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

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Some lessons from the MIT Media Lab controversy'


Morry Schwartz steps aside as chairman of independent publisher Schwartz Media

Publisher of the Monthly and the Saturday Paper says he will no longer be involved in day-to-day operationsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails,free app or daily news podcastMorry Schwartz has given up his leading role at the company he... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-12-11 06:44:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #step back #saturday paper #latest updatesget #free app #leading role #decades ago #independent publisher


CBC News analysis finds thousands of Canadian authors, books in controversial dataset used to train AI

A CBC News investigation has found at least 2,500 copyrighted books written by more than 1,200 Canadian and Québécois authors were shared online as part of a massive — and now defunct — dataset used to train artificial intelligence. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-12-07 09:00:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #canadian authors #train ai #books written


Why AI, revenue diversification and ad spend are the defining 2024 trends for media companies

Will Barker, manager, strategic customer success, BlueConic The media and publishing industry is constantly evolving. With this, it’s often difficult to keep up with the latest trends, especially with fast-evolving technologies emerging all the time and ripple effects remaining from the global... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2023-12-05 15:08:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #media companies #revenue diversification #ad spend #constantly evolving #latest trends #global pandemic #publishing industry


The Taunton Press Sold to Active Interest Media

The Taunton Press, publisher of magazines, books, and a range of digital products in the woodworking, home building and renovation, building science, gardening, and sewing categories, has been acquired by enthusiast media company Active Interest Media. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #taunton press #digital products #home building


Regnery Publishing Will Stay with Salem Media Group

Salem Media Group, parent company of Regnery Publishing, has been selling assets in an effort to cut its debt debt load, but a proposed sale of the publisher has been called off. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-30 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #regnery publishing #selling assets


Book Packager Melcher Media Expands into Marketing and Printing

After 30 years in business, the company will offer direct-to-consumer sales, marketing, and printing services for what founder and CEO Charles Melcher calls "a focused list of clientele." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Zibby Media Withdraws National Book Award Sponsorship over Potential for 'Hate Speech'

With several National Book Awards finalists planning to call for a ceasefire in Gaza at tomorrow's ceremony, Zibby Media has withdrawn its sponsorship of the event over what CEO Zibby Owens called the "inappropriate conduct and collusion of its nominees." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hate speech #national book award


G/O Media Shutters Jezebel, Lays Off Staff and Editorial Director Merrill Brown

The digital publisher G/O Media has shuttered Jezebel, the feminist publisher, amid a broader sweep of layoffs across the G/O Media portfolio that will affect 23 staff in total, according to an internal memo shared by chief executive Jim Spanfeller. The cuts come just two days after the company... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2023-11-09 16:29:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #feminist publisher #digital publisher


ALA Report Looks at Millennial, Gen Z Library Usage, Media Habits

The report, based on a “nationally representative” 2022 survey of some 2,075 Gen Z and Millennials, presents one of the most in-depth looks at how growing up in an increasingly digital environment has shaped the reading and media consumption behavior of younger Americans. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


In Appeal Brief, Texas Defends Controversial Book Rating Law

In a 62-page filing, state attorneys say a district court judge made "substantive errors" in ordering HB 900 blocked, and urged the Fifth Circuit to overturn the order and dismiss the case. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


BuzzFeed in Advanced Talks to Sell Complex, Backtracking on Digital Media Bet

BuzzFeed is negotiating a sale of much of Complex Networks for under $140 million, less than half of what it paid to acquire it two years ago. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-10-27 16:26:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #advanced talks #complex networks #digital media


Scholastic walks back controversial segregated collection of diverse titles

With debates over book bans growing more contentious, the education publishing company tried to find a happy medium that may not exist. Across the nation, it’s time for the Scholastic Book Fair. The beloved and nostalgia-triggering event, where kids go and pick out an armful of books to take... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-10-25 13:50:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diverse titles #scholastic


Scholastic Apologizes, Will End Controversial Book Fair Offering

After a public outcry, Scholastic this week said it will discontinue its optional diverse stories collection and pledged to "redouble" its efforts to "combat the laws restricting children’s access to books." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public outcry #scholastic #book fair


Crooked Media Founders Announce Debut Book with Zando Imprint

Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor, who host the popular politics podcast 'Pod Save America,' will publish their debut book with their Zando imprint, Crooked Media Reads, next June. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #zando imprint #jon lovett #tommy vietor #debut book


At Frankfurt: Demand for More Books and Cultural Media Coverage

The German publishers association is organizing a Frankfurt Book Fair event to discuss reduced books and literature coverage across the country's news media. The post At Frankfurt: Demand for More Books and Cultural Media Coverage appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-10-03 23:29:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #news media #frankfurt book fair #publishers association


The Adult Lessons of Daniel Clowes

The cartoonist has written some of the great haters, slackers, and screwups in modern comics. His new graphic novel imagines if one of them grew up. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2023-10-02 13:46:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #graphic novel


Bloomberg Media Restructures Sales Team to Streamline Events, Integrated Marketing

Business and financial news publisher Bloomberg Media is restructuring its sales and marketing divisions around industries like tech, finance, auto, luxury and consultancy, rather than geography, to streamline operations and strengthen its appeal to advertisers, according to chief revenue... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2023-09-28 10:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #integrated marketing #streamline operations #news publisher


Media Briefing: Publishers say a cookie-less future remains murky, overheard at the Digiday Publishing Summit

Publishers who attended the Digiday Publishing Summit opened up about their top challenges, concerns and curiosities during closed-door, anonymous town hall meetings. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2023-09-21 04:01:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #media briefing #publishing summit


Vice Media Group’s Cory Haik says company’s publishing business is ‘very close to profitability’

During the Digiday Publishing Summit, the COO of VMG’s news and entertainment arm explained how its publishing business plans to bounce back over the next 12 to 18 months. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2023-09-20 04:01:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bounce back #publishing business


In ‘Bring No Clothes,’ Life Lessons From the Bloomsbury Group’s Wardrobe

An exhibition about the bohemian set’s “philosophy of fashion” goes deeper than just clothes. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-09-15 15:51:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #life lessons #bloomsbury group #bloomsbury