Why EIC Carlson left Business Insider

Former Business Insider editor in chief Nicholas Carlson spoke with Mediaite editor Aidan McLaughlin on this week’s episode of “Press Club” about why he left the news organization and his new company.

McLaughlin writes, “Carlson’s biggest challenge at Business Insider came when it reported on alleged plagiarism committed by Neri Oxman, the wife of hedge fund manager Bill Ackman. The billionaire threatened legal action and assailed Business Insider in a frantic campaign waged on X, formerly Twitter, as well as behind the scenes, which prompted Business Insider’s parent company Axel Springer to initiate a review of the piece. Though the review found the reporting to be accurate, Axel Springer’s waffling on the story sparked controversy.

“Carlson stood by the reporting, despite that pressure from Axel Springer. ‘It’s chilling to think about the power these billionaires wield over journalists,’ Carlson said. ‘The fear of being sued was very real.’

“For Carlson, the threat of lawsuits by powerful figures has had a lasting impact on the media landscape. ‘It’s a tough balance between holding the powerful accountable and knowing the risks involved,’ he explained. ‘It’s chilling to consider how that fear can shape editorial decisions and, ultimately, the stories we tell.”

“Carlson ended up leaving Business Insider last May, a decision he said had nothing to do with Bill Ackman and all to do with a new idea: Dynamo, a video-centric media company that will start with 12 to 18-minute YouTube videos. The first Dynamo show, which he announced on Press Club, is set to launch in the second quarter of this year and will be called Business Explains the World.”

Read more here.