welcome to this fifth installment of hip mojo i’m your host ashcan carbon soutien
mojo i’m your host ashcan carbon soutien
mojo i’m your host ashcan carbon soutien ce team orchid and be here apparently he
ce team orchid and be here apparently he
ce team orchid and be here apparently he got into an agreement with Arianna
got into an agreement with Arianna
got into an agreement with Arianna Huffington so replacing him today is
Huffington so replacing him today is
Huffington so replacing him today is Dave strout’s Dave welcome to the show
Dave strout’s Dave welcome to the show
Dave strout’s Dave welcome to the show hey are you doing pretty good so today
hey are you doing pretty good so today
hey are you doing pretty good so today we got a lot to cover we’re going to
we got a lot to cover we’re going to
we got a lot to cover we’re going to talk about journalism transparency
talk about journalism transparency
talk about journalism transparency disclosure and ethics we’re also going
disclosure and ethics we’re also going
disclosure and ethics we’re also going to talk about the time-tested debate
to talk about the time-tested debate
to talk about the time-tested debate between content and distribution and
between content and distribution and
between content and distribution and then later on in the last segment of the
then later on in the last segment of the
then later on in the last segment of the show we’re going to cover lightning
show we’re going to cover lightning
show we’re going to cover lightning round an email of the week so let’s get
round an email of the week so let’s get
round an email of the week so let’s get right to it David what tech blogs do
right to it David what tech blogs do
right to it David what tech blogs do read when you when you would work or
read when you when you would work or
read when you when you would work or when you’re at home well I usually read
when you’re at home well I usually read
when you’re at home well I usually read ad age because I’m in advertising I also
ad age because I’m in advertising I also
ad age because I’m in advertising I also read TechCrunch and media post okay so
read TechCrunch and media post okay so
read TechCrunch and media post okay so TechCrunch when AOL bought Michael
TechCrunch when AOL bought Michael
TechCrunch when AOL bought Michael Arrington’s company what was your
Arrington’s company what was your
Arrington’s company what was your expectation did you think the editorial
expectation did you think the editorial
expectation did you think the editorial and the sort of coverage would say the
and the sort of coverage would say the
and the sort of coverage would say the same or did you think things would
same or did you think things would
same or did you think things would change well i think you know when you
change well i think you know when you
change well i think you know when you look at an acquisition like that you
look at an acquisition like that you
look at an acquisition like that you know you can’t help but think things are
know you can’t help but think things are
know you can’t help but think things are going to change you know no matter what
going to change you know no matter what
going to change you know no matter what happens when a company is acquired
happens when a company is acquired
happens when a company is acquired things are always going to change i do
things are always going to change i do
things are always going to change i do like the fact that TechCrunch has stayed
like the fact that TechCrunch has stayed
like the fact that TechCrunch has stayed the same in terms of their their
the same in terms of their their
the same in terms of their their editorial content but you can tell that
editorial content but you can tell that
editorial content but you can tell that that definitely you know from from an
that definitely you know from from an
that definitely you know from from an executive level things things have
executive level things things have
executive level things things have changed from the top down basically last
changed from the top down basically last
changed from the top down basically last week when AOL announced that it was
week when AOL announced that it was
week when AOL announced that it was going to invest in michael Arrington’s
going to invest in michael Arrington’s
going to invest in michael Arrington’s fund did you think it was a conflict of
fund did you think it was a conflict of
fund did you think it was a conflict of interest well absolutely I mean you know
interest well absolutely I mean you know
interest well absolutely I mean you know Michael Arrington is sort of the head
Michael Arrington is sort of the head
Michael Arrington is sort of the head honcho you know at TechCrunch therefore
honcho you know at TechCrunch therefore
honcho you know at TechCrunch therefore he obviously has a say in you know what
he obviously has a say in you know what
he obviously has a say in you know what gets discussed and what gets put out
gets discussed and what gets put out
gets discussed and what gets put out there so you know I definitely think
there so you know I definitely think
there so you know I definitely think there’s a conflict of interest there I
there’s a conflict of interest there I
there’s a conflict of interest there I mean you know what was it one or two
mean you know what was it one or two
mean you know what was it one or two shows ago you guys were talking about
shows ago you guys were talking about
