Bookslut was born in an era of internet freedom. Today's web has killed it

The books community that my site joined was driven by enthusiasm not clicks, goodwill and not money – and that culture has goneI miss the internet. I know that, technically, the internet still exists. It’s the Facebook-, Twitter-filtered series of algorithms designed to put cat videos, think pieces, and advertisements in front of you. But I get nostalgic for the days before money invaded the internet – the early 2000s, in particular, when I created the literary blog and webzine Bookslut.com.Back then, nothing you did mattered. And that gave you freedom. Back then, the online book culture was run mostly by enthusiasts and amateurs, people who were creating blogs and webzines simply for the pleasure of it, rather than to build a career or a brand. I know that nostalgia is a stupid emotion, but still I regret the day money found the internet. Once advertisers showed up, offering to pay us to do the thing we were doing just for fun, it was very hard to say no. Or understand exactly what the trade-offs would be.The most disappointing revelation about the books world: even an intellectual is susceptible to clickbaitYou click on it, you own it. Related: Jessa Crispin: 'We're not allowed to say the Paris Review is boring' Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #books world #jessa crispin #paris review

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Bookslut was born in an era of internet freedom. Today's web has killed it'


Your older Amazon Kindle may lose connectivity today, but there's an update

The Amazon Kindle has been around since 2007, and plenty of updates have been made to both hardware software during the years since it was released. If you have an older model then it still works just fine and, while Amazon would almost certainly like to sell you a new one, the company is still... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon kindle


6 Reactions by Marketers to the End of 'Free Social' as the Algorithm Era Unfolds

Instagram last week unveiled its updated algorithm, which will reorder the images and videos users see in their news feeds based on their interests instead of how the posts were published chronologically. The development followed a similar move by Twitter six weeks ago to reorder users' time... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short term #greater control #work hard


Religion and Spirituality News From Around the Web: March 23, 2016

Today’s headlines include a list of three spiritually-themed books to check out, a nun’s memoir recounting rape and abuse at the hands of a priest, and a Q&A with Christy Beam, the author of ‘Miracles From Heaven.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spirituality news


Tribune Publishing says temporary restraining order would kill O.C. Register bid

Tribune Publishing's purchase of the Orange County Register and Riverside Press-Enterprise is doomed if the U.S. Department of Justice obtains a temporary restraining order on antitrust grounds, the owner of the Los Angeles Times argued Friday.The publishing company's $56-million cash offer for... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2016-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tribune publishing #riverside press-enterprise #antitrust grounds


Is freedom of expression such a bad thing in baseball?

By weighing in on the Great Bat Flip Controversy, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper fundamentally changed one of the most heated arguments in sports. Trout said he would not flip his bat after hitting home runs, placing himself on the opposite end of the ideological spectrum from Harper, the reigning... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mike trout #bad thing #opposite end


Barnes & Noble kills off Nook app and video store as part of digital retreat

Barnes & Noble ceded another battle in the ongoing war with Amazon over digital hearts and minds.The company will end the dedicated Nook app and video store on March 15, which was where you could purchase content for Nook-branded hardware, according to a report in diginomica.Nook digital... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2016-03-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #android device #mobile apps #barnes noble #tv shows


Freedom insiders confirm bid for O.C. Register ahead of next week's auction

Bankrupt newspaper publisher Freedom Communications confirmed Friday that a group of inside investors, including developer Mike Harrah, has submitted a bid for the company's assets. That sets up a three-way competition for Freedom, the owner of the Orange County Register and Riverside... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #riverside press-enterprise


Why the Kama Sutra Still Matters Today

Far more than a sex manual, the 2,000-year-old text is a still-relevant guide to sensuous living. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kama sutra #matters today


Arguments ramp up ahead of Sunday Trading vote today

The arguments for and against the relaxation of Sunday Trading laws have ramped up ahead of a key vote on the proposal in the House of Commons today. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Data Guy’s Web of Analysis: DBW Turns Hostility Into a Handshake

Digital Book World and Author Earnings may have transformed an industry standoff into a cooperative trade-and-indie exploration going forward. The post Data Guy’s Web of Analysis: DBW Turns Hostility Into a Handshake appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #data guy #author earnings


Religion and Spirituality News From Around the Web: March 9, 2016

Today’s news from the religion and spirituality publishing world includes the death of author Jerry Bridges, a Curious George book about Ramadan, and a list of Buddhist titles to help readers gain enlightenment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spirituality news


Battle For Mobile Web Ramps Up as WordPress Creates Plugin to Automate Facebook Instant Articles

WordPress parent Automattic has built a plugin for Facebook Instant Articles that will soon allow everyone in its user base to easily post content on the social media platform's walled garden.Instant Articles delivers content on mobile devices at blazing fast speeds. Come April 12, Facebook will... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2016-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #user base #walled garden #mobile devices #major publishers


Why Dr. Seuss's books still appeal to readers today

Seuss's birthday on March 2 is celebrated as Read Across America Day, in which book-based activities take place at schools and celebrities encourage children to pick up a title. How have Seuss's works appealed to generations? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #readers today


'Libraries are vital to freedom of speech'

Rachael Jolley, editor of global freedom of expression magazine, Index on Censorship, has spoken out about the growing importance of public libraries for freedom of expression saying "at the heart of any library is the idea of a freedom to think and discover”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public libraries #growing importance


S&S to publish Jaycee Lee Dugard book on freedom

Simon & Schuster is set to publish Freedom: My Book of Firsts, a memoir by Jaycee Lee Dugard, who was kidnapped in the US aged 11 and held prisoner for 18 years. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster


Authenticity and immediacy: Why USA Today’s FTW uses Facebook live video

Facebook has quickly become a major player when it comes to video. Ditto for its live video streaming product, which publishers have started to use to inject some immediacy into their coverage. For FTW, Facebook's live video platform has given it a taste of live broadcast during the NBA All-Star... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #usa today #major player


To Kill a Mockingbird most popular book-club pick

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is the most popular reading group title in the UK, according to new research from The Reading Agency. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper lee #reading agency


Google Launched Faster-Loading Mobile Pages Today for a Bevy of News Sites

Google AMP officially launched today, and the search giant's new feature promises to help some mobile pages load more quickly and combat ad fraud. AMP stands for Accelerated Mobile Pages, an open-source project that's supported by major publishers like Daily Mail, social platforms such as... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2016-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital platforms #mobile users #ad blockers #originally revealed


Religion and Spirituality News From Around the Web: February 24, 2016

Today’s religion and spirituality news roundup includes a new book from Christian publishers on Queen Elizabeth’s faith and details about a self-help book with “spiritual tools” by Gillian Anderson. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spirituality news #christian publishers #queen elizabeth #gillian anderson


Google Revs Up Mobile Web With AMP, But What About Marketers?

A group of top-tier publishers will help launch Google's answer to Facebook Instant Articles on Wednesday as the search titan attempts to reinvent the mobile web with its Accelerated Mobile Pages initiative. But Google may need brands' help before too long if it really wants to build a new... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2016-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mobile web