In July 2023, Reboot introduced our inaugural editorial board: Hal, Ashwin, Jacob, Lila, Humphrey, Tian, plus Jessica and myself. This reconfiguration was an experiment in doubling down on our editorial efforts, and personally, I’m thrilled with the results.
We published some of the best creative work Reboot has ever done, on topics from election deepfakes to iPhone jailbreaking to AI in wartime. We threw sold-out Kernel launch parties in San Francisco, New York, and Washington DC. Our editors discussed their work on podcasts like Marketplace and Freakonomics. We even kicked off our own video show. If I used to worry about regressing into ChatGPT-level takes, I don’t anymore.
We’re now expanding the Reboot editorial board by bringing on 2-4 new editors, plus a marketing director and creative director, to join Reboot/Kernel team and drive our work in the coming year.
There’s so much happening that we hope to help parse. AI progress accelerates at breakneck speeds, a historic(-ally depressing) election looms ahead, Silicon Valley knits itself closer to the Pentagon while war rages on in Ukraine and Gaza. Parents freak out over smartphone addiction while the Vision Pro and Ai pin gesture at an even more digitally entwined future. VCs are boarding the Trump train, autonomous vehicles have become a default part of San Francisco streets, and crypto is back, again, maybe?
Meanwhile, media institutions continue to falter, and FKA Twitter descends into slop. There’s still a serious need for thoughtful discourse on our technological future, especially when it comes to analysis that’s both technically and politically informed.
To meet the urgency of this moment, Reboot and Kernel will keep ramping up our work. In 2024 and 2025, I’m especially excited about:
More timely analysis: Many readers have told us that they go to Reboot to hear nuanced yet opinionated perspectives on hot-button issues. We’d like to get better at reacting to current events through quicker, more casual updates.
More media formats: We love essays, but find that sometimes fiction, interviews, or conversations are better ways to share someone’s perspective. We’re excited about publishing more audio, video, and conversational formats.
More community events: We shifted events (except Kernel launches) to a backseat while ramping up the new editorial board. But we’d love to find more ways to bring people together in the coming year.
Our team at Reboot has the opportunity to redefine techno-optimism for a better collective future, right at a critical juncture / unsettling vibe shift for Silicon Valley’s role in society. More than ever, our imagination needs expanding. I hope that you’ll join us.
Learn more about each role below, and apply by July 30. Each form should take no more than ~20 minutes. If you have questions, email me at jasmine at joinreboot dot org.
Warmly,
Jasmine Sun
Cofounder & director, Reboot
Editor
Editors are the core of Reboot’s work, driving what we cover and how we cover it.
“Editing” can mean many things—imagine a hybrid editor/producer/PM/doula for ideas—and we’re especially excited to support individuals in crafting the kind of role you’re most excited about. We celebrate curiosity and conviction in all its forms. The most important quality is the courage to give a shit.
Responsibilities
Editors are primarily responsible for producing something kickass for Reboot at least once every 3 months.
Format and topic are flexible: it can look like writing a short story, hosting an event, commissioning and editing an essay, or recording a podcast.
MEs are responsible for end-to-end production, from ideation to creation to publishing to distribution.
For collaborative works, editors should play a major role as the primary creator or heavily involved thought partner.
Editors are expected to edit and advise each other’s work. We encourage attending the weekly Zoom, but active async participation works too.
Editors are encouraged to attend a (funded) annual in-person gathering.
Editors are encouraged to chip in to support community events, magazine logistics, general Reboot promo, and more.
Qualifications
You’re a great storyteller. You can switch between personal perspective and systemic analysis. You excel at breaking down complex topics—technical, political, etc—into simple language. You care about craft. You have the samples to prove it.
You love editing and being edited—thought-partnering with others to create excellent work. You see editing as not just a cosmetic touch-up, but a way to shape ideas from the start. You relish feedback and receive critique with curiosity.
You have a strong perspective. You don’t need formal expertise, but we want to hear passion, nuance, and conviction in your takes. You can help us map the key players in a field and separate level 0 from level 5 takes.
You’re intellectually curious. You’re excited to learn new things and seek differing opinions. You love going from problem to solution, and from theory to practice. You do the extra reading to get things right.
You don’t mind self-promotion. Cringe, I know. But distribution is where good content goes to die, so we’ll need you to help get your work in front of the people and partners who are best poised to learn from it.
You get Reboot. Finally, we hope that you’re familiar with our newsletter and Kernel Magazine, you generally vibe with “Take Back the Future!” and “Does Tech Criticism Still Matter?”, and you see the potential for Reboot to go somewhere great.
Compensation
Editors will be compensated at a base of $750/quarter for the single artifact, and $1000/quarter if you produce 2+ artifacts.
Editors are committed for a 12-month term, from August 2024 to July 2025.
We can increase this rate if it poses a barrier to your participation. We know your time is more valuable than this—consider it more of a thank you stipend than a fair wage.
Application
Apply here by July 30. It should take 20-30 minutes.