shows ago you guys were talking about Ashton Kutcher and he was writing about
Ashton Kutcher and he was writing about
Ashton Kutcher and he was writing about you know companies that he had invested
you know companies that he had invested
you know companies that he had invested in without necessarily you know
in without necessarily you know
in without necessarily you know disclosing it do you think that’s sort
disclosing it do you think that’s sort
disclosing it do you think that’s sort of the same same thing well I think it’s
of the same same thing well I think it’s
of the same same thing well I think it’s very different because Michael Arrington
very different because Michael Arrington
very different because Michael Arrington build TechCrunch because he didn’t
build TechCrunch because he didn’t
build TechCrunch because he didn’t follow any of the rules of journalism he
follow any of the rules of journalism he
follow any of the rules of journalism he basically wrote the rules himself so i
basically wrote the rules himself so i
basically wrote the rules himself so i think it was unfair to real to expect
think it was unfair to real to expect
think it was unfair to real to expect him to act differently after the
him to act differently after the
him to act differently after the acquisition i think the turning point
acquisition i think the turning point
acquisition i think the turning point wasn’t so much at the onset of the
wasn’t so much at the onset of the
wasn’t so much at the onset of the acquisition things were going to
acquisition things were going to
acquisition things were going to probably change you right at the
probably change you right at the
probably change you right at the business side I think it’s when they
business side I think it’s when they
business side I think it’s when they bought Huffington Post and made Arianna
bought Huffington Post and made Arianna
bought Huffington Post and made Arianna Huffington head of all content with
Huffington head of all content with
Huffington head of all content with Michael Arrington
Michael Arrington
Michael Arrington ordering to him a few interesting
ordering to him a few interesting
ordering to him a few interesting articles this week Paul Carr who writes
articles this week Paul Carr who writes
articles this week Paul Carr who writes for TechCrunch came out and when he well
for TechCrunch came out and when he well
for TechCrunch came out and when he well you love them are you hate him depending
you love them are you hate him depending
you love them are you hate him depending on what he writes but he’s a smart guy
on what he writes but he’s a smart guy
on what he writes but he’s a smart guy and he’s very you know clever writer so
and he’s very you know clever writer so
and he’s very you know clever writer so he basically came out with a bunch of
he basically came out with a bunch of
he basically came out with a bunch of tweets telling tim armstrong CEO
tweets telling tim armstrong CEO
tweets telling tim armstrong CEO chairman of AOL to go eff off and
chairman of AOL to go eff off and
chairman of AOL to go eff off and michael arrington asked him to you know
michael arrington asked him to you know
michael arrington asked him to you know expand in an article and I think what
expand in an article and I think what
expand in an article and I think what Paul Carr objected to was the fact that
Paul Carr objected to was the fact that
Paul Carr objected to was the fact that even though AOL says that the the
even though AOL says that the the
even though AOL says that the the venture fund is separate from TechCrunch
venture fund is separate from TechCrunch
venture fund is separate from TechCrunch though AOL is an investor it still is
though AOL is an investor it still is
though AOL is an investor it still is called crunch fun so this makes it very
called crunch fun so this makes it very
called crunch fun so this makes it very it gives the perception that TechCrunch
it gives the perception that TechCrunch
it gives the perception that TechCrunch writers are sort of in cahoots AOL was
writers are sort of in cahoots AOL was
writers are sort of in cahoots AOL was you know bought TechCrunch for a
you know bought TechCrunch for a
you know bought TechCrunch for a reported 30 million dollars of which I
reported 30 million dollars of which I
reported 30 million dollars of which I guess 20 million was guaranteed 10
guess 20 million was guaranteed 10
guess 20 million was guaranteed 10 million was an earn-out my guess is that
million was an earn-out my guess is that
million was an earn-out my guess is that once it became clear that Arianna
once it became clear that Arianna
once it became clear that Arianna Huffington and Michael Arrington could
Huffington and Michael Arrington could
Huffington and Michael Arrington could not really coexist AOL just said okay we
not really coexist AOL just said okay we
not really coexist AOL just said okay we can’t teach an old dog new tricks and we
can’t teach an old dog new tricks and we
can’t teach an old dog new tricks and we can’t tell Arrington what to do we’ll
can’t tell Arrington what to do we’ll
can’t tell Arrington what to do we’ll take that 10 million dollars that was an
take that 10 million dollars that was an
take that 10 million dollars that was an earn-out and we’ll just put it in your
earn-out and we’ll just put it in your
earn-out and we’ll just put it in your venture fund which has 20 million and
