Andrew Ross Sorkin's Strategic Media Model: Quality Over Quantity

Key Quotes

"I think it's hard to scale businesses. I think everyone you cover them, it is hard to scale and get big and be good. I think you can become big, no question. Do I think you can become bigger? Do I think you can make more money if you really, really want? Sure. Do I think you can do quality work? I think that's much harder."

Andrew Ross Sorkin highlights the inherent difficulty in scaling a business while maintaining high quality. He suggests that while growth in size and revenue is achievable, preserving the quality of work becomes significantly more challenging as a business expands. This implies a trade-off between scale and excellence that many businesses struggle to navigate.

"I usually wake up around 4:30 ish, which I think, by the way, is late in the TV morning TV land. I think some of your other guests and others over the years have said that they wake up at like 2:30 or I think George Stephanopoulos at one point was waking up at 1:30. I don't do anything like that, but I have always woken up early in part because when I started DealBook now close to 25 years ago, I'd have to wake up just to get the newsletter out."

Andrew Ross Sorkin describes his demanding early morning routine, which begins around 4:30 AM. He explains that this habit stems from the early days of launching DealBook, when waking up early was necessary to prepare and distribute the newsletter. This illustrates his long-standing commitment to his work and the foundational practices that shaped his current schedule.

"I think the greatest privilege is, in a way, I get to try to help the public understand what's going on at the sort of intersection of business and policy and the confluence of those things. And I've always believed that if you follow the money, you really can understand the world in a way that's--and I don't say that cynically--but it explains everything."

Andrew Ross Sorkin articulates what he views as the primary privilege of his work: enabling the public to comprehend the complex interplay between business and policy. He emphasizes his core belief that by tracing financial flows, one can gain a comprehensive understanding of the world, extending beyond just business to encompass politics, sports, arts, and geopolitics. This perspective underscores his approach to journalism as a tool for demystifying intricate societal dynamics.

"I think it's very selective. I try to do it in the most limited fashion in truth, because also I don't think if you do it all the time that it has the kind of oomph or influence that you'd want it to. I think that you have to sort of pick and choose your battles and decide what, what is the moment."

Andrew Ross Sorkin explains his deliberate and infrequent approach to weighing in with his own opinions or taking a stance on issues. He believes that to maintain the impact and credibility of his commentary, he must be highly selective, choosing only those moments where his intervention will carry significant weight. This strategy highlights his understanding of how to wield influence effectively by reserving it for critical junctures.

"I think the greatest privilege is, in a way, I get to try to help the public understand what's going on at the sort of intersection of business and policy and the confluence of those things. And I've always believed that if you follow the money, you really can understand the world in a way that's--and I don't say that cynically--but it explains everything."

Andrew Ross Sorkin identifies his greatest professional privilege as aiding the public in understanding the nexus of business and policy. He posits that "following the money" is a fundamental method for comprehending the world, applying this principle not just to financial matters but to broader societal aspects like politics, sports, and arts. This quote reveals his journalistic philosophy centered on financial transparency as a key to broader understanding.

"I think the biggest thing at least for me, I would actually think for you too, maybe you'd say the same thing, is I think there's a great value in trying to be a specialist in something, to try to be able to really own your beat and not just own your beat for two or three years and then try something else and try something else."

Andrew Ross Sorkin advises aspiring media professionals to cultivate deep specialization in a particular area or "beat." He argues that sustained focus and mastery over an extended period, rather than frequent shifts, are crucial for achieving significant success and respect within journalism. This perspective emphasizes the long-term value of becoming an expert in a niche field.