Navigating Tech Journalism: Behind the Facade

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Exploring the dynamics and challenges of tech journalism, this chapter sheds light on the superficial positioning of a prominent tech journalist and the strategic decisions made by tech executives to control their narrative. It discusses how soft interviews, intertwined relationships, and personal biases can shape the portrayal of figures in the industry.

Paris Marx is joined by Edward Ongweso Jr. to discuss Kara Swisher’s attempt to rebrand herself as the most feared journalist in Silicon Valley, how she spent her career forwarding the industry’s narratives, and the larger problems with access journalism.

Edward Ongweso Jr. is finance editor at Logics Magazine and co-host of This Machine Kills.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Ed wrote a critical review of Burn Book in The Baffler.
In Disconnect, Paris also wrote a critical review of Swisher’s book and explained his journey to becoming a tech critic.
In 2021, Kara told CNBC that just because NFTs are digital “doesn’t mean it’s not of value.” The following year she also defended promoting investments in crypto for retirement.

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