Topic: Tech Journalism

John C. Dvorak details his unceremonious dismissal from PC Magazine after 32 years of continuous column writing. He describes receiving a terse email from a new editor placing him on "hiatus," which he interprets as a permanent firing driven by a shift toward social justice editorial standards. Dvorak notes that other veteran columnists, such as Tim Bajarin, received similar treatment.

Linear news organizations often utilize a "top five stories" rotation to ensure viewers receive consistent information regardless of when they tune in. This strategy, common at networks like Fox News, involves milking a hot story for maximum duration. Industry veterans note that while this approach is efficient for traditional broadcasting, it can lead to repetitive content for dedicated audiences.

The Australian Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has unveiled a new scheme to force social media platforms to pay news publishers for shared content. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland defended the plan as a necessary measure to support the "sustainability of journalism" and the health of democracy. Critics argue the move is a futile attempt to reinvent a "flat tire," noting that nearly half of Australians already rely on social media as their primary news source.

A critique of modern journalism argues that the professionalization of the industry through institutions like the Columbia Journalism School has degraded reporting quality. In the past, reporters gained expertise through specific beats like police reporting or by holding relevant licenses, such as pilot licenses for aviation writers. The current system is described as prioritizing narrative over technical knowledge.

Representative Zoe Lofgren cited the Electoral Count Act of 1887 during the House debate, a law designed to prevent contested elections from spiraling out of control. The hosts discuss the late Jerry Pournelle's theory on how a small group of journalists can control public thought through repetition. They also critique the "amateur hour" production quality of Newsmax and OAN.

John C. Dvorak is encouraged to compile his tech industry anecdotes from Substack into a book. Stories include the development of Windows 1.0 and interactions with industry figures like Michael Cowpland of Corel. Dvorak also clarifies the history of the "Spencer the Cat" column at PC Week, revealing it was written by a team of five writers.

Former Pando Daily founder Sarah Lacy appeared in promotional videos for 5G technology, a move criticized as a compromise of journalistic credibility. The videos suggest that 5G will revolutionize virtual reality and sports broadcasting, though critics argue these claims are exaggerated. The segment explores the trend of tech journalists transitioning into paid promotional roles for major telecommunications companies.

The hosts deconstruct a "Two Techies" podcast segment about Steve Jobs, correcting historical inaccuracies regarding his departure from Apple in 1985. They highlight that under John Sculley, Apple's sales grew from $800 million to $8 billion. The discussion serves as a critique of modern tech reporting, which the hosts claim lacks editorial oversight and historical knowledge.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the construction of Healthcare.gov cost $840 million, a figure the hosts find ridiculous for a website. They critique the "pathetic" state of tech reporting and return to their "bromance" with AP reporter Matt Lee, praising his snide questioning of State Department officials like Jen Psaki.

Bloomberg Businessweek's "Global Technology" issue is criticized for featuring what appears to be native advertising for the Chinese phone maker Xiaomi. An interview on the Charlie Rose show with editor Josh Tyrangiel is identified as a potential quid pro quo arrangement to boost Bloomberg's tech profile. The segment highlights the blurring lines between journalism and product placement in modern media.

Sir David Foley is launching a new 4K streaming set-top box at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The current state of tech journalism is criticized, with claims that many reporters at the event are jaded and focus on canned PR demos rather than investigative reporting. A satirical suggestion is made that celebrity reviews from figures like Britney Spears or Taylor Swift would be more effective for tech marketing.

John C. Dvorak discusses his collaboration with Gina Smith on her website, The New Domain. Smith has reportedly attempted to donate to No Agenda via PayPal, though the funds have not yet appeared in the show's records. Dvorak praises Smith's ability to drive traffic through her large social media following and her history in tech journalism.

The hosts discuss the difficulties of reporting on major tech companies like Apple and Microsoft due to corporate pressure and self-censorship. They recount the "download fiasco" of iOS 6, where technical evidence of flaws was ignored by mainstream media. They conclude that the lack of advertising constraints allows their show to provide more honest analysis.

John Dvorak discusses the reality of self-censorship in tech journalism, noting that writers often avoid topics they know will be rejected or ignored by major companies like Apple. They revisit the "download fiasco" associated with Apple's iOS 6, where technical issues were allegedly ignored by the mainstream tech press. The hosts argue that their independent model allows for the "bickering" and honesty missing from corporate media.

Tech journalist Mike Elgan is "de-douched" after making a $200 donation following a call-out on a previous show. Elgan's post on Google Plus about the show sparked a wave of negative comments from tech "fanboys" who criticized Adam Curry's hair and the show's "conspiracy theories." The hosts read the insults aloud, comparing the experience to Matt Damon's practice of reading mean tweets to stay humble.

A software bug in the Apple iPhone caused alarms to fail globally on January 1st, 2011, with some devices not self-correcting until January 5th. Tech journalists are criticized for failing to perform a technical analysis of the clock synchronization error, instead relying on official corporate statements. The incident raises concerns about Apple's ability to perform silent over-the-air updates without user notification.

The hosts critique the "boosterism" in tech reporting, playing a clip from G4 where a reviewer gushes over an unreleased game. They express skepticism regarding Facebook's reported $800 million to $1 billion in revenue, questioning who actually clicks on banner ads. They suggest the revenue might be driven by "virtual broccoli" purchases in games like FarmVille by Zynga rather than sustainable advertising.

John C. Dvorak discusses the backlash to his column about Vivek Kundra, noting that GigaOm and other tech blogs defended the CIO. He suggests that the financing of certain tech blogs may influence their coverage of government officials. Dvorak also notes the difficulty of getting direct responses from the White House press office compared to more prominent bloggers.

The hosts discuss the controversial South by Southwest (SXSW) interview between journalist Sarah Lacy and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. They comment on the negative audience reaction to Lacy's interviewing style and the general atmosphere of the Austin-based festival, which Dvorak dismisses as a "party scene" for people who live near each other in the Bay Area.

Dvorak highlights a satirical article by Andrew Orlowski of The Register, which reviewed a 1995 Nokia phone as if it were a modern breakthrough to mock current battery life issues. Curry reads a critical biography of Orlowski, mentioning his Polish heritage and The Register's reputation as a "dirty tabloid" that publishes private emails.