Some lessons from the MIT Media Lab controversy

When the news first broke that the MIT Media Lab had a close relationship with deceased billionaire and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, some saw it as a momentary lapse in judgment, and there was widespread support for Media Lab director Joi Ito. But then New Yorker writer Ronan Farrow reported that the Epstein relationship was much deeper than it first appeared — including the fact that Ito got a significant amount of money from Epstein for his own personal investments. Much of the earlier support evaporated, and Ito agreed to resign. And there were other spinoff effects as well: Richard Stallman, a free-software pioneer and veteran MIT professor, also resigned, after being criticized for comments he made on an internal email list that downplayed the impact of Epstein’s sexual abuse. To explore these and other issues, CJR had a series of one-on-one and roundtable interviews — using its Galley discussion platform — with a number of journalists and other interested observers, including WBUR reporter Max Larkin, Slate writer Justin Peters, Gizmodo editor Adam Clark Estes and Stanford researcher Becca Lewis. We talked about why places like the Media Lab often get a free pass from reporters, and why there’s so much technology writing that focuses on the “hero/genius” trope, where the all-knowing founder gets credit for inventing something amazing, even if the thing they invented either doesn’t work (Theranos) and/or they are terrible people in a variety of ways (Steve... Continue reading at 'Columbia Journalism Review'

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2019-10-03 10:50:57 UTC ]
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Britain joins social media crackdown after livestreamed New Zealand attack

The United Kingdom joined a growing global backlash against technology companies such as Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc., proposing fines and bans if social-media platforms fail to curb illegal activity. The government outlined plans for an industry-funded regulator that would police the... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2019-04-08 14:25:00 UTC ]
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What Do Investors’ Actions Tell Us About Media’s Future?

Everybody has their own hot take on the media. The coldest eye likely comes from (or probably should come from) those who put their own money on the line. Publicly-traded media companies share a lot of mandatory financial information, but what drives the perspectives of those looking a bit... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #market ripe #high-quality news


Baltimore Mayor Pugh to take leave of absence in midst of 'Healthy Holly' book controversy

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, facing a call by Gov. Larry Hogan for a criminal investigation into the book deal that paid her hundreds of thousands of dollars, announced Monday that she will take an indefinite leave of absence because of her health. The Democratic mayor’s office issued a... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2019-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indefinite leave #healthy holly #book controversy #larry hogan #book deal #announced monday #democratic mayor #office issued


Enthuse buys 51% stake in AA Media Ltd

Enthuse Group, a specialist international publishing firm, has announced the acquisition of a 51% stake in AA Media Ltd. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Inside Facebook-born Freeda Media’s distributed publishing strategy

Two-year-old female-focused Freeda Media has worked with 150 brands on branded content campaigns, and revenue has seen triple-digit growth. The post Inside Facebook-born Freeda Media’s distributed publishing strategy appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Companies Lean Into Trusted Brands, Established Channels for Marketing Services

[caption id="attachment_153707" align="alignright" width="290"] Creative from "Merrell Magic," a custom-content campaign by AIM's Catapult Creative Labs and Backpacker magazine.[/caption] Requiring deeper insights and data, broader access to audiences and agency-like services from publishers,... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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European Parliament Approves Controversial Copyright Overhaul

By a 348 to 278 margin, the European Parliament voted to approve a sweeping copyright reform bill celebrated by publishers and media companies, but which critics say could harm free expression online and fundamentally alter the way the internet works. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New copyright rules could curb access to online media in Europe

Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Facebook Inc. and freedom of speech activists suffered a blow after the European Parliament rubber-stamped new rules that could curb access to online media in Europe. Once in effect, the rules will likely encourage publishers and music and movie producers to pursue money... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BNP Media Shutters Five Magazines, Laying Off Numerous Staffers

BNP Media is shuttering five of its trade magazines and merging others in a round of downsizing that will see several employees let go over the coming weeks. Appliance Design, Ceramic Industry, Hotel F&B, Reeves Journal and the Spanish-language Industria Alimenticia will each shut down by... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The New York Post vs. the (non-Murdoch) media, Google backs local news: Publisher's Brief

Welcome to the latest edition of Ad Age Publisher's Brief, our roundup of news from the world of content producers across digital and print. Got a tip? Send it our way. Joining us late? Here's the previous edition.The news from Cupertino: "Apple's string of new subscription services pushes... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digiday magazine’s latest issue looks at the shifting role of intermediaries in digital media

The first issue of 2019 focuses on the shifting role of intermediaries. The post Digiday magazine’s latest issue looks at the shifting role of intermediaries in digital media appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rogers Media Sells All of Its Remaining Magazines

Completing a two-year-long divestment process, Rogers Media, once far and away Canada's largest magazine publisher, will soon pull out of the print media business entirely. The company has reached an agreement to sell all five of its remaining magazines—including 114-year-old news... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google starts ‘subscriptions lab’ for local publishers to develop paid content

The six-month program, featuring eight North American news publishers, is designed to unearth insights that can be shared across the news ecosystem. The post Google starts ‘subscriptions lab’ for local publishers to develop paid content appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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MIT Press partners with Oxford Literary Festival

The MIT Press will sponsor the American Literature and Culture program at the 2019 Oxford Literary Festival, marking the first time a university press sponsor has partnered with the festival in this way.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook and Google broke down barriers to broadcast media — even for mass killers

The killing of 49 people at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, was engineered to be viewed and shared on the world’s largest technology platforms, taking full advantage of Silicon Valley’s laissez-faire approach to content moderation. It began with a racist manifesto uploaded to the... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2019-03-16 00:05:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #google broke #mass killers #silicon valley #laissez-faire approach #content moderation


Facebook and Google broke down barriers to broadcast media — even for mass killers

The killing of 49 people at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, was engineered to be viewed and shared on the world’s largest technology platforms, taking full advantage of Silicon Valley’s laissez-faire approach to content moderation. It began with a racist manifesto uploaded to the... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2019-03-16 00:05:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #google broke #mass killers #silicon valley #laissez-faire approach #content moderation


Children’s Books in China 2019: Kids Media

The multimedia company Kids Media, known for its partnerships with some of the world’s biggest brands—think Disney, DreamWorks, and Lego—is on an experimental streak. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US Publisher F+W Media Has Hearing Today in Chapter 11 Protection Filing

Citing mismanagement and mistakes in its focus on e-commerce, the enthusiast-content company that created the Digital Book World and Writer's Digest lines, has a hearing today (March 12) in court. The post US Publisher F+W Media Has Hearing Today in Chapter 11 Protection Filing appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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F+W Media Files Chapter 11, Will Sell Assets

A failed attempt to shift the magazine and book publisher's business to an e-commerce model has led F+W to sell both its books division, which has revenues of $22 million, and It's communities group, which had sales of almost $68 million. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The dark lesson of a $24 million Amazon book

This is what happens when algorithms call the shots. I can still recall my surprise when a book by evolutionary biologist Peter Lawrence entitled The Making of a Fly came to be priced on Amazon at $23,698,655.93 (plus $3.99 shipping). While my colleagues around the world must have become rather... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2019-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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