Why blogging will kill the mainstream media

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April 24

Why blogging will kill the mainstream media

Subtitled - Why Scoble is irrelevant in the world of Web 2.0.

So I was reading Scoble tonight and found this gem:

Speaking of which, I don’t have a pass to Mix07 either. I still am going, though. Instead of going into the conference, though, I’m just going to hang out in the hallway and do some sort of hallway cam like I did last week at the Web 2.0 conference. It’s my little protest against expensive conference passes to hear about something new Microsoft wants me to talk about anyway.

Microsoft wants him to write about stuff from MIX07. Really? Why? More importantly if you are someone interested in what is going on at MIX07 why would you care what Scoble says? Now I like Robert; he's a nice guy but what does he know about the sort of technology that will be displayed at MIX07? Is he a developer? Not hardly. He's a reporter. If you are a developer don't you really want to hear from someone who understands the technology in some depth? Don't you really want to hear from someone like you? Someone whose business it is to not only understand but use this technology?

Of sure Robert, and the rest of the main stream media, are great at saying "ooh pretty pictures" or quoting actual experts that they cherry pick to fit the slant of their storyline. But are they experts? Generally not so much. I learn almost nothing from these people. I was a developer for a while (only 18 years or so) and while I don't do much of it anymore I think I'm a lot more technical than the average (and even above average) reporter from Wired or a podcast interviewer from PodTech. What I want to read from MIX07 are the reviews of people in the trenches. I want to hear from people who are going to make serious technical and business decisions based on what they see and hear there. I want to hear from people who are the target audience for MIX07 content.

I read Robert's blog for entertainment value. There are some areas where he actually knows something about what he is writing and that is great. But he is a writer for the popular press no real different from some reporter from Wired magazine. Speaking of which, a reporter from Wired wants to attend even though he hasn't registered. Jeff Sandquist talks about it here and you can vote on it on Channel 9. (The vote is going against him right now.) My suggestion was that the media should play a poker tournament with the winner getting a conference ticket and the buy in money going to charity. It is in Vegas after all!

Why have special privileges for the media anyway. Real developers will be there with real technical expertise and real credibility when they say something is good, great or boring. Those are the blogs I'd be looking for. Oh sure the parties and who has drinks with who is all good fun but don't most of the technical people who can't attend want more than the fluff? I think so.

I'm tired of the media getting things wrong because they lack expertise. In the world of Web 2.0 shouldn't we be looking for the equivalent of Popular Mechanics or even the quiet guy in the corner who just knows stuff from experience rather than People magazine? Nothing against People magazine and I do enjoy that aspect of Robert's blog from time to time. But I think there will be other blogs where there will be more technical content. And that my friends is the real difference that blogs can make.

Technorati tags: MIX07, Scoble, MSM, Media

12:24 AM | Blog it | Blogs and Business

Comments (16)

