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In the fall of 2021, Ozy Media—a small but seemingly high-achieving digital startup—burst into the public eye, when the New York Times reported that one of the company’s cofounders had impersonated an executive from YouTube during a conference call with potential investors. Soon, Ozy was in shambles, as was Carlos Watson, the face of the company, who, two years later, was indicted on federal charges, including fraud. Had Watson really broken the law, or was he just doing much of the same ethically murky business that pervaded digital news in the 2010s, when Silicon Valley shareholders set impossibly high demands? Hosts Josh Hersh and Susie Banikarim delve into the saga in this special three-part series of The Kicker: “The Unraveling of Ozy Media”—and explore what Watson’s case says about digital journalism now. We’ll update this page throughout the week with new episodes and bonus features.
Episode 1: Truth and Mythmaking
Carlos Watson’s media startup arrives on the scene—and insiders reveal a dark reality under its glossy veneer.
Episode 2: Built on a Bluff
How inflating traffic data went mainstream in digital media.
The Exhibits: What the Court Saw in the Case of Ozy Media
The case against Watson was built largely on the testimony of his key lieutenants, including his young cofounder, Samir Rao. But prosecutors also presented several other pieces of evidence. Click here to review text messages, emails, and other exhibits from the trial.
Hosted and coproduced by Josh Hersh and Susie Banikarim
Produced and edited by Amanda Darrach
Fact checking by Will Tavlin
Audio mix by William Flynn
Listen and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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