Categories: OLD Media Moves

The problem with tech journalism and how to fix it

Eric Jackson writes for Forbes.com about the problems with technology reporting and makes suggestions on how to fix its issues.

Jackson writes, “Why is there so little criticism of tech companies by mainstream business journalists today?

“Every other day, we read someone opining about if we’re in a tech bubble or not, but I rarely if ever read something in the mainstream business press that’s critical about a particular company.

“There are exceptions that immediately jump to mind in the last year including Kara Swisher of Re/Code in discussing Yahoo in a critical fashion (although entirely fair in my opinion) and Sarah Lacy of PandoDaily in discussing Uber. You could also point to Bloomberg View and Breakingviews at Reuters as examples of ‘opinion’ pieces housed at mainstream business press which sometimes critique specific companies. And, of course, Apple still seems to attract lots of ‘doomed’ commentary, no matter what new product it launches. I’m sure there are others I’m forgetting too.

“Still, I think there’s way too little criticism of tech companies. I’m not talking about unfair attacks. I’m speaking of thoughtful critiques questioning why a CEO is choosing to take a company down a particular path. It does ring true that journalists do seem to be drawn to stories of drones and driverless cars like moths to flames.”

Read more here.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.

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