venture fund which has 20 million and
venture fund which has 20 million and we’re going to be the biggest one at 10
we’re going to be the biggest one at 10
we’re going to be the biggest one at 10 million we’re the biggest investor I
million we’re the biggest investor I
million we’re the biggest investor I think the problem once again is how tim
think the problem once again is how tim
think the problem once again is how tim armstrong communicated this for him to
armstrong communicated this for him to
armstrong communicated this for him to come out and basically say TechCrunch is
come out and basically say TechCrunch is
come out and basically say TechCrunch is a different sort of you know news
a different sort of you know news
a different sort of you know news organization with a different set of
organization with a different set of
organization with a different set of rules I can understand why that would
rules I can understand why that would
rules I can understand why that would upset everyone now this story is
upset everyone now this story is
upset everyone now this story is evolving Michael Arrington is no longer
evolving Michael Arrington is no longer
evolving Michael Arrington is no longer supposedly involved with TechCrunch as a
supposedly involved with TechCrunch as a
supposedly involved with TechCrunch as a writer would you continue reading
writer would you continue reading
writer would you continue reading TechCrunch or how does your reading of
TechCrunch or how does your reading of
TechCrunch or how does your reading of the site change well I I do enjoy
the site change well I I do enjoy
the site change well I I do enjoy Michael Arrington’s articles but you
Michael Arrington’s articles but you
Michael Arrington’s articles but you know he is not TechCrunch although he
know he is not TechCrunch although he
know he is not TechCrunch although he started it he doesn’t make the blog what
started it he doesn’t make the blog what
started it he doesn’t make the blog what it is it’s it’s the fantastic writing
it is it’s it’s the fantastic writing
it is it’s it’s the fantastic writing it’s the journalism as the stories you
it’s the journalism as the stories you
it’s the journalism as the stories you know I go back because I enjoy the
know I go back because I enjoy the
know I go back because I enjoy the writing of the writers I like their
writing of the writers I like their
writing of the writers I like their personalities since they’ve launched
personalities since they’ve launched
personalities since they’ve launched TechCrunch TV you get to know a little
TechCrunch TV you get to know a little
TechCrunch TV you get to know a little bit more about the personalities of the
bit more about the personalities of the
bit more about the personalities of the writer says pregnant yes did you see how
writer says pregnant yes did you see how
writer says pregnant yes did you see how pregnant Sarah Lacy is and yeah I mean I
pregnant Sarah Lacy is and yeah I mean I
pregnant Sarah Lacy is and yeah I mean I read it for the writing it’s it’s still
read it for the writing it’s it’s still
read it for the writing it’s it’s still great tech news now do you see any
great tech news now do you see any
great tech news now do you see any parallels when we fought Ali left paid
parallels when we fought Ali left paid
parallels when we fought Ali left paid content um no
content um no
content um no I don’t see that many parallels because
I don’t see that many parallels because
I don’t see that many parallels because he also left within a year of the
he also left within a year of the
he also left within a year of the Guardian acquiring him and I think this
Guardian acquiring him and I think this
Guardian acquiring him and I think this is the problem with these blog companies
is the problem with these blog companies
is the problem with these blog companies that are found around these big
that are found around these big
that are found around these big personalities and I think the only time
personalities and I think the only time
personalities and I think the only time when you know like Oh Malik also started
when you know like Oh Malik also started
when you know like Oh Malik also started Giga home and I think there he probably
Giga home and I think there he probably
Giga home and I think there he probably was the best at transitioning it away
was the best at transitioning it away
was the best at transitioning it away from his you know sort of cult
from his you know sort of cult
from his you know sort of cult personality to others I think when rifat
personality to others I think when rifat
personality to others I think when rifat left he was very smart to bring on very
left he was very smart to bring on very
left he was very smart to bring on very talented writer Stacy Kramer’s or rock
talented writer Stacy Kramer’s or rock
talented writer Stacy Kramer’s or rock star David Kaplan is very good there’s a
star David Kaplan is very good there’s a
star David Kaplan is very good there’s a lot of talented people there I just
lot of talented people there I just
lot of talented people there I just think the reality is that when you have
think the reality is that when you have
think the reality is that when you have such a strong personality who has such a
such a strong personality who has such a
such a strong personality who has such a strong boys when that guy leads you know
strong boys when that guy leads you know
