Sick and Tired of Ill-informed Tech “Journalists”
Posted on June 25, 2008
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I know I’m an early adopter and that I tend to try out new web apps that other people don’t quite see as useful so I admit that I have a certain amount of bias. Regardless, I have to rant a bit about the so called “tech journalists” who begin half their columns by admitting that they’ve never actually tried the technology they’re writing about. I can’t count how many pieces on Second Life I’ve read that include “I don’t have an avatar but I talked to people who do” or journalists I’ve been interviewed by who obviously don’t have even the most basic notion of how a specific technology actually functions before they decide to run with a story.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not claiming that all journalists have to imbed themselves in a culture just to be able to write about it but it seems that clicking a few buttons to create an account and poke at a technology is a lot less of a commitment than, say, joining a cult or getting a tattoo just to be able to write about the culture. We’re not talking about a major life change here.
Today’s example of ill-informed “journalist” comes from the Huffington Post’s Michelle Haimoff as she writes about the attraction of Twitter. The following statement comes early in the article:
I haven’t joined Twitter yet. I’m still unclear on why anyone would care about what I digg. I was wary of Facebook. I never thought YouTube would take off. I pretend there’s no such thing as Second Life.
Now, I’ll grant that Michelle doesn’t claim to be a technology expert. Her other posts are about secret getaways and other vapid topics. I just think it’s poor writing and even worse journalism to not take the time to dig a little deeper and actually understand a technology before you write about it. Especially one as accessible as Twitter. The only redeeming aspect of the article is that she at least spoke to Scoble about his Twitter use. Michelle’s conclusion is that at least some Twitter users are simply lonely. Agree or disagree, it’s a shallow consideration of the power of an always-on asynchronous conversation.
As technologies formerly only known to us geeks hit the mainstream it’s certainly important that non-geeks take a look and begin to translate their usefuless. But come on! At least try it before you write about it.
End of rant 
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4 Responses to “Sick and Tired of Ill-informed Tech “Journalists””
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Sarah,
I’ve experienced the exact same frustration with “journalists” that provide an “overview” and “informed opinion” to their readers regarding a new technology. There have been a number of instances of real hack jobs by journalists that, as you describe, really have no clue regarding the technology about which they’re writing. I think those do need to be highlighted and “called out.”
But, after reading Haimoff’s article, I don’t think she falls into that category. She concludes with what I read as a somewhat positive spin on social communication technologies - Facebook or otherwise:
The way the article ends, to me seems to suggest that readers that question technologies like Twitter or Facebook - the notion of posting status messages of what you’re doing at the moment - should perhaps think twice. She did.
Amen!
These kids today, with their fast cars and their rumble seats!
Yes`Sarah,
These kids with these new found technologies, nothing wrong with chalk, slate and a good old beating with a stiff cane, Then they would learn wouldn’t they…..
Perhaps we should chain them to their desks then they would listen…
He said with no Irony…………
(Playing with my new uber-cool mac)