We Read Twitter So You Don't Have To, conflicts of interest, michael arrington, techcrunch, washington post, wired

Michael Arrington doesn't appreciate Wired's abuse of his ethics

Wired on TechCrunch's syndication deal with the Washington Post:

We've got nothing against TechCrunch, but it seems crazy-crazy to us that the Washington Post, a paper known for the sort of reporting that can take down U.S. presidents, is publishing content written by a dude who invests in the companies he writes about.

Which naturally prompted the characteristically vulgar response from Michael Arrington, TechCrunch editor and bastion of indecorous surliness. Portfolio.com quotes Arrington: "Journalism is evolving."

10:00 AM on Fri May 9 2008
By Jackson West
1,884 views
15 comments

Comments

Jeff the Great at 10:20 AM on 05/09/08
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wow, nice image doctoring...
sggrf at 10:27 AM on 05/09/08
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I'm in the camp that believes that Michael Arrington has no credibility precisely because he invests in companies --- often really bad ones like Omnidrive and Edgeio --- but he's also a terrible writer. He makes up rules as he goes along and seems to publish mostly gossip.
FlakJack at 10:50 AM on 05/09/08
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As newspapers flail about in an effort to gain relevance in the online-driven media world, they're making some really questionable deals out of desperation. However, if Wired thinks the Washington Post should have shown better sense than this, then they've been ignoring 90 percent of the business and editorial decisions the Washington Post has made in the last 15 years.
Ian Bell at 11:03 AM on 05/09/08
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Wow, very professional.
bernielomax at 11:13 AM on 05/09/08
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Alleyinsider is fair superior to TechCrunch. That blog went from cover start-ups and being useful to being total crap. Not to mention MA is the ass clown of ass clowns.

Don't forget his investment in Dogster.
Ted Dziuba at 11:18 AM on 05/09/08
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Connectedness Index: 154
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As an entrepreneur, I don't seek any coverage from Arrington or TechCrunch because they are of no consequence to anybody who matters.
sumfunguy at 11:19 AM on 05/09/08
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Dogster lol.
Figaro at 11:24 AM on 05/09/08
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Technically, MA doesn't really "invest" money. He spends it on nonsense. Look at his investment portfolio... it's a crater after a crater. Edgio? Omnidrive? Dancejam (lol)? Seesmic?

Getting a check from MA is like a kiss of death.

Major lulz!
Patricia2 at 11:41 AM on 05/09/08
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Connectedness Index: 54
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Whatever. Most of the online information sources totally butter the bread, spinning complete crap into a shiny silver platter. I can think of a few good examples right off the top of my head. At some point, is it their fault or the readers for buying it?

Syndication deals are like partnerships with Cisco during web 1.0. Everybody does it.
Michael Arrington at 02:18 PM on 05/09/08
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Someone remind me why Owen is posting an ad per day for Sarah Lacy's new book?
michaellamb at 02:18 PM on 05/09/08
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i can't believe anyone left at wired has any balls, so that's the amusing part.

Could anyone really take MA seriously
Peteski at 04:20 PM on 05/09/08
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@michaellamb: I can't believe anyone IS left at Wired.
sggrf at 07:43 PM on 05/09/08
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arrington tries to act like these comments don't bother him but i seriously doubt that's true
Troll_2.0 at 08:59 PM on 05/09/08
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I've got a Waaaa Burger with Cries for Arri
raincoaster at 11:36 PM on 05/09/08
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@FlakJack: I'm with you. I don't really give a rat's ass about Arrington, but I have to take five for a sob break while I ponder what the WaPo used to be.