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When the Austin media startup the Daily Dot considered expanding its operations in 2013, it took an interest in several writers from the UK tech gossip site the Kernel.
“The Kernel started off as more of a tabloid,” says Austin Powell, a veteran Austin Chronicle music journalist and current Daily Dot managing editor, “specifically covering the U.K tech scene, not unlike Gawker's Valleywag in the U.S. As it expanded its scope, it routinely caught our attention with more investigative features on the seedier corners of the internet, an area where we specialize.”
Launched in 2011 with a $600,000 investment, the Daily Dot bills itself as 'the hometown paper of the web,' covering news, views, controversy, and change on digital communities from Facebook to 4Chan. Earlier this year, it decided to acquire the Kernel outright, shift its editorial direction, and put Powell at the helm.
After some thought, the Kernel's new identity emerged. Each Sunday, it now posts a series of in-depth reads revolving around a theme, be it edtech, YouTube, the Deep Web, or fantasy football.
“We like to think that the Kernel is the New York Times Magazine to the Daily Dot's New York Times,” Powell said. “In other words, it's an extension of what we do everyday. At the Dot, the focus is on breaking news coverage. It's about chronicling the story of the internet as it unfolds.
At the Kernel, we're taking a more zoomedout approach. It's a chance to reflect and dig a little deeper, and ideally to bring more people into those conversations.”
Powell sees continued growth and enthusiasm ahead for the Kernel. “I have pretty much the next nine months mapped out, and there's not an issue that I don't feel personally excited about or invested in. There are a number of topics we'll focus on that I think are really important and part of larger conversations that are either taking place or need to place, specifically about drones, cryptocurrencies, reddit, and esports. Given my background with the Austin Chronicle, I'm really looking forward to our music issue as well.”
