January 5, 2005
it’s doc’s world. we just live in it.
Worst metaphor in the history of journalism: that writing is “content”. Let’s call writing writing. Or “editorial”. Or “speech”. Or “essay”. Or “prose”. Or whatever.
If it helps, remember this: Content can be regulated as container cargo in the shipping system we call commerce. Meanwhile, Writing is protected as speech by the First Amendment. Yes, I know there are exceptions. But the distinction is real, and important.
“Content” is like the word “Brand”. The very fact you’re using it means you’re hiding something.
Amen. My other pet hate is the word consumer rather than customer. A customer is an individual with preferences and choices. A consumer is a marketing illusion that will somehow suck up your sad-shit product because economically they have a law of physics need to buy your lowest common denominator unit shifter that you just finagled into the supply chain at Walmart.
But then, I guess that’s what this blog is all about, right?
Cardboard spaceship time. Whoosh, whoosh.
I don’t know. I think we’re all wrong. Again.
Writing is content. Let’s face it.
Especially in journalism. Take those gloriouis opinion leaders, the columnists. These are the writers that add value to a newspaper.
Personally, I see them as copywriters writing prescriptive essays that fall in quite nicely with the Board’s POV. But that’s just me.
You know the rot. Analysis. Perspective. Insight. Provocative thinking. Causes vomitting here, but again. that’s just me.
These are the real ads in a newspaper, this writing. The heightened op/eds.The Brand being The Way to Think/Be/LIve. Each columnist a pipe in the big pipe organ of propaganda. Each column a note in the grand symphony.
People — the customers/consumers — are suspicious of anything that is free. Markets prove this. What’s the catch, they ask?
News is free. Therefore it is worthless.
Good writing is behind the pay wall. It must have value because it’s hidden.
Writing that is given away free is therefore worthless, valueless.
Journalism that you don’t pay for has to be worthless. Writing’s value lies in the packaging. The cumulative effect of positioning and association. Information worth getting is info worth paying for.
No one has to pay to read the First Amendment. It is thus rendered meaningless.
Americans, if they’re serious about protecting free speech, should put their Bill of Rights behind a pay wall.
Better pointed bullets than pointed words
Have some of both: Newspapers aren’t the only medium past their peak.