Yes, I absolutely understand. It’s interesting that you draw a parallel with Chipotle. I see a slightly different parallel: in the last few decades, we’ve seen media consolidation pare down what was once a lush media ecology. It’s similar to the way independent restaurants struggle against the influence of large chains seeking dominance in all markets. While it is nice to see an attempt to help journalists connect with audiences, I cannot help but think this kind of content relationship results in even greater reliance on stories tailored to clicks, instead of fostering the kind of objectivity that news organizations used to value. We now see that most political reporting, for example, is tailored as advocacy. Editorials have taken the place of original reporting and the audiences of the left and right wing sources are reading stories that are mutually exclusive and nearly completely lacking in facts.

In other words, it’s nice that I can get the kind of burrito I like. But it’s depressing to see that interest in burritos is causing the empanada places and taco joints to rework their menus in order to meet the burrito demand. I’ll put that analogy out of its misery now ;)