Nicholas Quah
{{Short description|American journalist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nicholas Quah
| other_names = Nick Quah
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date |27|2017|03|10}}{{Cite web|last=Weissman|first=Cale Guthrie|date=March 10, 2017|title=How This 27-Year-Old Transformed His Side Project Into A Business|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3068838/how-this-27-year-old-transformed-his-side-project-into-a-business|access-date=February 3, 2022|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203184014/https://www.fastcompany.com/3068838/how-this-27-year-old-transformed-his-side-project-into-a-business|url-status=live}}
| occupation = Journalist
| employer = Vulture
| known_for = Writing about podcasts
| notable_works = {{plainlist|1=
- Hot Pod Newsletter
- Servant of Pod
}}
| awards = {{plainlist|1=
- 2020 Antitrust Writing Award nominee
- 2021 Fortune Creator 25
}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.nicholasquah.com/}}
}}
Nicholas Quah is a journalist for Vulture and is the creator of the Nieman Lab newsletter Hot Pod News.
Career
Quah was the creator of the Hotpods newsletter.{{Cite web |title=Why Digital Hoarding Can Be Healthier Than Real World Hoarding |url=https://fortune.com/2019/03/06/data-sheet-digital-hoarding/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153507/https://fortune.com/2019/03/06/data-sheet-digital-hoarding/ |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Fortune |language=en}} Quah worked for BuzzFeed in 2015 while writing the newsletter.{{Cite web |date=2015-04-09 |title=A BuzzFeed employee secretly has finger on the pulse of the podcast universe |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/hot-pod-nicholas-quah/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203165324/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/hot-pod-nicholas-quah/ |archive-date=2022-02-03 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}} Vox Media acquired the Hotpod newsletter in 2021 as part of a plan to expand The Verge.{{Cite web|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=September 7, 2021|title=Vox Media Set to Acquire Podcasting Newsletter Hot Pod|url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/vox-media-hot-pod-acquisition-nicholas-quah-1235057611/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907123107/https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/vox-media-hot-pod-acquisition-nicholas-quah-1235057611/|archive-date=September 7, 2021|access-date=February 3, 2022|website=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Carman |first=Ashley |date=2021-09-27 |title=Welcome to Hot Pod from The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/27/22696629/hot-pod-newsletter-the-verge-new-host-ashley-carman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153505/https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/27/22696629/hot-pod-newsletter-the-verge-new-host-ashley-carman |archive-date=2022-02-03 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en}} Quah had been running the newsletter for almost seven years.{{Cite magazine|date=2021-11-12|title=A Good Newsletter Exit Strategy Is Hard to Find|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/11/11/a-good-newsletter-exit-strategy-is-hard-to-find|access-date=February 3, 2022|magazine=Vanity Fair|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302164043/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/11/11/a-good-newsletter-exit-strategy-is-hard-to-find|url-status=live}} After Hot Pod was acquired by The Verge, Quah started working at Vulture.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-08|title=Hot Pod acquired by Vox Media: The Media Roundup|url=https://whatsnewinpublishing.com/hot-pod-acquired-by-vox-media-the-media-roundup/|access-date=February 3, 2022|website=What’s New in Publishing {{!}} Digital Publishing News|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203165331/https://whatsnewinpublishing.com/hot-pod-acquired-by-vox-media-the-media-roundup/|url-status=live}} Quah also hosts his own podcast called "Servant of Pod," which discusses the business side of podcasting.{{Cite web |last=Beer |first=Jeff |date=2020-06-17 |title=Podcasting's best listener launches his own podcast about podcasting. Is this 'peak podcast'? |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90517580/podcastings-best-listener-launches-his-own-podcast-about-podcasting-is-this-peak-podcast |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131224807/https://www.fastcompany.com/90517580/podcastings-best-listener-launches-his-own-podcast-about-podcasting-is-this-peak-podcast |archive-date=2022-01-31 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Fast Company |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2020-07-28 |title=Hot Pod creator Nick Quah on the 'massive gap' between podcast monetization and engagement |url=https://digiday.com/media/hotpod-newsletter-nick-quah-podcast-industry-monetization-engagement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203165748/https://digiday.com/media/hotpod-newsletter-nick-quah-podcast-industry-monetization-engagement/ |archive-date=2022-02-03 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Digiday |language=en-US}} The show was a 2021 Webby Award honoree in the business category.{{Cite web |title=NEW Webby Gallery + Index |url=http://winners.webbyawards.com/2021/podcasts/general-series/business/167128/servant-of-pod-with-nick-quah |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203204722/https://winners.webbyawards.com/2021/podcasts/general-series/business/167128/servant-of-pod-with-nick-quah |archive-date=2022-02-03 |access-date=2022-02-03 |website=NEW Webby Gallery + Index |language=en}} Quah occasionally contributes podcast reviews and criticism to NPR's Fresh Air.{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2023 |title=About 'Fresh Air' |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5013 |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=NPR |agency=NPR}}{{Cite web |last=Nick |first=Quah |date=May 10, 2023 |title=Nick Quah |url=https://www.nicholasquah.com/ |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=Nick Quah}} He also wrote a book about the podcasting industry.{{Cite news |last=Gamerman |first=Ellen |date=2018-07-16 |title=Podcasts Hit the Books |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/podcasts-hit-the-books-1531747805 |url-status=live |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204091758/https://www.wsj.com/articles/podcasts-hit-the-books-1531747805 |archive-date=2021-02-04 |issn=0099-9660}}
