There's a great book "The Media Monopoly" that talks about this very thing.
The news is certainly skewed not to offend advertisers. This is the natural result of advertising-driven media. It is not a conspiracy, only the result of more ads==more money. If you piss off the advertisers, they leave and you make less. So you don't piss them off next time.
I mostly agree with what you're saying, Jon, but I think there is one big thing missing in much online media: Credibility.
Deserved or not, "closed media" has credibility and the users of "closed media" trust the reporters and editors to root out the facts.
I'm no fan of conventional media, I work for a huge broadcasting conglomerate, and they do almost everything wrong when it comes to reporting the news.
"Open media" sources must be checked out for errors, omissions, and bad information. In the "open media" there is no one to do this except the individual user. This is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because there are so many sources of information, but a curse since many users take what they read online at face value without doing any background research. Other users want to check out the information, but do not have the skills to root out the facts like someone with newsgathering or editorial experience.
Personally, I wouldn't cry many tears if "closed media" went away in favor of "open media", but in order for this to happen, users must become skilled in self-editing or online sources will never attain the necessary level of credibility.
I'm in Austin, Texas, and I have IDSL using Covad with speakeasy.net for the ISP. IDSL was my only option except for a cable modem, but the cable company doesn't allow servers, and I host my own domain and mail system at the house.
I have nothing but good things to say about Covad. I also have a 384k SDSL through covad at my office for sending audio streaming, and they have been very good to work with.
I do know folks that have had delays like a week for service due to the phone company finger pointing dance.
I'm a broadcast engineer and I've worked with the phone company for years with wierd phone line hookups, and in my opinion the level of service is dismal from most of the RBOC's. They're totally clueless most of the time.
I'd recommend Covad. I was very impressed with them.
Radio stations pay enormous sums to the record companies for the rights to broadcast the songs. The amounts are based on the revenue taken in by the radio station. In a top 10 market, the music fees can be tens or even hundreds of thousands per year.
This is how they get "exposure" by extorting money from radio stations.
I have no sympathy for RIAA, ASCAP, BMI or any other organization that refuses to adapt to the new media. They either need to get on the internet train or be run over by it.
I've read your columns for many years now, both on Hotwired and now on Slashdot. I've always found them outstanding. I also read your book "Geeks" and had my wife read a few passages that expressed particularly well some of my own experiences.
Like you, I'm a little bit older than many of today's geeks. I was in high school before widespread internet access, when mainframes ruled the corporate and educational world, and a home computer was an Apple II. I escaped the Hellmouth using the geek communication tool that pre-dated computers: Ham Radio. Now, I live and breathe the stuff. Computers and technology are the tools of my trade. My geekiness set me free. I also work in the media, where reactionary bullshit reins supreme... Hey, it pays the bills.
Your Hellmouth series following the Columbine incedent remains the most insightful and on-target commentary on this subject to came out of any media. The Pinkerton WAVE program again demonstrates the establishment's belief there is a quick fix to these problems. They foolishly believe imposing a police state in our schools, further crushing what little creativity and individuality remains, will have a positive effect. They'll wonder in amazement when the next set of geeks shoots up the next school. They'll wonder where they went wrong...
Both my parents were teachers all their lives. My mother was an elementary school principal, and my father a college professor and administrator. My closest uncle a high school principal, and his wife owns a chain of day care centers and private schools. I've been exposed to public and private education my whole life. It amazes me that educators, most of whom are well educated themselves, can be so out of touch with reality that they fail to see what's going on right in front of their faces. Yet, time and time again we see the evidence.
I applaud you for your continued attention to the issue of harassment in our schools, and administrators' bone-headed response to it. I watch my local schools very closely for this kind of activity, and oppose it whenever I see it. Hopefully, if enough geeks watch them closely enough, we can make high school a bit less hellish for our children.
I'm sorry to see this ruling, but it doesn't surprise me. Many european countries have government-owned telecommunications, or have had them until very recently. Their courts are used to this being the norm, unlike in the US.
The real problem with this, or any other simmilar rulings, is they are unenforcable. Even if AOL wanted to monitor traffic this closely, I can't see how they could do it without severely crippling their connectivity.
I wish the damn music industry would figure out that if they sold music the way people want to buy it, they wouldn't have to use their lawyers so much...
Well, if the recent DDOS attacks show us anything, it shows the kind of "civil disobedience" an organized group of crackers could bring to bear.
The Geeks _really do_ run the internet, and it would be wise for some of these lawyer-wielding corporations to understand what that means.
