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 ]
News tagged with: #mark zuckerberg #bill gates #jeff bezos

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German writer sues Random House for refusing to publish controversial book on Islam

A German author is taking Random House to court for declining to release his book Hostile Takeover: How Islam Hampers Progress and Threatens Society which it originally signed on the basis of a 10-page proposal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trade dismayed after controversial EU copyright law rejected

Publishers and authors have expressed their disappointment and "worry" after a controversial EU copyright law was rejected by parliament. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BA urges MEPs to support controversial copyright law

Tim Godfray, executive chairman of the Booksellers Association, has written to all UK MEPs asking them to support publishers in their fight against copyright infringement. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Diaz denies all allegations against him in first media interview

Junot Diaz has conducted his first media interview since allegations of sexual impropriety against him surfaced, with the author saying he was “shocked” by the accusations whilst maintaining his innocence. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Atlantic Media is selling Quartz to Japan’s Uzabase for up to $110M

The digital media company founded in 2012 will now be part of a publicly traded Japanese firm. Atlantic Media has agreed to sell its business-and-tech news outlet Quartz to publicly traded Japanese firm Uzabase, in a deal worth between $75 million and $110 million. The deal is set to close... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2018-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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MIT Technology Review Redesigns for the Greater Good

One of many memorable covers in the long history of MIT Technology Review's various iterations arrived in October of 2012 in the form of a close-up portrait of Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin above the tagline, "You promised me Mars colonies. Instead, I got Facebook." Six years later, we still... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-06-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Endeavor Business Media Acquires SouthComm’s B2B Assets

Chris Ferrell, Patrick Rains and company are returning to SouthComm, Inc.—or, perhaps more accurately, SouthComm is returning to them. Endeavor Business Media—the firm launched by Ferrell just weeks after his departure from SouthComm last November as part of a "change in strategic direction" at... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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MIT Press Launches Knowledge Futures Group

MIT Press has created the Knowledge Futures Group, a joint initiative between the press and the MIT Media Lab. The group is intended to spearhead collaborative technology projects that will allow for easier and more widespread publishing and dissemination of digital scholarly and academic works. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Finnish Digital Media Fund IPR.VC Backs Development of YA Book Series for Television

With plans for multiplatform development to follow, the allegorical fantasy writings of Italian author Roberto Ricci are coming first to television. The post Finnish Digital Media Fund IPR.VC Backs Development of YA Book Series for Television appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital media companies chasing TV hope for carriage fees, but it’s no guarantee

Digital publishers want to launch linear TV channels and are willing to give them away for free, but that move carries some risk. The post Digital media companies chasing TV hope for carriage fees, but it’s no guarantee appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Junot Diaz cleared to return to teaching at MIT

Pulitzer prize-winning author and creative writing professor Junot Diaz has been cleared to teach at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) this autumn following harassment claims and an investigation into the author's conduct. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dropbox Expands Media, Entertainment Partnerships

The file hosting and cloud storage service announced expanded media and entertainment partnerships in a commitment to providing digital tools for better collaboration and security for digital content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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American Media Inc. Acquires Bauer’s Celeb and Teen Titles

The great year of consolidation continues in the mass-market magazine space. National Enquirer publisher American Media Inc. announced Friday that it has acquired 13 celebrity and teen titles from Bauer Media USA—including In Touch, Life & Style, Closer, J-14, and the recently launched Teen... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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1517 Media Reorganizes Imprints, Names New Publisher

1517 Media hired a new v-p and publisher, Jill Braithwaite, to lead its newly organized trade imprints, 1517 Media-Books.Additionally, the company announced a new business development venture featuring partnerships with smaller publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Russia’s Clever Media Group Now Talking of September for North American Launch

Russian children's publisher Clever Media Group is looking to publish English-language titles in US and Canadian markets this autumn, accelerating its international expansion plans. The post Russia’s Clever Media Group Now Talking of September for North American Launch appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Group C Acquires Three More Titles; Grand View Media’s Breakup Nears Completion

After 21 years, Alabama-based Grand View Media appears to be exiting the publishing business. Group C Media—the New Jersey-based publisher of Business Facilities and Facility Executive magazines—announced last week its acquisition of Turf, Turf Design Build, and Tree Services magazines from... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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News groups ask Facebook to stop treating media ads like political ads

News organizations want Facebook to stop treating them like political and issues-based advertisers, claiming that the social network's new rules could negatively impact how the public views journalism.On Monday, media advocacy groups addressed a letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg requesting that... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook gets CNN to bring Anderson Cooper to its new media venture

Anderson Cooper is bringing a version of his CNN show to Facebook, joining Shepard Smith of Fox News as the two main media stars tapped to join the social network's fledgling news platform.On Wednesday, Facebook announced an initial lineup of seven news programs produced by networks and digital... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookCon 2018: Social Media Poetry Explosion

Poetry is going viral, and the poets of [Dis]Connected can tell you why Social media poetry is suddenly everywhere: on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and increasingly in print, too. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NYRF 2018: Streaming Services Widen the Media Landscape

At the New York Rights Fair, authors and publishing professionals sought to learn more about a book-to-film marketplace that’s been disrupted by a proliferation of streaming services. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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