Frank Chaparro: A Peek into Web3 Journalism - [Web3 Breakdowns, EP.68]

This is Eric Golden and my guest today is Frank Chaparro. Frank is Editor-at-large at The Block and host of The Scoop podcast. Many of you know him as Fintech Frank on Twitter. This episode is a little different as we dive into what it’s like to be a journalist covering frontier technology that moves at such a rapid pace. We cover the challenges of reporting in crypto, lessons learnt from the FTX saga, and Frank’s views on the overall ecosystem. Please enjoy my conversation with Frank Chaparro

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here.

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Show Notes

(00:02:23) - (First question) - Some of the biggest groups he’s had fun reporting on

(00:05:59) - How he processes the incredible volume of information in the crypto space and decides on which story he’d like to write and why

(00:08:11) - The ways crypto Twitter serves as a source and the village center for information

(00:11:19) - How it feels as a journalist navigating the crypto space  

(00:12:23) - Developing relationships and handling building them as a reporter 

(00:14:35) - Whether or not it’s hard to just turn off in his news-centric relationships

(00:15:28) - Some of the things he thinks about given the nature of the FTX fallout 

(00:17:14) - The balance between being funny online and a hardnose journalist

(00:19:35) - His initial reaction to the news about the FTX fraud and becoming a part of it

(00:22:38) - What he’d write if he could write the Wikipedia page for The Block 

(00:23:19) - Comparing this bear market to other bear market cycles 

(00:24:47) - Where we go from here and thoughts on regulation 

(00:28:42) - Traditional media covering crypto versus crypto-specific media outlets

(00:31:22) - The anti-crypto media and motives for someone like Elizabeth Warren

(00:33:55) - The Block’s global offering to clients beyond just writing and reporting 

(00:38:44) - His preparation process for interviewing guests on their podcast

(00:40:08) - What he’s most focused on over the next six months and six years 

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