Given the right motivation, an organized group of people could attack and cripple these companies in ways the script kiddies never thought of.
Personally, I think the Boston Tea Party is a very good example of the kind of thing we could see if politically motivated crackers decided to launch a directed and coordinated attack.
It would be nice if a major studio/record label would actually TRY THIS before unleashing their lawyers...unfortunately, they usually SUE furst, ASK QUESTIONS later.
I picked one up in Austin recently and the guy at Circuit City told me they sell 20-30 of the Apex's PER DAY--and this is only one store. At this rate, we'll keep the MPAA's lawyers busy for YEARS!
I had not intended to buy a DVD player because of all the deCSS flap, but with the Apex, I can screw the MPAA and the RIAA in one swoop--SCORE!
I have to disagree with you. If it all really comes down to theft, why has the RIAA not spent its time developing a method whereby consumers can LEGALLY download music?
I'll tell you: It's because this has absolutely nothing to do with piracy. The piracy issue is nothing more than a smokescreen to get media attention. (and it's working!)
The threat to the RIAA is that MP3's challenge their absolute control of the music distribution chain. If someone can directly distribute music (legal or otherwise) over the internet, they can do so without involving the RIAA and the rest of the middle men.
You're right. This is why I not only don't LIVE in Utah--I won't even VISIT the state.
One reason the church/state seperation clauses exist in the US constitution is to protect a secular MINORITY from just such oppression by a religious MAJORITY.
Majority rule does not override the minority's rights.
I disagree that a public library should filter internet access. The public library is paid for by EVERYONE, not just the religious majority.
Slashdot Mirror
Everyone send them another $100. Without them, we'd really be in trouble!
...at $10 per windows reboot, only Bill Gates could AFFORD to run it!
There's a great book "The Media Monopoly" that talks about this very thing.
The news is certainly skewed not to offend advertisers. This is the natural result of advertising-driven media. It is not a conspiracy, only the result of more ads==more money. If you piss off the advertisers, they leave and you make less. So you don't piss them off next time.
I mostly agree with what you're saying, Jon, but I think there is one big thing missing in much online media: Credibility.
Deserved or not, "closed media" has credibility and the users of "closed media" trust the reporters and editors to root out the facts.
I'm no fan of conventional media, I work for a huge broadcasting conglomerate, and they do almost everything wrong when it comes to reporting the news.
"Open media" sources must be checked out for errors, omissions, and bad information. In the "open media" there is no one to do this except the individual user. This is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because there are so many sources of information, but a curse since many users take what they read online at face value without doing any background research. Other users want to check out the information, but do not have the skills to root out the facts like someone with newsgathering or editorial experience.
Personally, I wouldn't cry many tears if "closed media" went away in favor of "open media", but in order for this to happen, users must become skilled in self-editing or online sources will never attain the necessary level of credibility.
I'm glad someone else is disgusted by this pathetic display of disposable wealth.
It sickens me that someone with that kind of money to throw away wouldn't do something to help those less fortunate.
One word: Loser.
I can't imagine anyone actually paying good money for music with these kinds of restrictions.
May their business die a slow and painful death.
I think this may be the best article I've read on this subject yet. Thanks!
...Jack Valenti doesn't get wind of this...He might file suit!
I'm in Austin, Texas, and I have IDSL using Covad with speakeasy.net for the ISP. IDSL was my only option except for a cable modem, but the cable company doesn't allow servers, and I host my own domain and mail system at the house.
I have nothing but good things to say about Covad. I also have a 384k SDSL through covad at my office for sending audio streaming, and they have been very good to work with.
I do know folks that have had delays like a week for service due to the phone company finger pointing dance.
I'm a broadcast engineer and I've worked with the phone company for years with wierd phone line hookups, and in my opinion the level of service is dismal from most of the RBOC's. They're totally clueless most of the time.
I'd recommend Covad. I was very impressed with them.
the most annoying thing ever written into software...
Amazing...MS has outdone itself on this one...
Outlook has got to be the biggest piece of crap excuse for a mail client in the world.
Does anyone actually use the VB scripting functions in outlook for anything useful???
I still like the guy who said they should change the name to LookOut!
BRAVO!
What he said!
Please...publish it. People who don't read slashdot NEED to read this book.
Not true. (I work for a radio station...)
Radio stations pay enormous sums to the record companies for the rights to broadcast the songs. The amounts are based on the revenue taken in by the radio station. In a top 10 market, the music fees can be tens or even hundreds of thousands per year.
This is how they get "exposure" by extorting money from radio stations.
