As we’ve disÂcussed before on this blog, one of the major casuÂalÂties in the shiftÂing new media landÂscape is the traÂdiÂtionÂal invesÂtigaÂtive journalist–someone with the time and resources to research in-depth stoÂries. In response to this probÂlem a new group called Pro PubÂliÂca is proposÂing a novÂel ecoÂnomÂic modÂel: hire the jourÂnalÂists into a founÂdaÂtion and give their work away to the pubÂliÂcaÂtions where it will make the biggest impact.
The new iniÂtiaÂtive, headÂed up by Paul Steiger, head ediÂtor at the Wall Street JourÂnal for 16 years, will spend $10 milÂlion annuÂalÂly to supÂport a newsÂroom of 24 jourÂnalÂists and 12 othÂer staff in New York City. The monÂey comes from HerÂbert and MarÂiÂon SanÂdler, forÂmer heads of GoldÂen West FinanÂcial CorÂpoÂraÂtion, a big playÂer in mortÂgages and savÂings.
It seems likeÂly to me that Pro PubÂliÂca will sucÂceed in attractÂing some high-levÂel talÂent, both because of Steiger and because many jourÂnalÂists have come to fear for their jobs in the shrinkÂing newsÂrooms of traÂdiÂtionÂal papers. The real quesÂtion is how well this sysÂtem will work in digÂging up and delivÂerÂing qualÂiÂty reportÂing. What do you lose, and what do you gain, when your employÂer is no longer a “paper of record” but a priÂvate founÂdaÂtion fundÂed by peoÂple with their own politÂiÂcal agenÂdas? On the othÂer hand, it’s easy to argue that every newsÂpaÂper already has some kind of politÂiÂcal posiÂtion, so maybe Pro PubÂliÂca will be no difÂferÂent.
GreÂgoÂry Clarke, an ecoÂnomÂic hisÂtoÂriÂan at UC Davis, offers an unusuÂal take on the IndusÂtriÂal RevÂoÂluÂtion in his upcomÂing book, A Farewell to Alms. Most scholÂars argue that the changÂing instiÂtuÂtions of industrialization–factories, corÂpoÂraÂtions, cities–worked togethÂer to drag us humans into the modÂern world. Clarke turns that idea on its head.
As the New York Times put it in a recent review, Clarke “believes that the IndusÂtriÂal RevÂoÂluÂtion — the surge in ecoÂnomÂic growth that occurred first in EngÂland around 1800 — occurred because of a change in the nature of the human popÂuÂlaÂtion. The change was one in which peoÂple gradÂuÂalÂly develÂoped the strange new behavÂiors required to make a modÂern econÂoÂmy work. The midÂdle-class valÂues of nonÂviÂoÂlence, litÂerÂaÂcy, long workÂing hours and a willÂingÂness to save emerged only recentÂly in human hisÂtoÂry.”
The most fasÂciÂnatÂing part of the arguÂment is that, accordÂing to Clarke, these valÂues spread in part because the upper classÂes were more sucÂcessÂful at breedÂing and makÂing sure their offÂspring surÂvived to adultÂhood. By examÂinÂing hisÂtorÂiÂcal wills and propÂerÂty exchange, Clarke deterÂmined that “[t]he modÂern popÂuÂlaÂtion of the EngÂlish is largeÂly descendÂed from the ecoÂnomÂic upper classÂes of the MidÂdle Ages.” GenÂerÂaÂtions of illeÂgitÂiÂmate offÂspring, profÂliÂgate parÂents and non-inherÂitÂing progÂeÂny salÂlied forth and marÂried into the lowÂer classÂes, bringÂing their capÂiÂtalÂist ways with them.
If this theÂoÂry holds up, it might shed some light on the rise of the EngÂlish novÂel. The great VicÂtoÂriÂan novÂel-writÂers have traced uncanÂniÂly simÂiÂlar processÂes of social interÂminÂgling and disÂperÂsion, and it’s a truÂism that almost every stoÂry pivÂots around an inherÂiÂtance. We might visuÂalÂize the process as hunÂdreds of charÂacÂters cirÂcling a few well-guardÂed piles of monÂey. Most of them end up setÂtling for less, and most of the draÂma and tenÂsion in the plot arcs stem from these comÂproÂmisÂes. And, of course, the novÂels trace the spread of just the bourÂgeois virtues Clarke is researchÂing.
Clarke’s work raisÂes a disÂturbÂing largÂer quesÂtion: is this a form of DarÂwinÂian selecÂtion at work? Is capÂiÂtalÂism havÂing an evoÂluÂtionÂary impact on human progress? Or is that a ridicuÂlous propoÂsiÂtion? To see for yourÂself, you can check out the first couÂple of chapÂters for free on Clarke’s webÂsite, here.
