Roundtable CEO and founder James Heckman told host Mario Nawfal that the traditional media industry remains trapped under Silicon Valley’s centralized control, dependent on trillion-dollar platforms for advertising, distribution, and survival. “The press today depends on multi-trillion-dollar businesses just to survive,” Heckman said, pointing to systems like Google Ad Manager and Apple News that force even major outlets such as CNN and The New York Times to “play the game” for reach and revenue.

While acknowledging the rise of social media as a public square, Heckman dismissed much of it as “amateur journalism” polluted by misinformation. He emphasized that despite social platforms’ reach, most people still seek validation from professional outlets, underscoring the enduring importance of credible reporting. Read more here