The latest issue of Bloomberg Businessweek is a very plain and open example of the media creating and slanting the news to their point of view. The use of words and pictures to enhance their opinion. In my opinion, the media, as we know it today, should not to be trusted to report an accurate picture of anything – and this is a reality check.
The cover of the current Bloomberg Businessweek (January 30 – February 5, 2012) shows a picture of a book burning. It is inflammatory and meant to incite feelings of fear focused on Amazon destroying the book publishing industry.
When you get to the article on page 55 the actual title even gets more deceitful. “Amazon’s Hit Man – A Tale of Books, Betrayal, And The (Alleged) SECRET PLOT to Destroy Literature”.
Amazon out to “Destroy Literature”?
There is actually a reference in the article to Nancy Pearl, librarian and author, who is partnering with Amazon to publish 12 novels that are out of print. This past week, in an NPR interview with Nancy she stated that she had approached the other ‘old’ publishers and they turned her down. I would suggest that this is keeping literature alive.
Amazon is re-making the publishing industry in today’s image and this does not set well with publishers of old – including the one that publishes Bloomberg Businessweek.
The same miscarriage of information is playing out at the MPAA and the RIAA where buying a congressman has recently had a set back.
Our world of media is changing and the old forms had best figure it out. The Revolution has started and it won’t end until change has been implemented.
One should note that I first read this article via the Internet. I received a link from a Bloomberg Businessweek email. The story was titled “Amazon’s Hit Man”. There was none of the secret plot garbage mentioned – either in the newsletter or when I went to read the article on their website. They saved the rabble-rousing words for the print version.
Perhaps they are hoping that the people who get the print version are not capable of seeing through the smoke.
If you would like to see my original post it was on Google+ under Walter Riker (search and you will find) It was written after reading the article on the web. I find I am posting more to Google+ than to my blog. Yes, times are changing.
You add me to your circle I will add you to mine.
An interesting article from O’Reilly; Ereader Ownership Doubles, Again by Jenn Webb.
