The Scoop About Status

Just last month, Status celebrated its first birthday. At the time, we teased that exciting developments were on the horizon here at home. Today, we’re thrilled to officially announce what the next chapter for Status looks like.

Starting October 6, we’ll be expanding our independent newsroom with two new correspondents: Brian Lowry and Natalie Korach. Brian, who will serve as Hollywood correspondent and editor, brings decades of experience covering the entertainment industry at outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Variety, CNN, and The Wrap. Natalie joins us after serving as media correspondent at Vanity Fair, where she reported on the same beat she’ll now be covering at Status.

As The Hollywood Reporter’s Alex Weprin noted, Natalie will take the helm of our flagship newsletter twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, while Brian will oversee it on Fridays and publish a supplementary Hollywood-focused edition during the week. With these additions, Status will now publish seven days a week—or more than 30 editions a month.

We’re also excited to share that we’ll be working with Stacey Farish, an industry veteran and former president and chief revenue officer of Deadline, to expand our advertising and sponsorship opportunities. And of course, earlier this year we welcomed Jon Passantino from CNN as our executive editor, strengthening our newsroom leadership.

It’s all a sign of how far we’ve come, but also where we are headed next. Status began as a one-person operation, but the goal was always to build something larger and lasting. Our genesis was not the brainchild of a major corporation or billionaire looking to flex his power. It was recognizing a need for meaningful, strong accountability journalism covering the media industry—because scrutinizing the power players and institutions who shape our culture and control the flow of information has never been more urgent.

Of course, when Status launched, there was no outside capital or secret donor—just the belief that readers would support an independent newsroom dedicated to our mission. It was a daunting leap to take, but that bet is paying off. Thanks to our subscribers who have financial supported our work, we’re growing into a full-fledged newsroom covering one of the most consequential beats in America.

Since launching, the stakes have only grown higher. With Donald Trump waging a full-scale assault on free speech—targeting critics and threatening the press—the need for independent, unflinching reporting is more important than ever. Over the past year, Status has answered with scoops that have pulled back the curtain on how media is made and called out those in power who’ve bent the knee instead of standing tall. As we enter year two, we’re committed to investing even more deeply in this work—all while mainstream news organizations pull back in this critical area.

None of it would be possible without you. Every paid subscription directly funds journalism that holds the powerful accountable at a moment when so many forces would prefer silence. We’re working every day to prove that an independent newsroom can thrive without the backing of wealthy benefactors, but because readers demand and support it.

Here’s to year two—and to building something even stronger, together.

With gratitude,
Oliver