I have no sympathy for RIAA, ASCAP, BMI or any other organization that refuses to adapt to the new media. They either need to get on the internet train or be run over by it.
AMEN! What part of "endowed by their creator with certain unailenable rights" don't they understand???
Hello Jon.
I've read your columns for many years now, both on Hotwired and now on Slashdot. I've always found them outstanding. I also read your book "Geeks" and had my wife read a few passages that expressed particularly well some of my own experiences.
Like you, I'm a little bit older than many of today's geeks. I was in high school before widespread internet access, when mainframes ruled the corporate and educational world, and a home computer was an Apple II. I escaped the Hellmouth using the geek communication tool that pre-dated computers: Ham Radio. Now, I live and breathe the stuff. Computers and technology are the tools of my trade. My geekiness set me free. I also work in the media, where reactionary bullshit reins supreme... Hey, it pays the bills.
Your Hellmouth series following the Columbine incedent remains the most insightful and on-target commentary on this subject to came out of any media. The Pinkerton WAVE program again demonstrates the establishment's belief there is a quick fix to these problems. They foolishly believe imposing a police state in our schools, further crushing what little creativity and individuality remains, will have a positive effect. They'll wonder in amazement when the next set of geeks shoots up the next school. They'll wonder where they went wrong...
Both my parents were teachers all their lives. My mother was an elementary school principal, and my father a college professor and administrator. My closest uncle a high school principal, and his wife owns a chain of day care centers and private schools. I've been exposed to public and private education my whole life. It amazes me that educators, most of whom are well educated themselves, can be so out of touch with reality that they fail to see what's going on right in front of their faces. Yet, time and time again we see the evidence.
I applaud you for your continued attention to the issue of harassment in our schools, and administrators' bone-headed response to it. I watch my local schools very closely for this kind of activity, and oppose it whenever I see it. Hopefully, if enough geeks watch them closely enough, we can make high school a bit less hellish for our children.
I'm sorry to see this ruling, but it doesn't surprise me. Many european countries have government-owned telecommunications, or have had them until very recently. Their courts are used to this being the norm, unlike in the US.
The real problem with this, or any other simmilar rulings, is they are unenforcable. Even if AOL wanted to monitor traffic this closely, I can't see how they could do it without severely crippling their connectivity.
I wish the damn music industry would figure out that if they sold music the way people want to buy it, they wouldn't have to use their lawyers so much...
Well, if the recent DDOS attacks show us anything, it shows the kind of "civil disobedience" an organized group of crackers could bring to bear.
The Geeks _really do_ run the internet, and it would be wise for some of these lawyer-wielding corporations to understand what that means.
Given the right motivation, an organized group of people could attack and cripple these companies in ways the script kiddies never thought of.
Personally, I think the Boston Tea Party is a very good example of the kind of thing we could see if politically motivated crackers decided to launch a directed and coordinated attack.
It would be nice if a major studio/record label would actually TRY THIS before unleashing their lawyers...unfortunately, they usually SUE furst, ASK QUESTIONS later.
I picked one up in Austin recently and the guy at Circuit City told me they sell 20-30 of the Apex's PER DAY--and this is only one store. At this rate, we'll keep the MPAA's lawyers busy for YEARS!
I had not intended to buy a DVD player because of all the deCSS flap, but with the Apex, I can screw the MPAA and the RIAA in one swoop--SCORE!
I have to disagree with you. If it all really comes down to theft, why has the RIAA not spent its time developing a method whereby consumers can LEGALLY download music?
I'll tell you: It's because this has absolutely nothing to do with piracy. The piracy issue is nothing more than a smokescreen to get media attention. (and it's working!)
The threat to the RIAA is that MP3's challenge their absolute control of the music distribution chain. If someone can directly distribute music (legal or otherwise) over the internet, they can do so without involving the RIAA and the rest of the middle men.
It isn't about theft, it's about CONTROL.
Hmmmm...sounds like DoubleClick to me...
They are truly evil, aren't they...
You're right. This is why I not only don't LIVE in Utah--I won't even VISIT the state.
One reason the church/state seperation clauses exist in the US constitution is to protect a secular MINORITY from just such oppression by a religious MAJORITY.
Majority rule does not override the minority's rights.
I disagree that a public library should filter internet access. The public library is paid for by EVERYONE, not just the religious majority.
Hate is not a family value.
...now THAT'S funny!
If I could, I'd moderate this one UP!!!
The sad part is that AOL is getting obscenely wealthy providing McInternet to the great unwashed masses...
IMHO, their merger (purchase?) of Time Warner was their way of insuring access--everything else was just a smokescreen.