Axios And The Art Of Simplification With Roy Schwartz - TWMJ #1055
Release Date: 09/27/2026
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info_outlineWelcome to episode #1055 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation).
Roy Schwartz is the co-founder of Axios and CEO of Axios HQ, where he has helped redefine how organizations communicate in an age of information overload. Before launching Axios alongside Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen, Roy helped build Politico into one of the most influential political news organizations in the world. Today, Axios reaches millions of readers through its distinctive Smart Brevity format, while Axios HQ helps some of the world's largest organizations communicate more clearly and effectively. In his new book, Simplify - Do 50% More With 50% Less, Roy argues that our biggest challenge isn't a lack of productivity... it's toxic complexity. As AI accelerates the pace of work, organizations and individuals alike risk drowning in meetings, emails, processes, and information unless they deliberately simplify how they operate. In this conversation, Roy explains why concise communication has become a competitive advantage, how Smart Brevity evolved from a newsroom philosophy into a business operating system, and why audience-first thinking is more important than ever. We also explore the future of journalism in an AI-driven world, the economics of modern media, how AI can strengthen editorial judgment without replacing it, why trust has become the most valuable asset any news organization can possess, and what leaders can do to reduce "work slop" before AI creates even more of it. Throughout the conversation, Roy makes the case that simplification isn't about saying less... it's about making what matters impossible to miss. Enjoy the conversation...
- Running time: 53:41.
- Hello from beautiful Montreal.
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- Here is my conversation with Roy Schwartz.
- Simplify - Do 50% More With 50% Less.
- Smart Brevity.
- Axios HQ.
- Axios.
- Follow Ray on X.
- Follow Ray on LinkedIn.
Chapters:
(00:00) - Introduction and Roy's background.
(02:08) - The origin of Axios and its media approach.
(04:01) - The role of smart brevity in journalism.
(06:47) - How Axios breaks news effectively.
(09:52) - The impact of AI on news and communication.
(14:55) - Building trust and brand with journalists.
(20:00) - The evolution of Vice and media valuations.
(25:05) - The sacred cows of media and advertising.
(30:06) - Using AI to augment journalism and corporate communication.
(34:59) - Strategies for internal communication and reducing content overload.
(39:56) - Preparing for rapid change and simplification.
(44:54) - The future of content, trust, and AI in media.