Orion Jones
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The Guardian says it’s a bad idea for the the Times of London to build a paywall by next spring. Spectator Magazine (UK) only lost 3% of readers after putting its content behind a paywall, but realize they serve a more niche audience than general newspapers. Still, a survey by the Boston Consulting Group found that many are willing to pay for access to online news. Plus, the Literary Review 2009 bad-sex-in-fiction prize has chosen its nominees. You’ll be hard up to find more titillating entertainment (or not). … Read More
November 19, 2009 | In Media & Internet
Murdoch's News Corporation Makes a Move
A variety of English media reported today that the Times of London will begin charging its customers for 24-hour access to the Times’ website by spring. The Times, roughly the English equivalent of the New York Times, is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation and will likely be the first major newspaper to adopt a mandatory online payment scheme. … Read More
November 17, 2009 | In Media & Internet
Arianna Huffington Says the Future of News Is Free
At the Monaco Media Forum lately, two competing business models for journalism were put forth by two industry leaders: Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post and Mathias Dopfner, CEO of the German media conglomerate Axel Springer. In lieu of watching their hour-long debate, read on for a summary of their arguments. … Read More
November 16, 2009 | In Media & Internet
An Old Debate Wrapped in New Clothes
The traditional opponents in the Afghanistan/America debate have once again taken their place: buildup versus withdrawal. However, recent news reports lack any historical perspective of America’s presence in Afghanistan dating to the Cold War. Details of Washington politics are not sufficient to inform the public about the war in Afghanistan. … Read More
November 12, 2009 | In Media & Internet
Orion Jones commented on Pinker v. Gladwell on November 17, 2009, 7:45 PM
Well, my reading of the article raises a much simpler point than above. Even if David Berreby knows whether Pinker or Gladwell is right, the thrust of the article recognizes a pretty scientifically grounded debate between the two. Given that, even if the scientists at Harvard disagreed with Mr. Summer's views, which are apparently close to Pinker's, it is not grounds for dismissal (as proof, Pinker himself teaches at Harvard). Summers was dismissed for political reasons, or political correctness reasons. When our highest learning institutions (in terms of who will have access to power) are vulnerable to politically motivated attack, they are not doing what they are meant for: shining light onto presently dark areas of research and meanwhile opening minds wide enough to allow for unthought-of possibilities.