X Hires Former WSJ Editor to Lead News Group

X's Ambitions for News and Journalism

X is actively working to establish itself as a central hub for the evolution of news and journalistic endeavors. To further this objective, the company has recently appointed John Stoll, previously an editor and Detroit bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, to oversee its news division and partnership initiatives.

Announcement at CES 2025

The announcement of Stoll’s hiring occurred on Tuesday during X Corp.’s keynote presentation at CES 2025, held in Las Vegas. This signifies a strategic move by X to bolster its presence in the news landscape.

Yaccarino on Empowering Journalists

During a discussion with Catherine Herridge, X Corp. CEO Linda Yaccarino expressed enthusiasm regarding the potential for journalists on the platform. She highlighted the opportunity for them to “explore their craft,” achieve success, and earn a substantial income.

Yaccarino referenced X’s creator revenue share program as a key component of this vision. This program financially rewards creators for popular content that drives user engagement.

Creator Revenue Share Program Details

The program functions by compensating creators with paid subscriptions who meet specific criteria – including follower count and impression levels – based on engagement from other Premium X users. This system directly links earnings to content performance.

Lessons from the Past

The concept of compensating journalists based on clicks isn't novel. BuzzFeed previously utilized this model, supplementing its serious news coverage with lighter content like quizzes and gossip. However, it later became vulnerable to alterations in Facebook’s algorithms.

X retains the ability to modify its own algorithm, potentially diminishing the prominence of news content if deemed strategically advantageous. It could also prioritize or de-emphasize news sources based on the preferences of X owner Elon Musk.

A Shift Away from Legacy Media

“The future of news is not legacy media,” Yaccarino stated during the CES keynote address. She argued that traditional news outlets often cater to narrow audiences to meet budgetary constraints.

X aims to cultivate an environment where journalistic curiosity can flourish, offering a platform where “the shift in the narrative is now in the user’s hand.” This is facilitated by “protected free speech and a two-way conversation.”

John Stoll's Role at X

Yaccarino did not elaborate extensively on the specifics of Stoll’s responsibilities. However, she confirmed his leadership of the news group and partnership team, with a primary focus on expanding news coverage on X globally.

His role will be instrumental in shaping the future of news dissemination and engagement on the platform.