This Week in Startups

E1133: Podcast & blogging pioneer Dave Winer on inventing new forms of media, tribalism on social media, tales from Silicon Valley’s Golden Age & more

Nov 3, 2020
Dave Winer, a software developer and pioneer of RSS and blogging, shares his insights into the evolution of media. He discusses the rise of podcasting and the transformative effects of self-publishing. Winer reflects on the often sensationalist narratives in journalism, particularly around social media, and emphasizes the importance of responsible communication in times of crisis. He also delves into the ethical challenges in healthcare and technology, highlighting the need for access and innovation within the ever-changing digital landscape.
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ANECDOTE

Podcasting Origins and Click-Wait

  • Dave Winer, despite popular belief, doesn't think he's responsible for Twitter's existence.
  • He clarifies that podcasting's success wasn't solely due to RSS technology, but rather Adam Curry's insight into solving the "click-wait" problem.
ANECDOTE

Newspaper Strike Website

  • Dave Winer recalls the 1994 San Francisco newspaper strike, where he built a website for the strikers despite knowing nothing about the web.
  • Ironically, the strike was about automation, the very technology he used to build the site.
ANECDOTE

Unedited Publishing and Wired

  • In the early days of blogging, there was resistance to unedited publishing by journalists.
  • Dave Winer shares an anecdote about being offered a job at Wired, initially enjoying having an editor, but ultimately leaving due to a clash with a new editor.
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