Your Career: To Substack or Not to Substack?

A look at the pros and cons of writing your own subscription newsletter. ADVERTISEMENT [Your Career Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. A look at the pros and cons of writing your own subscription newsletter. The landscape of academic newsletters has expanded dramatically, with the success of Substack spawning multiple competitors. And they all seem to have benefited from the upheaval at the social-media platform X, which used to be such a lively space for academics to connect, share ideas, and debate. As many Ph.D.s have scrambled to find the right portal to replace “academic Twitter,” newsletters have become a popular alternative. Clearly a subscription newsletter that you write and publish on your own has the potential to expand the reach of your ideas. But it also comes with challenges — the pressure to find new things to say each week or month, and the time needed to put words on the page when the obligations of your day job (all that pesky teaching, research, and service) are calling your name. The objectives of academic newsletters vary widely. Some authors of successful books seem to use their newsletters mostly for self-promotion, with updates about their publications, speaking engagements, or media appearances. Other writers use their newsletters as a research and writing tool to work through new ideas. And some academics are more outward focused in their newsletters: They write about new developments in their field, share resources, and elevate the works and ideas of others. Continue reading: “[Should You Start a Newsletter?]( by James M. Lang Share your suggestions for the newsletter with Denise Magner, an editor at The Chronicle, at denise.magner@chronicle.com. If you’d like to opt out, you can log in to our website and [manage your newsletter preferences here](. ADVERTISEMENT SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. NEWSLETTER [Sign Up for the Teaching Newsletter]( Find insights to improve teaching and learning across your campus. Delivered on Thursdays. To read this newsletter as soon as it sends, [sign up]( to receive it in your email inbox. LATEST CAREER ADVICE, OPINION, AND NEWS ADVICE [Ask the Chair: Be an Unabashed Advocate for Your Finalist]( By Kevin Dettmar [STORY IMAGE]( How, a department head wonders, can we make sure the dean woos our top candidate with the same ardor as we have? SPONSOR CONTENT | Amazon Business [Powering Higher Ed with Smarter Procurement]( ADVERTISEMENT ADVICE [How to Stay Friends on the Faculty Job Market]( By Paris Wicker and LaShawn Faith Washington [STORY IMAGE]( What it’s like to maintain a friendship while competing for the same academic openings. ADVICE [Life as an Administrator Who Happens to Be Transgender]( By Jamie G. MaKinster [STORY IMAGE]( A look at the opportunities and challenges of being gender-diverse in leadership positions in higher education. FINANCIAL TROUBLE [A University Called Off Fall Classes. Employees Aren’t Being Paid. Now What?]( By Amita Chatterjee [STORY IMAGE]( Officials at Union Institute and University say they’re committed to finding a way forward. BEYOND THE BLAME GAME [Katalin Karikó Has Thoughts on How to Support Shunned Scholars Like Her]( By Megan Zahneis [STORY IMAGE]( The 2023 Nobel Prize winner says universities should set aside some funding to back scientists whose work isn’t conventional enough to attract grants. ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES [Diversity Statements Are Being Banned. Here’s What Might Replace Them.]( By Adrienne Lu [STORY IMAGE]( Academic disparities between student groups are hurting colleges’ overall retention efforts. Advocates are pushing for a way forward. FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [The Accessible Campus - The Chronicle Store]( [The Accessible Campus]( Despite years of legislation meant to open up higher education to people with disabilities, colleges are still a long way from achieving equity. [Order your copy]( to examine how colleges are working to be more accessible and the challenges that remain. What we’re reading Here’s more on career issues and trends from around the web. See something we should include? [Let me know](mailto:denise.magner@chronicle.com?subject=Your Career feedback). - In Roxane Gay’s latest [Work Friend column]( in The New York Times, she offers advice on how to deal with a lying boss. - [Advice]( in the Harvard Business Review on “how to get noticed by your boss’s boss.” - An [essay]( in The Washington Post by Mitch Daniels, president emeritus of Purdue University and a former Republican governor of Indiana, explores “how the tenure trap paralyzes higher education.” MORE CAREER RESOURCES [Meaningful Classroom Engagement]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: October 19, 2023 | 2 p.m. ET: Many professors face apathetic, disengaged students struggling with mental health. Join us to discuss how instructors and leaders can foster engagement. With Support From Perlego. [Register here.]( [Outlook on Enrollment Trends]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: October 24, 2023 | 2 p.m. ET: Enrollment data can help colleges tell how to support students in the process. Join us for insights on learning from those challenging dynamics.With Support From MARKETview. [Register here.]( DATA [How Much Are Public-College Presidents Paid?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Base pay, bonuses, and benefits for 195 chief executives at public doctoral universities and systems in 2022. NEWS [How Much Are Private-College Presidents Paid?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Base pay, bonuses and benefits for 307 chief executives at private colleges with expenditures of $100-million or more. JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Open Rank, Finance]( Northwestern University [Multiple Positions]( Towson University [CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER (CAO)]( Penn State Brandywine [Marshall School of Business Faculty Positions in Various Disciplines]( University of Southern California [UC Riverside Bourns College of Engineering is Hiring Open Rank Faculty in Various Disciplines]( University of California RIverside [Joint Posting for Tenure Track STEM Faculty positions- Massachusetts AGEP Alliance]( Massachusetts University System (MUS) Alliance [TEACHER-SCHOLAR. CHANGEMAKER.]( Loyola Marymount University [FOLLOW YOUR PASSION! Apply to Be Part of our Diverse Cohorts of Leaders.]( University of Minnesota [2024-25 Tenure Track Faculty Openings]( University of Tennessee Knoxville [School of Education Faculty Openings]( Baylor University School of Education [Search other jobs.]( CAREER RESOURCES [Career Resources]( [The October collection]( provides valuable guidance on navigating the application process, including advice to improve your application materials, how to stand out as an internal candidate, and more! NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK [Please let us know what you thought of today's newsletter in this three-question survey](. This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. [Manage]( your newsletter preferences, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2023 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037