[blunte]

I share your frustration, particularly with Medium (and a true sense of dismay at those who choose to publish their effort on Medium's platform).

TFA was great, and I'm motivated to pursue my podcast idea (not for money, but because I think it would be interesting). But I just don't get why people put their creative content on Medium. Does it actually add value (bring more readers?) Seems to me it will discourage some potential readers; what's the offset there?

[quickthrower2]

If I understand correctly Medium charges both readers and publishers for a service that you can get free elsewhere? Does that sum it up?

[alexis_fr]

Let’s say the service is to get the audience to the content... and it’s not a very simple problem to solve.

HN does it very well, btw.

[quickthrower2]

I only find Medium articles linked from elsewhere or via search. In both cases having those articles hosted on another platform or on private blogs would work.

What I don't do, which is where Medium might add value is go on Medium to search for content. I don't reckon I'd find good stuff by going down that route.

So really they are piggy backing off search and links that would otherwise go to "free" blogging software, or at least something like Ghost that isn't in your face and actually hosts just the content.

In short they are a parasite.