Longread #459 -- Echo Chambers in Myanmar -- 3/25/14

My friend Matt recently published this excellent piece about the rise of social media and what it may mean for Myanmar. As someone who lives in a country where social media is already ubiquitous (especially among my demographic), it is easy to just assume that it has already taken hold in other countries or that its rise in other countries may simply parallel its development here in the U.S. But the story is not so simple, and the rise of social media in complex sociopolitical contexts like Myanmar raises a host of concerns. Check out Matt's article for a concise, intriguing, and well-argued look at the future of media in Myanmar.

"Echo Chambers in Myanmar: Social media and the ideological justifications for mass violence" by Matt Schissler
Published for the Australian National University Department of Political & Social Change Research Colloquium, “Communal Conflict in Myanmar: Characteristics, Causes, Consequences,” March 2018

Eric

Longread #442 -- Why Women Aren’t Welcome on the Internet -- 1/28/14

This is an extremely troubling story, and I was especially impressed by how honestly the author addressed the challenges involved (including free speech, limitations of the legal system, etc.) despite herself having been threatened online.

"Why Women Aren't Welcome on the Internet" by Amanda Hess
Published in the Pacific Standard, January 6, 2014

In related news, I just saw this yesterday -- "Pair jailed over abusive tweets to feminist campaigner."

Eric

Longread #418 -- The Exploited Laborers of the Liberal Media -- 12/10/13

"The Exploited Laborers of the Liberal Media" by Charles Davis
Published in VICE, December 2, 2013

Eric

Longread #415 -- Russell Brand -- 12/5/13

Russell Brand's turn to radical politics has been interesting to see. What I liked about this op-ed piece by him is the distinction between being "trusted" and "trustworthy."

"The Sun on Sunday lied about me last week. Have they learned nothing?" by Russell Brand
Published in the Guardian, November 29, 2013

Eric

Longread #376 -- The Weather God of Oklahoma City -- 8/29/13

On a day of heavy, driving rain in Seattle, I am thankful that we don't have to deal with tornado warnings and all the related weather chaos of my youth. Enjoy this story about a central figure in Oklahoma's world of weather.

"The Weather God of Oklahoma City" by Sam Anderson
Published in the New York Times, August 9, 2013

Eric

Longread #183 -- Chasing Armstrong With Truth -- 10/29/12

I've mostly stayed away from the Lance Armstrong story because I felt like there was little good that would come out of it. I'm not a cycling fan, so I didn't have a strong opinion about Lance or doping in the sport, and as a baseball fan, I feel somewhat desensitized to finger-pointing arguments about performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Because of everything Armstrong came to represent with regard to his foundation and experience with cancer, I think I largely chose to focus on what had been accomplished outside of cycling. With the most recent reports of his doping and the loss of his Tour de France titles, I saw it as more of the same back-and-forth between Lance and his past competitors still bitter about his winnings (whether doped or not).

This article from David Carr changed my perspective on the issue in two ways. First, I learned that the people who have been working to expose Lance's doping are not angry former competitors. Instead, for the most part they are individuals with few resources and no real financial interest in the case. A few small voices who refused to tolerate cheating kept repeating their message and working to expose the truth. If anything, it was Armstrong's camp that used heavy-handed tactics to try to manipulate the way that the case was covered in the media. Second, I learned that, at least based on the information from the most recent reports  Armstrong was involved in more than just individual doping. He cheated systematically, conspired to keep it hidden, and also encouraged others to cheat with him. It is easy to argue that a PED user harms only him/herself, but it seems that this was not the case with Armstrong.

Even if you are sick of hearing of this whole case, I encourage you to read Carr's piece on the bloggers and non-traditional journalists who would not stand by while the traditional media ignored the evidence.