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	Samuel Stokeswrote: Wow, Mr.Rockwave, accusing Alfred of having a jerkish tone and attitude, you must be super sensitive. It appears to me that Alfred was simply speaking the truth about scoble, the great man of ... I am sorry why is he great, I don't get it. He is now marketing himself and his opinion, something I want to do, but come on, get real. Although I think Scoble should have gotten free tickets, I also feel that some professors at USC should have gotten free tickets as well, but they didn't. So if you have a few minutes, please help me understand better the measurement for "jerkish" tone and jerkish attitude, I would like to make sure I adopt those into my blog, it really gets the comments! So you can blast over to my site and lay it down there if you want. Also, lose the attempts to be balanced, you lost it with the undefinable words like jerkish. Well back to making my beef jerky in the backyard smoker, by by Apr. 29
	Anand wrote: Alfred I dont read your blog. I read scoble's blog because he acts like this guy whenever people dont accept his point of view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIVnwYGU9Qo both are funny to watch : His very nature of bring MSFT into the conversation tells you exactly what kind of spin doctor he is. Apr. 24
	Alfred Thompsonwrote: Bringing Microsoft into this discussion in the context of my post is just plain silly. It makes no sense at all. I don't speak for Microsoft. It is unlikely that my post is remotely representitive of Microsoft employees (many of whom faun all over famous bloggers) or Microsoft as a company (they love to treat bloggers and other media as special people.) Well at least when people do try to make is seem like this is some sort of Microsoft plot it helps me realize that there are people more clueless than me. Apr. 24
	Sina wrote: I think Microsoft really needs to work on understanding how new Web 2.0 media sources (bloggers, social tagging sites etc) see Microsoft. The newly emerged web and open-source software dynamic is all about "open"-ness: allowing users to create their own extensions for their web browsers; providing equal and free access to web-based services; developing free and open applications for the sake of web traffic. It's definitely not about charging for x-box game updates (think Gears of War), limiting the marketplace-compatibility of the Zune, or discounting a blogger as influential as Scoble. It was Microsoft's open attitude towards hardware that made Windows so popular. It's ironic that their closed-minded and dollar-squeezing attitude is causing all their problems now. Of course, with typical Microsoft-management snobbishness I'm sure they won't correct their mistake and invite Scoble to Mix 07. This sort of corporate attitude is really a disservice to some of the great programmers at Microsoft who are working hard to produce great software. Apr. 24
	Sina wrote: I think Microsoft really needs to work on understanding how new Web 2.0 media sources (bloggers, social tagging sites etc) see Microsoft. The newly emerged web and open-source software dynamic is all about "open"-ness: allowing users to create their own extensions for their web browsers; providing equal and free access to web-based services; developing free and open applications for the sake of web traffic. It's definitely not about charging for x-box game updates (think Gears of War), limiting the marketplace-compatibility of the Zune, or discounting a blogger as influential as Scoble. It was Microsoft's open attitude towards hardware that made Windows so popular. It's ironic that their closed-minded and dollar-squeezing attitude is causing all their problems now. Of course, with typical Microsoft-management snobbishness I'm sure they won't correct their mistake and invite Scoble to Mix 07. This sort of corporate attitude is really a disservice to some of the great programmers at Microsoft who are working hard to produce great software. Apr. 24
	Macwrote: Thanks for tipping a few more people off regarding how Microsoft sees the world. People are starting to get the big picture now like never before, many of them current and former "Microsoft developers". It will take a few more years, but eventually even Microsoft will renounce its lock-in strategy and beg customers (developers) to come back. My guess is that everyone will be welcome at Mix0x, but it will be a much smaller meeting. Apr. 24
	Dick Carlsonwrote: Now that I'm not on the Microsoft payroll, this sort of stuff is even funnier than it used to be. The best part is that I can forward links, blog about it, and talk to friends without worrying about them showing up in my review. I spent four years on the core team of Microsoft's largest customer event. Press are given passes for one reason -- to get the "story" out. (Meaning the spin that the company wants to put on products, systems, and such. Nothing different than Proctor & Gamble or Rothschild's Sewer and Septic Sucking Service.) Success is measured by the number of positive mentions that appear. Of course the history of what a particular person (can you hear me, MaryJo?) has said about the Borg figures in to whether they're given a pass, a nice suite, access to execs and product group folks, admittance to parties and even a lovely gift bag. What you're hearing from Scoble is very blunt and honest. That's what got a lot of us in trouble in Redmond. Apr. 24
