But in this post I want to take a moment to examine the evolution of technology reporting, particularly from large/mainstream technology blogs (think TechCrunch). I am in part inspired by a blog post from Robert Scoble on how tech blogs have failed. The reason I'm interested in this space isn't just because I'm a huge geek (I'm a tiny geek, thank you very much). Rather it's because I believe tech blogs are the canary in the coal mine for the future of general reporting.
My theory: Reporting on technology issues are far more evolved online than most general topics.
Possible Reasons Include
Reporting on non-tech issues often lack these and other qualities. I don't know why and that might be another post. But let's keep going with this thought experiment - technology blogs are more evolved than local community reporting/blogs. So - we should study them to find out how general reporting might evolve as well.
Let's look at Robert Scoble closer. Here's a self-made tech-reporter who now has a book and works for Fast Company. He has reached a critical mass of readers and respect through blogging so that a company (Fast-Company) can sell enough advertising around him that he is able to report on technology issues full time.
Thought experiment:
What if Robert Scoble pitched his readers on a tech investigation he wanted to do? Sure, his output might go down a little, but his readers would know why - he would be working and digging deep for them.
Could it get funded in a week?
1. If his readers decided it was of value to collectively purchase Robert's time and reporting skills - sure.
I'm not insinuating that the first Spot.Us beta-test should be with Robert Scoble.
1. Don't think there should be a "technology" section at all. Business yes, but not tech for tech's sake.
2. Would prefer to test at a smaller scale to start. Sorry Scoble ;)
But imagine the scenario now with a reporter/blogger who covers a civic issue.
1. Might not have Scoble-esque numbers, but readers are just as
passionate. Even more so, since their issues aren't being covered by a
million-and-a-half tech blogs.
2. Potentially able to distribute the cost over enough people to purchase reporters time.
Non-tech blogs can now start to produce or publish high quality content they might not afford otherwise.
1. Non-tech reporters begin to evolve to reflect their wired counterparts, which is to say, now the general reporters are beat blogging, showing their personality and having naked conversations with their audience.
Independent content providers can dedicate themselves full-time to doing what they do best: report. If the public has a freelance budget, reporters don't have to wait for an editor to approve their story. Now they can seize the day and pitch the public.
Technology blogs can learn a thing or two here as well.
Technology blogs tends to be surface-level reporting because output = more eyes = more advertising = stay in business. I think this is partly what Scoble was talking about in how tech blogs have failed. Is there a way around this via someone like Robert Scoble selling themselves ala-cart as an investigative journalists in technology?
This is the model that I hope to see for spot.us. Yes, it's ala-cart, but that doesn't mean surface level reporting, it means reporting on demand. What we have now in technology tends to be surface level and I want to find a way so that general reporting doesn't become merely about more eyes = more advertising. General reporting is a civic resource and it needs to find a way.
And so, we move ONWARD!!!!!
(Cross posted from Spot.Us blog)
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