mode one: product

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"product, journalism, and academia meet at the same question — they just have different deadlines and metrics."

Mode two: press

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Mode three: research

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