Quah provided commentary on the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on podcast consumption.{{Cite web |author=Kerry Flynn |title=What's next for America's favorite news podcast |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/04/media/the-daily-podcast/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153505/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/04/media/the-daily-podcast/index.html |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=CNN|date=4 December 2020 }} For instance, Quah noted that podcast downloads decreased in March 2020, but that in late April 2020 downloads began increasing again.{{Cite web |date=2020-04-01 |title=Put the paywalls back up on coronavirus coverage |url=https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2020/put-the-paywalls-back-up-on-coronavirus-coverage/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153508/https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2020/put-the-paywalls-back-up-on-coronavirus-coverage/ |archive-date=2022-02-03 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Poynter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2020-04-30 |title=People crave coronavirus news, but they often need a break from it, too |url=https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2020/people-crave-coronavirus-news-but-they-often-need-a-break-from-it-too/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153506/https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2020/people-crave-coronavirus-news-but-they-often-need-a-break-from-it-too/ |archive-date=2022-02-03 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Poynter |language=en-US}} Jim Epstein criticized Quah for supporting government funded public broadcasting.{{Cite web |date=2017-02-23 |title=Funding for Public Broadcasting Is Just 0.01 Percent of the Federal Budget. It Should Still Be Eliminated. |url=https://reason.com/2017/02/23/pbs-npr-government-cpb-trump/ |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Reason.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153505/https://reason.com/2017/02/23/pbs-npr-government-cpb-trump/ |url-status=live }} Quah is in support of a decentralized federated business model for NPR because he believes that would allow for an increase in local reporting.{{Cite web |date=2017-06-27 |title=NPR is reinventing itself. Here's how it could change for the better. |url=https://www.poynter.org/tech-tools/2017/npr-is-reinventing-itself-heres-how-it-could-change-for-the-better-update1/ |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Poynter |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153508/https://www.poynter.org/tech-tools/2017/npr-is-reinventing-itself-heres-how-it-could-change-for-the-better-update1/ |url-status=live }} Quah worked for Panoply and commented on the benefits of podcast networks.{{Cite web |title=Guide to Podcasting |url=https://www.cjr.org/tow_center_reports/guide_to_podcasting.php/ |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Columbia Journalism Review |language=en |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204092008/https://www.cjr.org/tow_center_reports/guide_to_podcasting.php |url-status=live }} Quah covered the story about Gimlet Media unionizing.{{Cite web |last=Pellico |first=Katie |date=2019-03-15 |title=There is big money in podcasting. What does this mean for the industry? {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/15/media/nick-quah-podcast-business/index.html |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=2022-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203184014/https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/15/media/nick-quah-podcast-business/index.html |url-status=live }} Quah opposed Luminary's paywalled business model saying that it "strikes at the ideological heart of the medium."{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-03-13 |title=Quah: Luminary Attracts Bile |url=https://podcastbusinessjournal.com/quah-luminary-attracts-bile/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203165325/https://podcastbusinessjournal.com/quah-luminary-attracts-bile/ |archive-date=2022-02-03 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Podcast Business Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mack |first=Zachary |date=2019-04-30 |title=Apple, Luminary, Spotify, and the podcast wars to come |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524296/podcast-wars-apple-luminary-spotify-nick-quah-hot-pod-interview-vergecast |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=2022-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203185517/https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/30/18524296/podcast-wars-apple-luminary-spotify-nick-quah-hot-pod-interview-vergecast |url-status=live }} Quah pointed out that a paywalled podcast company will have to be able to beat all the free alternatives in order to do well.