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 #paris review

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


Appeals Court Upholds Decision Against Internet Archive’s Book Scanning Program

The decision leaves only the Supreme Court left for the Internet Archive, suggesting the case may finally be winding down after years of contentious legal wrangling. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-09-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #internet archive


IBPA and EveryLibrary Make a Play for the Freedom to Read

We Are Stronger Than Censorship is a new program aiming to supply diverse books to young readers, which has begun fundraising and bringing partners on board ahead of a September 9 launch. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-08-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #young readers


I founded a pioneering tech magazine. Tech killed it off

Sound & Vision was so revered that Apple brought its first iPod to its offices by hand. It’s now a victim of the industry it coveredSound & Vision once commanded respect. Sony, Netflix, even 60 Minutes all visited the magazine’s 45th floor offices north of Times Square. Apple... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-08-21 13:30:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #print edition #print advertising #digital advertising #british publisher #times square


Istanbul’s Elif Nur Şafak on Wattpad: ‘Freedom of Speech’

A children's book literary agent at Kalem Agency in Istanbul, Elif Nur Şafak, talks about Wattpad's disruptions in Türkiye. The post Istanbul’s Elif Nur Şafak on Wattpad: ‘Freedom of Speech’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-08-12 20:23:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #children's book


Banned Books Week is Entering a New Era

Plus: the most read books on Goodreads in July, new cookbooks for the school year, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-08-02 15:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #books week #school year #read books


A New Era for Banned Books Week: Book Censorship News, August 2, 2024

Making Banned Books Week about action will bring us one step closer to curtailing book censorship. That, plus this week's book censorship news. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-08-02 13:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #books week #step closer


AI startup argues scraping every song on the internet is 'fair use'

When most tech companies are challenged with a lawsuit, the expected defense is to deny wrongdoing. To give a reasonable explanation of why the business' actions were not breaking any laws. Music AI startups Udio and Suno have gone for a different approach: admit to doing exactly what you were... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-08-01 23:31:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #copyright law #unfair competition


A New Era for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Begins

As a comic book series to honor the Turtles’ 40th anniversary debuts, here’s a look back at their milestones. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-07-22 09:01:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #comic book


Can Apple’s Vision Pro Usher In a New Era for Reading?

Imagine following Harry Potter’s adventures while the gothic library of Hogwarts glows in the background. Apple’s latest VR headset suggests that future may be near. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-07-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #harry potter


Inside Tapas Entertainment’s Plans for Webtoons, Web Novels, and Publishing

With the debut of Webtoon on the U.S. stock market dominating comics world headlines last month, South Korea’s other webcomic and webnovel giant, Kakao Entertainment, and its Tapas platform are eyeing ambitions of their own. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-07-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #south korea


Always Running: Luis J. Rodríguez’s memoir of gang days in LA is as relevant today as it was 30 years ago

Many of the book’s themes, including structural racism, inequalities and poverty are as topical now as 30 years ago. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2024-07-08 15:26:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #memoir #relevant today


Appeals Court Hears Internet Archive Copyright Case

While the court clearly appeared skeptical of the Internet Archive's arguments, the panel was deeply engaged and well-prepared, peppering both sides with a wide array of questions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-06-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #wide array #internet archive


Here are all of the Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X chips that were released today

It's the dawn of a new era in Microsoft's eyes as the first wave of Copilot+ PCs are now available as of June 18. This "new class of Windows PCs," as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella describes them, contains hardware designed to run as many generative AI processes locally as possible, rather than... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-06-18 11:04:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book series #enterprise customers #minimalist design #pretty hard #zenbook ready #digital assets #automatically lock #preserve juice #number pad


World Literature Today Announces Finalists for 2025 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature

World Literature Today Announces Finalists for 2025 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature News and Events [email protected] Mon, 06/17/2024 - 12:19 Top row (left to right): Samira Ahmed (photo by Erielle Bakkum), Hatem Aly;... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2024-06-17 17:19:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #lulu #national book award #alternating years #silver medallion #malinda lo #positive impact


A Love Letter to Libraries and the Freedom They Represent

It's a book in a library that helps a young girl break free of the repressive and conservative world her parents raise her in. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-06-07 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #libraries #love letter


For Elif Shafak, Literature Means Freedom

The novel is both a path to freedom and a form of political activism for the Booker Award finalist. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-06-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #political activism #elif shafak


Why it’s so hard to lend a book to a friend, according to the internet.

I spent a few days in DC over the long weekend for a wedding. Walking around leafy and well-appointed Capital Hill, I overheard a conversation between two older folks, as their dogs warily sniffed each other, about how people were taking and selling books from the little free libraries around... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-05-30 18:46:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #libraries #free libraries #selling books #long weekend


TMB Leans Further Into Video as Open Web Revenues Waver

The digital media company TMB, formerly Trusted Media Brands, is on pace to generate nearly $200 million in revenue in its most recent fiscal year, which ends in June, according to chief executive Bonnie Kintzer. Though the company isn't sharing financial specifics, the... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2024-05-29 14:50:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #digital media #company isn #$200 million


The Internet Archive has been fending off DDoS attacks for days

If you couldn't access the Internet Archive and its Wayback Machine over the past few days, that's because the website has been under attack. In fact, the nonprofit organization has announced that it's currently in its "third day of warding off an intermittent DDoS cyber-attack" in a blog post.... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-05-29 03:59:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #libraries #book publishing #copyright infringement #hacker group #held hostage #hard work #tuesday morning


Libraries rule, cops drool: Today’s the birthday of both NYC’s libraries and police.

Today is a double anniversary in New York City. On May 23, 1845, the New York Police Department was founded, and 50 years later on May 23, 1895, the New York Public Library was established. Today, over a century and a half later, these two city institutions are not getting equal slices of their... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-05-23 16:59:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #libraries