The problem between Facebook and tech reporters

Ben Smith of the New York Times interviewed Jessica Lessin, the editor in chief and founder of The Information, about the interaction between Facebook and technology journalists. Lessin’s husband used to work for Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Smith writes, “Ms. Lessin said she sees a few patterns, and a lot of symmetry. One is that journalists and tech figures are bad at reading one another’s motives.

“‘Tech companies say journalists are doing this hard-hitting reporting for profit motives’ and because they’re angry about losing advertising, she said. ‘That’s obviously absurd.’

“‘But journalists who are accusing Facebook of making bad content moderation decisions because they’re only concerned about profits are also missing the point. Most of the time the challenges are around free speech.’

“‘They’re actually making the same mistake in reverse directions about each other,’ she said. ‘I’m kind of baffled by it.’

“Ms. Lessin’s second observation is that many tech chief executives see themselves in a battle with news outlets for the hearts and minds of their own employees. When they blast media coverage, they are also speaking to the people whose salaries they pay.

“‘The woke revolution in Silicon Valley is fueling this, too,’ she said. “Tech executives are completely associating their employees’ activism with media outlets.'”

Read more here.