	John Furrierwrote: Thanks Alfred. We've been in the web 2.0 area really since the beginning and it's always interesting to see the perspective of people in the industry. Web 2.0 is more of a developer opportunity. The dizzying pace of global change in technology and infrastructure is creating a huge opportunity. The opportunity for developers is that most people don't understand web 2.0 or even recognize the 'real' opportunties. Looking at web 1.0 to web 2.0 migration is like watching the industry's tectonic plates colliding. I'm expecting some big winners emerge from the new crop of ventures...that being said expect a sizable set of flameouts. Good luck with your event Apr. 24
	Alfred Thompsonwrote: Note to others: John Furrier is Founder and CEO of PodTech.net and Robert Scoble's boss. I think it says good things about John that he showed up to stand up for his company and employees. Apr. 24
	Alfred Thompsonwrote: John I make no assumptions about anyone at PodTech. I'm sure you have some great technical people. I probably should not have used Robert's name and gotten him all pissed off. I didn't think his skin was that thin and I could probably have made my points better with someone else or with no one at all. My bad. What bothers me most about all of this is that the main points I wanted, was trying, to make have been lost. And there is the pity. Maybe I will try again when things calm down. Apr. 24
	John Furrierwrote: Hey Alfred: this is John Furrier of PodTech, a podcaster interviewer from PodTech I guess that I'm an average reporter (oh don't all reports have CS degrees?)... PodTech reports with video on exactly the work in the trenches. ScobleShow is very developer and startup focused. I wouldn't assume that people at PodTech are not technical. I'd challenge you anytime to talk technical anything. Apr. 24
	Alfred Thompsonwrote: As far as I am concerned anyone whose check clears should be allowed to attend MIX. And anyone who wants to should be allowed to report it. And anyone can have any opinion on anything they want. I never said otherwise. But why should journalists get in for free when anyone with an opinion can report on the event via the web? And Charles (and others) sorry if I sound like a jerk, appear to have an attitude or (who me?) seem elitist. What I have is an opinion and I think that is allowed. Maybe I'm just a bad writer if those are the impressions I gave. Sorry. Apr. 24
	Alfred Thompsonwrote: Joaquin, no reason in the world you should read what I have to say. Why did you read this? Because Robert linked to me? Is that a good reason? Though of course since my resume is online (and easy to find) you could get some information about me there and make some judgements. And as for who Microsoft should invite to things that depends on who they want to reach. I am not a good one to invite to MIX. There are other events where I have more knowledge and it would make sense to invite me. Apr. 24
	Joaquin Murietawrote: so..you are not really a developer? "But I am not a great dev. I make no pretense about being a great developer. I found it hard and it had stopped being fun for me. Today I code only small things either for fun or for teaching purposes." Should MS invite only 'good' developers? What reason would I read about what a poor developer has to say. How do I know they have any idea what they are talking about? : ) Apr. 24
	No namewrote: I think you're pretty far off the mark. It's not just about Developers. Scoble himself gives a pretty robust response: http://scobleizer.com/2007/04/23/alfred-is-right-im-irrelevant-to-web-20/ But you should probably check the About page for Mix before you start opining on who should and shouldn't be allowed to attend and report on it. http://www.visitmix.com/about/ Text below for the type of people being asked to attend: Developers, and also Designers and Business people. Even if you take the view (I don't) that he's not entitled to an opinion on developer issues, I think you'd find it hard to say that he shouldn't have a view on Design & Business issues: "Come to MIX07 for the Next Web Now. If You Are: A Web Developer, build: AJAX Web applications quickly and easily with ASP.NET Living room applications for Windows Media® CenterGadgets that live on the Windows® desktopSites and applications that consume Windows Live services Xbox 360 games and experiences with XNAHigh-scale back-end applications with Windows Server® and SQL ServerExciting new Web experiences with the still-secret “Technology X”And more A Web Designer, learn about: Optimizing your site for IE7Using WPF and “WPF/E” to design gorgeous and highly functional user interfacesExtending your Web experience beyond the browser and onto televisions and other devices The suite of Expression tools that revolutionize the way designers work with developers And more A Web Businessperson, learn about: Case studies of profitable sites built using the Microsoft platformMonetizing RSSBuilding a better user experience to unlock new revenue opportunitiesForging tighter, stickier customer connectionsMicrosoft’s comprehensive advertising platformBuilding innovative media experiences into your site And more" Think a bit harder before you write a narky piece like this. It just comes across as a bit personal, or motivated by something else... corporate, maybe? Who knows. Apr. 24
	Charlie Rockwave wrote: I always try to appreciate someone for making their views and experience available for me to learn from. But…if you are so correct regarding Mr Scoble being irrelevant, you needn’t adopt a jerkish tone and attitude. Apr. 24

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