"Chasing Armstrong With Truth" by David Carr
Published in the New York Times, 10/28/12
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/business/media/chasing-lance-armstrongs-misdeeds-from-the-sidelines.html?pagewanted=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=0&pagewanted=all

Eric

Longread #165 -- Bleacher Report -- 10/3/12

A number of articles that I've posted recently have dealt with how information is created, distributed, stored, and processed. As has been stated by countless observers, the internet has dramatically changed the way that we access information, although the implications of those changes is certainly up for debate. This longread looks at how the internet in general but more specifically one website -- Bleacher Report -- has changed the nature of sports reporting. The lessons from the Bleacher Report example may also shine a light on the direction that we may see in other areas of reporting. Essentially, the Bleacher Report model is driven almost entirely by what can generate pageviews (and thus advertising dollars). Stories are crowd-sourced, which is code for the fact that they are typically produced for free by writers with limited journalistic experience. Moreover, these stories are commonly written to fit a particular headline or set of keywords that Bleacher Report algorithms indicate will generate the most traffic.

This is a highly-profitable model but one that in my opinion seriously degrades the quality of sports reporting online. That said, as the Sinclair Lewis letter of note indicated, it's important to be wary of casting off a site like Bleacher Report (or alternatively, only embracing more "institutional" reporting sources) simply because it doesn't fit the traditional model of what is understood as good sports writing. 

This also begs the question of why we are so attracted to hyperbole. Why can't we look away and just not click on the links to these articles? Why are we so drawn to reality TV shows that feature actors and actresses who represent the most extreme versions of different stereotypes? When did this attraction start? Are sites like Bleacher Report simply catering to the market? Or are they also actively involved in creating this type of market demand? 

"How Bleacher Report Made Crap Journalism Pay" by Joe Eskenazi

Published in the Seattle Weekly, October 3, 2012

http://www.seattleweekly.com/content/printVersion/1814736/

Eric

Longread #164 -- A Letter of Note -- 10/2/12

Today's longread comes from another blog called Letters of Note, which posts letters of historical significance. My roommate Gabe brought this one to my attention and for good reason. As you can read, it is a letter from Sinclair Lewis turning down the Pulitzer Prize. His argument about the institution of the Pulitzer and how it could affect the understanding and appreciation of writing seems both remarkably selfless and forward-thinking.

"All prizes, like all titles, are dangerous" by Sinclair Lewis
Published on Letters of Note, September 28, 2012. Originally written May 26, 1926.
http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/09/all-prizes-like-all-titles-are-dangerous.html

Eric

Longread #161 -- Infographics -- 9/27/12

Another interesting trend in journalism is the heightened use of infographics. It seems increasingly common to find infographics of varying types, especially online where an infographic can be easily be made interactive. In some cases, these serve as a phenomenal way of simplifying complex topics by highlighting key points. They also appeal to people whose learning styles may tend toward the visual rather than the verbal. Because they can be consumed so quickly, they also carry a lot of appeal for users on Facebook and Twitter. This longread looks at the role of the infographic in journalism and through several examples tries to identify what separates the good from the bad.

"This Chart Is a Lonely Hunter: The Narrative Eros of the Infographic" by Reif Larsen
Published in the Millions, February 7, 2012
http://www.themillions.com/2012/02/this-chart-is-a-lonely-hunter-the-narrative-eros-of-the-infographic.html

Eric

Longread #160 -- Quotation Approval -- 9/26/12

Today's longread looks at quotation approval, which is a practice that is gaining steam in the world of journalism. As described by Carr, this is when a source agrees to an interview only if he or she is allowed to review and approve any quotes that are used. As Carr notes, widespread use of this practice threatens the independence of journalists and their ability to write hard-hitting analysis. At the end of the day, much of the responsibility for this lies with us as consumers of media. As Carr has argued in other pieces, in journalism, you get what you pay for. If we don't actively support quality journalism, it is hard for we as consumers to complain about our news being watered down.

"The Puppetry of Quotation Approval" by David Carr
Published in the New York Times, September 16, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/17/business/media/the-puppetry-of-quotation-approval.html

Eric