Today I went to a Panel focusing on Online Journalism because Slate Magazine, the first all-web magazine,
turned ten years old. The panel was about Online Media and the Future of Journalism. A very ominous sounding subject indeed.
Slate pulled all the stops. The panel, which included Malcolm Gladwell and Arianna Huffington, was held in the New York Public Library's basement, where for some strange reason flies were buzzing around the whole time (I kid you not, I was swatting at flies the whole freak'n talk).
The main discussion was if there was a future in paper. All agreed that 'yes,' paper isn't going to disappear completely, but there was talk of a disappearing business model for newspapers, which will be exacerbated once the tablet or 'ipod' of newspapers hits -- a format that will make newspaper content digital and convienent. The running theme in this discussion -- online content will never displace paper content until it becomes easy to take with you on the John.
Basically, no matter how adamant kids are today about getting their news online, the desire to read while on the toilet will never fade, it spans all generations. Until the digital world finds a way for us to socially network/read/downcast or whatever you like to do, in an easy portable way -- paper will remain king.
Quote of the night: (not exact) -- "It doesn't have to be one or the other. This is 2006, why can't we have a threeway."
-- Arianna Huffington when discussing whether more readers will turn to the internet or paper for their news.
I think it's important to put everything in context. Slate turns 10 -- and people ask what the future of online journalism will be. I say, Slate turns 10, what is the beginning of online journalism going to be? If the Internet were a dude, he would just be learning how to drive and waiting nah.... dying, to lose his virginity (I picture the Internet as a bit of a geek, don't you?).
I also noticed that Art Spiegelman was there. Hooray for comics.
And then at the end of the question answer session came Nick Denton. The question he asked I think was an attempt to make Arianna look bad -- his question was basically accusing the Huffington Post of being link whores.
I'll give credit to Denton for possibly calling Arianna out, but I think it was also a slightly dick move, and he knew it. I've spoken with Denton before, very quickly, when I was trying to get him to quote on a Wired News story on bloggers. He refused to comment. From what I understand he is a tough nut to crack on a regular basis.
I look forward to mentally battling him in the future. Mmmmwwwhwhaahahahah (evil laugh) mmmmwwwwhahahhahaha.....
