Medium's collections makes it easier to find things to read
Debuting first on iOS and Android, the new feature will highlight Medium's best content.
It's taken a few years, but Medium has made a niche for itself as the ideal place for hot takes and navel-gazing editorials on the web. Starting today, you'll be able to find the site's best pieces more easily. A new "collections" feature on Medium's iOS and Android apps will list curated groups of stories underneath major sections, which at this point includes things like news and education, as well as events like the 2016 election. And, in a big change, Medium is also using real-life humans to curate featured stories.
"We believe that in order to create a great reading experience for humans, other humans should be part of that process," Medium's Katie Zhu wrote in a blog post. "There's a unique sensibility that individual curators bring, whether that's a specific tone, voice, or simply good taste." At this point, collections are being built by Medium's editorial staff, as well as "a handful of trusted testers." The plan, eventually, is to open up collections to all Medium users.
There aren't many surprises in Medium's curation guidelines: The site says it will highlight timely stories, compelling original writing and diverse voices, among many other criteria. Medium's editors also say they won't just be featuring stories from their friends, or from people who pay them. As with many news-focused sites, you can also suggest featured stories by emailing their tips line.
Ultimately, it's features like this that will help Medium cement its role as the editorial platform of choice for the tech world, intellectuals and so-called tastemakers. It's not as if the web needed another place for people to write stuff -- but being able to cut through the noise and offer a single platform for high-quality writing could be genuinely useful.
