In the first episode of Channel 4’s media start-up parody Nathan Barley, the eponymous wannabe digital guru describes himself as a “self-facilitating media node”. It’s a ludicrous line, beloved of fans of the cult Noughties show, but in recent years many renowned British journalists and editors appear to have taken it as career advice.
The rise (and, in many cases, rapid fall) of boutique online start-ups by industry figures has become a trend – accompanied by overwrought coverage from their peers in the mainstream media.
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