{{Cite web |title=Apple (AAPL) Developing Podcast Service |url=https://www.investopedia.com/apple-aapl-developing-podcast-service-5096854 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Investopedia |language=en |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153505/https://www.investopedia.com/apple-aapl-developing-podcast-service-5096854 |url-status=live }} Quah covered the plagiarism issues that Crime Junkie ran into.{{Cite web |title=What the Plagiarism Accusations Against "Crime Junkie" Could Mean For Podcasting |url=https://www.insidehook.com/daily_brief/internet/what-the-plagiarism-accusations-against-crime-junkie-could-mean-for-podcasting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153506/https://www.insidehook.com/daily_brief/internet/what-the-plagiarism-accusations-against-crime-junkie-could-mean-for-podcasting |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=InsideHook |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2019-11-07 |title=The Problem With Crime Junkie |url=https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/longform/the-problem-with-crime-junkie |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153507/https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/longform/the-problem-with-crime-junkie |archive-date=2022-02-03 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Indianapolis Monthly |language=en-US}} Quah has called the true crime genre the "bloody, beating heart of podcasting."{{Cite web |title=Want to quit your job and start a true crime podcast? Obscura's host did it. |url=https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/want-to-quit-your-job-and-start-a-true-crime-podcast-obscuras-host-did-it-20190703/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153505/https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/want-to-quit-your-job-and-start-a-true-crime-podcast-obscuras-host-did-it-20190703/ |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}} Quah uses multiple podcasting applications but recommends Pocket Casts.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Rachel Holliday |date=January 29, 2019 |title=A Beginner's Guide to Getting Into Podcasts |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/smarter-living/podcast-recommendations-apps.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129071351/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/smarter-living/podcast-recommendations-apps.html |archive-date=January 29, 2019 |issn=0362-4331}}
Quah is a juror for the Peabody Awards.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-15 |title=Peabody Awards names new Board of Jurors; Monica Kaufman Pearson to lead Board |url=https://grady.uga.edu/peabody-awards-names-new-board-of-jurors-monica-kaufman-pearson-to-lead-board/ |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Grady College |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153508/https://grady.uga.edu/peabody-awards-names-new-board-of-jurors-monica-kaufman-pearson-to-lead-board/ |url-status=live }} Quah has written about how being on the Apple Podcast charts is often meaningless.{{Cite web |last=Carman |first=Ashley |date=2018-11-29 |title=Gaming the Apple Podcast charts is cheaper and easier than you think |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/29/18097381/apple-podcast-charts-click-farm-advertiser-revenue |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=2022-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153507/https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/29/18097381/apple-podcast-charts-click-farm-advertiser-revenue |url-status=live }} Quah was an Antitrust Writing Award nominee in 2020.{{Cite web |title=Nicholas Quah - Concurrences |url=https://awards.concurrences.com/en/authors/nicholas-quah-freshfields-com |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=awards.concurrences.com |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203165333/https://awards.concurrences.com/en/authors/nicholas-quah-freshfields-com |url-status=live }} Quah was a 2021 Fortune Creator 25.{{Cite web |title=Nick Quah {{!}} Fortune Creator 25 |url=https://fortune.com/creator-25/2021/nick-quah/ |access-date=February 3, 2022 |website=Fortune |language=en |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203165746/https://fortune.com/creator-25/2021/nick-quah/ |url-status=live }} Tom Jones wrote in Poynter that "No one analyzes the ins and outs of the podcast world better" Quah and that "no one [provides reliable coverage on podcasts] better than Vulture's Nicholas Quah."{{Cite web|date=2020-07-24|title=Hey Twitter, want to start a subscription model? Here's who to start charging first.|url=https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2020/hey-twitter-want-to-start-a-subscription-model-heres-who-to-start-charging-first/|access-date=February 3, 2022|website=Poynter|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153509/https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2020/hey-twitter-want-to-start-a-subscription-model-heres-who-to-start-charging-first/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2020-12-18|title=Here's a look back at the best and worst of news media in 2020|url=https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2020/heres-a-look-back-at-the-best-and-worst-of-news-media-in-2020/|access-date=February 3, 2022|website=Poynter|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203153507/https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2020/heres-a-look-back-at-the-best-and-worst-of-news-media-in-2020/|url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.nicholasquah.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quah, Nicholas}}
Category:Year of birth uncertain
Category:21st-century American journalists
Category:New York (magazine) people