{"id":1317,"date":"2024-12-19T20:18:13","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T20:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rootsofprogress.org\/?p=1317"},"modified":"2026-10-30T10:20:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T10:20:53","slug":"lookback-at-blog-building-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rootsofprogress.org\/lookback-at-blog-building-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking back on the 2024 Blog-Building Intensive Fellowship\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This fall, our second class of 24 blog-building fellows completed our eight-week blog building intensive.

The second interaction of our fellowship program was a success: several RPI fellows are in the vanguard of the growing progress studies movement. You\u2019ll find them leading the AI policy debate<\/a>, earning recognition for their writing on biotechnology<\/a>, being cited in the Financial Times<\/a> on China\u2019s penetration of Western markets, and earning the top spot on the Hacker News<\/a> forum.

They published 81 essays in total during the program, on topics like techno urbanism<\/a>, how China hacked comparative advantage<\/a>, AI as \u201cBlack Boxes<\/a>,\u201d<\/a> the pace of progress in medicine<\/a>, the case for positive-sum environmentalism<\/a>, why air conditioning is a survival technology<\/a>, progress in metascience<\/a>, why we should take AI welfare seriously<\/a>, marine carbon dioxide removal<\/a>, the non-existent Germany YIMBY movement<\/a>, how EVs could change the grid<\/a>, the benefits of microgravity<\/a>, many different<\/a> analogies for thinking about AI<\/a>, and so much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with our first cohort, our 2024 fellows said the blog-building intensive program raised their ambition, improved their writing, and gave them a newfound sense of community and belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the numbers:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Over 60% of fellows rated the blog-building intensive at an 8, 9 or 10 (out of 10) for having accelerated their career as a progress intellectual.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Of our 24 fellows, 7 had no online writing presence when they joined the program and launched their newsletter or blog during the program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • For those who already had blogs or newsletters, the median audience growth during the program was 84%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 80% of fellows said they would stay in touch with one or more of their peers from the program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here\u2019s what the fellows had to say:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cRPI made me more ambitious about my progress career\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"
    Blog-Building Intensive fellow Niko McCarty giving a talk at the Progress Conference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The advisor sessions, along with individual mentorship and exposure to the other talented fellows, were all designed to inspire fellows and raise their ambition. We feel we\u2019ve succeeded in this area. Here\u2019s what the fellows had to say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • \u201cBBI has raised my standards. I saw a new standard of intellect, purpose, and execution on display in BBI that opened my eyes to what it means to be truly excellent\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u201cThe support and encouragement have taken my ambition and sense of purpose to another level.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u201cThe RPI fellowship helped me achieve every personal and professional objective I set out for it.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cIt took me to another level as a writer\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"
      Blog-Building Intensive fellow Sarah Constantin with program advisor Virginia Postrel at the Progress Conference. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      We included several elements designed to help fellows improve their writing in the blog-building intensive. Fellows participated in Rob Tracinski\u2019s Think Like A Writer<\/em> course, workshopped their writing twice per week with peers, and had their essays edited by professional editors. Here\u2019s what the fellows had to say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • \u201cI felt like it took me to another level as a writer, dusting off ways of thinking I have not used since writing papers in college. The experience of being edited, learning how to pitch, and exploring the possible kinds of writing on my blog are not things I would have done on my own.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • \u201cWhen I started in the BBI, I had only barely found my voice. By the end of the program, I felt the wind at my back as a writer. The quality of the group, the visibility participation provided me, and the benefits of RPI staff feedback were invaluable.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • \u201cThe Roots of Progress Fellowship is the single best way I’ve found to hone storytelling skills and, importantly, break into a supportive community of other writers and editors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \u201cI feel a sense of belonging and community I didn\u2019t have before.\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \"\"
        Blog-Building Intensive fellows Julius Simonelli, Sean Fleming and Grant Mulligan at the Progress Conference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Without question, the community was the most significant aspect of the program for fellows. Through our 4-week onboarding period leading up to the fellowships, or daily sessions during the fellowships and time spent together in Berkeley and at the Progress Conference, fellows forged a lasting sense of community. Here\u2019s what the fellows had to say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • \u201cIt was wonderful to meet the rest of the fellows: a gathering of smart people who are optimistic, and who care. They find cynicism as boring and shallow as I do, and are actively working to make the world better. It’s their example and their camaraderie that fills me with energy. I look forward to seeing them grow, and to growing alongside them.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • \u201cI’ve always felt progress-adjacent; being a BBI fellow made me feel more part of the progress community.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • \u201cI feel incredibly inspired, the community is amazing, which feels very motivating – I want to contribute.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          We couldn\u2019t be prouder of our 2024 fellows, and we\u2019re looking forward to improving upon this year\u2019s program in 2025. Stay tuned; we\u2019ll have more to share late in Q1 2025 about next year\u2019s Roots of Progress Institute blog-building intensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This fall, our second class of 24 blog-building fellows completed our eight-week blog building intensive. The second interaction of our fellowship program was a success: several RPI fellows are in the vanguard of the growing progress studies movement. 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