The name Semafor is derived from the maritime word “semaphore”—a visual signaling system once used by ships to communicate over distances with flags or lights. It suggests clarity, signaling, and structured communication—ideals that Semafor claims to embody in a noisy, fragmented media landscape. According to its founders, the name reflects a goal to “signal” truth…
Media Hall of Shame Series: The Intercept
When The Intercept launched in 2014, it promised to be a radical departure from the establishment press. Born out of the Edward Snowden leaks and funded by a tech billionaire, it presented itself as the home for aggressive investigative journalism—fearless, adversarial, and independent of corporate or state influence. For a brief time, it lived up…