Hypercrit

Michael Becker writes about journalism, new media and digital culture in general.

Month: July, 2007

Anniversary of a Blog

The Toronto Star reports on the 10th anniversary of blogging with a message to those who believe that blogging will replace traditional journalism and to those who think amateurism is ruining culture (summon the whipping boy, Andrew Keen!). Their message: “Both are wrong.”
Writers David Eaves and Taylor Owen argue that the same forces that drive people […]

The End of an Era

Venerable and never once correct or true, the Weekly World News was a check stand tradition. Alas, it is no more.

More on Weekly World News closing
Weekly World News Killed By Aliens, Declining Circulation
Mourning the Weekly World News

Reading Andrew Keen

I’m about three-quarters of the way through Andrew Keen’s diatribe The Cult of the Amateur and felt like I had to get a few thoughts into the ether before I finish.
I came into Keen’s book with the knowledge that I wasn’t going to like what he had to say about the Web, especially Web 2.0. I […]

King me!

The world of checkers is being turned upside-down by claims that Chinook, a computer program, is invincible.
Okay, maybe the world isn’t upside-down — I have no way to find out because I don’t know where the checker’s world is, and I’m not going to spend time looking for it online. Still, you have to admit that the […]

Washington Post Sponsors Local News Site

The New York Times reported today on a new site sponsored by the Washington Post, LoudounExtra.com, which deals in “hyperlocal” news, like church schedules and high school footballs scores (in real-time).