You might get a kick out of something I noticed today while re-reading an old magazine.
Spy, January 1990:
Important magazine editors aren't like you and me - they require special cosseting, like a rare orchid or endangered species of water buffalo, and they demand devotion no matter how objectionably they behave. Conde Nast, a corporation that knows how to treat its workers right (waiting until they are on vacation, for example, to fire them)...
And the rest of it doesn't matter, really. I just thought you'd like to see that. #chrisanderson
@raincoaster: God, and I thought I was the only one who kept copies of Spy around in a personal Museum of Snark. (Visit our gift shop and pick up ironic postcards, Joe Franklin videos you can snicker at, and Chevy Chase action figures.)
I hear Anderson offered to let Ted Greenwald keep his job at Wired if he would be willing to work for the totally radical price of the future. #chrisanderson
He shows little/no loyalty to publication or fellow employees.
Uses the publication to promote his own career.
Plagiarizes large chunks of his book.
Repeatedly invokes his kids when busted for cutting and pasting from Wikipedia.
Survives a scathing New Yorker review by an actual smart guy, Gladwell.
How does he get away with it? Why it's the haircut! His tonsorial sense just screams technological credibility to those who want to be technologically credible.
So be warned, question Anderson and you question the haircut!
I read Wired cover to cover (even the tinsy tiny print) and love it. I never go to the website. My 20 yr. old son reads Wired exclusively on the web. Even though I don't go to the website, I expect there to be a website that's even better than the magazine. After all, this is WIRED! Just knowing that there's a killer website available makes reading the magazine a better experience. It's a huge mistake for Conde Nast to think, for one second, that they could skimp on editors/writers/artists for the website.
We all know how the story of the Titanic ends, right? You hit an iceberg that big, you're going down. And like the captain of the Titanic, the Chiefs of Conde are too drunk on their expense accounts to realize that the ship is not only listing, but sinking quickly. Who gets in the life boats? Does Anna cling to a frozen deck chair watching Graydon slowly fade away? Does Andre Loen Talley survive thanks to all his furs? Does Chris Anderson predict the future and stay in England? Do the Golf guys simply sip cocktails and drive golf balls into the ocean assuming Tiger Woods' ship, Privacy, will get them before they meet their maker? #wired
I love Wired. But why does a tech magazine have like a dozen of those stupid subscription cards that fall out and why is it wrapped in plastic every month? That all seems so backwards. #wired
Remember when Wired (back in the late 90's/early 00's) was 90% uber-nerd articles peppered with artsy pictures of mainframes?Now aside from one or two good articles per issue, it's basically Maxim minus babes plus lame youtube links.That said, I still subscribe. #wired
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Worth noting that Wired is a great source of talent. Brian Lam of Gizmodo came from the magazine. We've certainly been tempted by a couple of other editors and writers. So much as I hate to see one of my favorite magazines in trouble, I'm salivating.
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Frankly, Conde is not going to change until the next generation of Newhouses takes over; Steve in particular is internet-savvy. But by then it might be too late, and great media brands will be shrunken and irrelevant. #wired
10/28/09
"Gawker really blows it. Complains I was speechifying on layoff day, was actually on a sales call with Wired ad team at HP. Unbelievable."
[twitter.com]
#tips
10/28/09
Spy, January 1990:
Important magazine editors aren't like you and me - they require special cosseting, like a rare orchid or endangered species of water buffalo, and they demand devotion no matter how objectionably they behave. Conde Nast, a corporation that knows how to treat its workers right (waiting until they are on vacation, for example, to fire them)...
And the rest of it doesn't matter, really. I just thought you'd like to see that. #chrisanderson
10/28/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
10/27/09
I hope he chokes on his own hot air.
10/27/09
He shows little/no loyalty to publication or fellow employees.
Uses the publication to promote his own career.
Plagiarizes large chunks of his book.
Repeatedly invokes his kids when busted for cutting and pasting from Wikipedia.
Survives a scathing New Yorker review by an actual smart guy, Gladwell.
How does he get away with it? Why it's the haircut! His tonsorial sense just screams technological credibility to those who want to be technologically credible.
So be warned, question Anderson and you question the haircut!
10/16/09
10/16/09
10/15/09
10/15/09
10/15/09
10/15/09
07/30/09
07/29/09
Isn't that like Bozo the Clown criticizing Ronald McDonald?