Marketing Director (NEW)
The Marketing Director is a new role we’re bringing on to lead Reboot and Kernel’s audience growth. A dearth of distribution is where good content goes to die. We’re looking for a scrappy, creative, and strategic mastermind to get our work in front of the people and partners who will benefit most.
While the role sits adjacent to the editorial board, you’ll be a part of Kernel’s core leadership team, and are welcome to contribute to Reboot as a writer/editor anytime.
Responsibilities
The marketing director is primarily responsible for building and executing on a repeatable strategy to grow the Reboot newsletter’s audience. We hope you’ll think creatively here. For example, this might include:
Social media management: Which platforms should we prioritize? What should we post? Should we start a TikTok or a LinkedIn? Can this be systematized into a protocol for each newsletter piece?
Cross-promotion, partnerships, and syndication: What other publications can we guest post or syndicate with? Which podcasts should we guest on? What’s the angle for how we pitch our work to others?
Editorial strategy: How can we publish work that resonates with a wider audience? Who should write for us, or come on our podcast? What trending topics should we try to lead the charge on?
The marketing director is responsible for leading distribution for Kernel Magazine. This involves helping plan our digital and in-person launch, getting Kernel into bookstores and literary events, and finding opportunities to promote Kernel to more people.
The marketing director is encouraged to attend a (funded) annual in-person gathering.
Qualifications
You’re experiment- and execution-oriented. You can go from having an idea to testing it scrappily in a week or less. As the first-ever marketing lead, you’ll go broad in exploring what works—and the best way to learn is to try things fast.
You value audience quality over quantity. We’re not trying to thinkboi our way to 100k Twitter followers, but to reach the people and communities—mission-driven individuals shaping tech’s future—who matter most. Your strategy takes this into account.
You love meeting people and building partnerships. You’re not shy about sharing, and you’re always down for a coffee chat. You’ll build relationships not only with readers but also other thinkers, builders, and potential contributors.
You get Reboot. Finally, we hope that you’re familiar with our newsletter and Kernel Magazine, you generally vibe with “Take Back the Future!” and “Does Tech Criticism Still Matter?”, and you see the potential for Reboot to go somewhere great.
Compensation
The marketing director is compensated at a base rate of $750/quarter.
The marketing director is committed for a 3-month trial, from August to November 2024. If it’s a good fit, we’ll extend this through July 2025.
We can increase this rate if it poses a barrier to your participation. We know your time is more valuable than this—consider it more of a thank you stipend than a fair wage.
Application
Apply here by July 30. It should take ~20 minutes.
Creative Director (NEW)
The Creative Director is a new role we’re bringing on to lead Reboot and Kernel Magazine’s visual and brand identity—which forms an essential part of any iconic media institution.
While the role sits adjacent to the editorial board, you’ll be a part of Kernel’s core leadership team, and are welcome to contribute to Reboot as a writer/editor anytime.
Responsibilities
The creative director is primarily responsible for leading art and design direction for Kernel Magazine, our flagship print publication.
You’ll lead print layout for Kernel. This requires experience with Adobe InDesign (we have templates, so no need to develop them from scratch—see issues 3 and 4). You’ll also work with the managing editor to coordinate with our printers and help ensure that the physical products arrive in time.
You’ll hire and manage a team of designers, illustrators, and other creatives to produce Issue 5 of Kernel, in close collaboration with Kernel’s editor-in-chief and managing editor.
The creative director is responsible for producing ad hoc marketing assets for Reboot and Kernel, e.g. event flyers, podcast art, and other materials.
The creative director is encouraged to launch new Reboot swag, driving this from brainstorming to execution). We welcome unique, quirky, playful, and weird ideas.
The creative director is encouraged to attend a (funded) annual in-person gathering.
Qualifications
You have a strong portfolio of relevant work showcasing your taste and versatility. Print design and InDesign experience is required. You know how to work with an existing brand identity—but help expand and enliven it.
You have strong project management skills, and can drive a complex project like Kernel Magazine from conception to execution. You can work solo or lead a team. You’re a great asynchronous communicator, and you don’t drop balls.
You’re excited about different mediums: from web to print, text to image, and social media to physical swag. Even if you don’t have experience in everything, you’re excited to learn new creative tools and formats.
You get Reboot. Finally, we hope that you’re familiar with our newsletter and Kernel Magazine, you generally vibe with “Take Back the Future!” and “Does Tech Criticism Still Matter?”, and you see the potential for Reboot to go somewhere great.
Compensation
The creative director is compensated at a base rate of $1500, premised on fulfilling Kernel responsibilities and occasional asset requests during the year.
+ $750 if you also execute on a swag/merch launch
The creative director is committed for a 12-month term, from August 2024 to July 2025.
We can increase this rate if it poses a barrier to your participation. We know your time is more valuable than this—consider it more of a thank you stipend than a fair wage.
Application
Apply here by July 30. It should take ~20 minutes.
I think next year is going to be a blast, and I hope you join the fun.
—Jasmine & Reboot team
Forwarded to a friend!