strong boys when that guy leads you know I really enjoy erick schonfeld I’ve
I really enjoy erick schonfeld I’ve
I really enjoy erick schonfeld I’ve written little disclosure here I’ve
written little disclosure here I’ve
written little disclosure here I’ve written about a dozen articles for
written about a dozen articles for
written about a dozen articles for TechCrunch erick schonfeld it’s done
TechCrunch erick schonfeld it’s done
TechCrunch erick schonfeld it’s done more to help me become a better writer
more to help me become a better writer
more to help me become a better writer than a lot of the other editors I’ve
than a lot of the other editors I’ve
than a lot of the other editors I’ve ever written for but I just think
ever written for but I just think
ever written for but I just think there’s a loss that I’m not sure you
there’s a loss that I’m not sure you
there’s a loss that I’m not sure you know what TechCrunch is going to be okay
know what TechCrunch is going to be okay
know what TechCrunch is going to be okay a quick question before we move on to
a quick question before we move on to
a quick question before we move on to segment to do you think that journalists
segment to do you think that journalists
segment to do you think that journalists should remain on the sidelines or do you
should remain on the sidelines or do you
should remain on the sidelines or do you think times of change and journalists
think times of change and journalists
think times of change and journalists can get involved by you know investing
can get involved by you know investing
can get involved by you know investing in companies or whatever I mean there’s
in companies or whatever I mean there’s
in companies or whatever I mean there’s nothing wrong with journalists investing
nothing wrong with journalists investing
nothing wrong with journalists investing in companies it’s when they start
in companies it’s when they start
in companies it’s when they start writing about those companies favorably
writing about those companies favorably
writing about those companies favorably even with disclosure there’s there’s a
even with disclosure there’s there’s a
even with disclosure there’s there’s a certain level of trust with the reader
certain level of trust with the reader
certain level of trust with the reader that that gets lost their when when we
that that gets lost their when when we
that that gets lost their when when we know that that the the writer the
know that that the the writer the
know that that the the writer the journalist has something at stake you’re
journalist has something at stake you’re
journalist has something at stake you’re so old school I think that there’s an
so old school I think that there’s an
so old school I think that there’s an element of envy and jealousy from a lot
element of envy and jealousy from a lot
element of envy and jealousy from a lot of the traditional hardcore journalists
of the traditional hardcore journalists
of the traditional hardcore journalists to see a guy like Michael Michael
to see a guy like Michael Michael
to see a guy like Michael Michael Arrington who was basically a lawyer
Arrington who was basically a lawyer
Arrington who was basically a lawyer turned entrepreneur launched a site
turned entrepreneur launched a site
turned entrepreneur launched a site becomes so influential and get to
becomes so influential and get to
becomes so influential and get to basically live by his own rules so I
basically live by his own rules so I
basically live by his own rules so I think really here this is more of a
think really here this is more of a
think really here this is more of a story of jealousy envy while no one’s
story of jealousy envy while no one’s
story of jealousy envy while no one’s going to come out and say it put on the
going to come out and say it put on the
going to come out and say it put on the facade of oh my god integrity ethics and
facade of oh my god integrity ethics and
facade of oh my god integrity ethics and what not and I think because of the
what not and I think because of the
what not and I think because of the animosity between the huffington post
animosity between the huffington post
animosity between the huffington post which basically is the parent of
which basically is the parent of
which basically is the parent of TechCrunch now a subsidiary of AOL and
TechCrunch now a subsidiary of AOL and
TechCrunch now a subsidiary of AOL and the new york times when the new york
the new york times when the new york
the new york times when the new york times comes out and write saying oh my
times comes out and write saying oh my
times comes out and write saying oh my god this is so unethical i think this
god this is so unethical i think this
god this is so unethical i think this has spilled over more into huffpo and
has spilled over more into huffpo and
has spilled over more into huffpo and new york times and it’s a shame but I
new york times and it’s a shame but I
new york times and it’s a shame but I think TechCrunch will go on it’ll be
think TechCrunch will go on it’ll be
think TechCrunch will go on it’ll be fine it’s time to take a break we’re
fine it’s time to take a break we’re
fine it’s time to take a break we’re going to come back segment we’re going
going to come back segment we’re going
going to come back segment we’re going to talk about content versus
to talk about content versus
to talk about content versus distribution
”
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