The problem with tech journalism

Timothy B. Lee writes in Asterisk magazine about why a lot of technology reporting is superficial.

Lee writes, “The awkward reality is that tech journalism is the way it is because that’s mostly what consumers want. Nobody is explicitly asking for technology coverage that lacks depth or nuance, of course. But journalism like this is often easier to produce and is often more clickable.

“Moreover, journalism in the 21st century is in a state of perpetual crisis. Our industry has endured wave after wave of layoffs and publication closures. Already in 2024 we’ve seen announcements that Pitchfork will cease to operate as an independent site, and both Sports Illustrated and the Los Angeles Times have planned layoffs in the hundreds. Indeed, aside from a brief wave of investor enthusiasm between 2013 and 2015, the industry has been like this across my entire 17-year career.

“So I would love it if publications invested more in in-depth reporting about technology and other topics. But the reality is that most news organizations are struggling just to stay in business. With little margin for error, publishers are understandably reluctant to invest in nuanced technology journalism that is unlikely to generate a clear financial return.

“This seems like a promising direction for philanthropists.”

Read more here.