I notice some symmetry between your characterization of the comments in the New York article on media elites and my reaction to the way e.g. NPR pundits carry on about the election and Harris's campaign and its failings and what she isn't doing right and so on -- as if they all live in a world utterly untouched by the issues they claim to care about -- this passage in particular: "Reading the Power Issue I was struck by the bigwigs’ focus on management and strategic blunders, and in particular what might be viable business models—which I agree is a deeply serious problem. But they did not talk much about what they are actually saying and writing, what needs to be said and written."
It’s so funny isn’t it? They distract themselves with the mechanics but are not able to look squarely at the essential matter: what is said, and who is listening.
Very good piece explaining very clearly that ownership of the news by billionaires is a self serving act of vanity. At bottom is lack of courage, the inability to understand that with all their money they are in fact “bought.”
Thank you so much for reading! It is really boggling to me that these men, who must be at least somewhat sophisticated, don’t see the naked message that is sent by doing this at the last minute. They fundamentally don’t understand what people expect a newspaper to be.
excellent, as always, Ann. I also read that NY Mag piece and the whole thing made me even more uneasy than I already am. I wanted to to talk to someone about it, and now I can feel like I have talked to you! Many thanks.
I notice some symmetry between your characterization of the comments in the New York article on media elites and my reaction to the way e.g. NPR pundits carry on about the election and Harris's campaign and its failings and what she isn't doing right and so on -- as if they all live in a world utterly untouched by the issues they claim to care about -- this passage in particular: "Reading the Power Issue I was struck by the bigwigs’ focus on management and strategic blunders, and in particular what might be viable business models—which I agree is a deeply serious problem. But they did not talk much about what they are actually saying and writing, what needs to be said and written."
It’s so funny isn’t it? They distract themselves with the mechanics but are not able to look squarely at the essential matter: what is said, and who is listening.
not exactly funny though, unfortunately
Very good piece explaining very clearly that ownership of the news by billionaires is a self serving act of vanity. At bottom is lack of courage, the inability to understand that with all their money they are in fact “bought.”
Thank you so much for reading! It is really boggling to me that these men, who must be at least somewhat sophisticated, don’t see the naked message that is sent by doing this at the last minute. They fundamentally don’t understand what people expect a newspaper to be.
Grateful, as always, that you are willing to serve as our canary in the coal mines.
Thank you so much <3
excellent, as always, Ann. I also read that NY Mag piece and the whole thing made me even more uneasy than I already am. I wanted to to talk to someone about it, and now I can feel like I have talked to you! Many thanks.
(It would be fun actually to talk to you though!)
Thank you!
Thank you for reading!
great piece - real clarity when so many allegedly in the know people are self-evidently disoriented and confused.