A couÂple of years ago I met Jason Epstein in passÂing and he excitÂedÂly described his new project: a machine to print On Demand Books. The plan is finalÂly bearÂing fruit: the EspresÂso Book Machine was demonÂstratÂed at the New York PubÂlic Library on WednesÂday. Three of the machines are out in the wild, and I susÂpect many more will appear if the proÂtoÂtypes live up to the hype.
The idea of books on demand is a litÂtle eerie but emiÂnentÂly effiÂcient. PubÂlishÂers and bookÂsellers waste milÂlions of dolÂlars, tons of fuel and forests of paper shipÂping, returnÂing and trashÂing unsold books every year. And if a machine like this isn’t too expenÂsive to run, it could revÂoÂluÂtionÂize eduÂcaÂtion in less accesÂsiÂble or wealthy parts of the world. The real quesÂtion is whether such a machine might do to bookÂstores what NetÂflix has done to video rental stores. The EspresÂso machine can only print paperÂbacks, so for now I think Barnes and Noble is safe. And even if the shelves are replaced with digÂiÂtal browsÂing disÂplays one day, many cusÂtomers will still want to enjoy their purÂchasÂes with an overÂpriced latÂte and pasÂtry. The social spaces of book-readÂing have yet to be destroyed by Amazon.com or the bloÂgosÂphere, so I think they’ll surÂvive a new kind of espresÂso machine.
What Book Changed Your Life? ParÂticÂiÂpate in a Group Project. Tell Us and Become EliÂgiÂble for a Prize .
The online magÂaÂzine Slate runs most of its arts and culÂture stoÂries in a secÂtion called “CulÂtureÂbox.” IronÂiÂcalÂly, it’s takÂen the conÂsumer elecÂtronÂics indusÂtry sevÂerÂal years to catch up, but now it seems like every new gadÂget is marÂketÂed as a culÂtureÂbox, from the shiny iPhone to the pioÂneerÂing Tivo to the hot-runÂning Xbox 360. ManÂuÂfacÂturÂers, adverÂtisÂers and proÂducÂers everyÂwhere are thinkÂing about how to sell us sleekÂer, betÂter boxÂes and the media that go with them.
The trouÂble is, nobody is quite sure what the culÂtureÂbox should look like or what it should do. We can all agree on video, audio and some kind of storÂage funcÂtion. But do we want our media pockÂet-sized or on a big screen? Is the goal to enterÂtain us on the comÂmute or to build up a library of cherÂished media objects? More imporÂtantÂly, when we say “culÂture” do we essenÂtialÂly mean teleÂviÂsion or the whole panoply of forms? Are culÂtureÂboxÂes just TV by othÂer means or are there genÂuineÂly new culÂturÂal forms on the horiÂzon?
Last week Microsoft announced that Xbox 360s are failÂing in unpreceÂdentÂed numÂbers: A draÂmatÂic examÂple of CulÂtureÂbox AnxÂiÂety SynÂdrome. The new genÂerÂaÂtion of videogame conÂsoles allow us to do so much more than blastÂing aliens—video on demand, HD and Blu-Ray DVD playÂback, online chatÂting and music library manÂageÂment are just a few of the roles these parÂticÂuÂlar culÂtureÂboxÂes want to serve. The comÂplexÂiÂty is clearÂly an overÂload: the New York Timesargues that the $1 bilÂlion Microsoft is setÂting aside for this probÂlem implies that between a third and half of Xbox 360 conÂsoles could get the culÂtureÂbox blues. Now a high-levÂel Xbox execÂuÂtive has announced his resÂigÂnaÂtion, though few peoÂple think it’s a punÂishÂment since the platÂform is genÂerÂalÂly sellÂing well.
PerÂhaps I’m only writÂing because I use all these gadÂgets and my Xbox recentÂly sucÂcumbed to “red ring of death” synÂdrome. IronÂiÂcalÂly, it only freezes up when I use it to load a videogame. But there is a broadÂer issue here: the transÂforÂmaÂtion of culÂture from someÂthing we expeÂriÂence in conÂcert halls, movie theÂaters and othÂer shared pubÂlic spaces into someÂthing that we do on the couch or on the go.
EntreÂpreÂneurÂship and BusiÂness PlanÂning is a free course availÂable via podÂcast (iTunesFeedMp3) that parÂalÂlels a classÂroom course being offered at Carnegie MelÂlon withÂin the MasÂters in InforÂmaÂtion SysÂtems ManÂageÂment (MISM) proÂgram. Taught by Mark Juliano, an adjunct proÂfesÂsor who othÂerÂwise works in the priÂvate secÂtor, the course covÂers the ins-and-outs of startÂing a new venÂture. FolÂlowÂing a very logÂiÂcal traÂjecÂtoÂry, it starts with the funÂdaÂmenÂtals — develÂopÂing ideas for new comÂpaÂnies, writÂing busiÂness plans, and creÂatÂing teams — and then moves through more advanced mateÂriÂals that you’d typÂiÂcalÂly find covÂered in b‑school: marÂketÂing, comÂpetÂiÂtive stratÂeÂgy, sales, pricÂing, fundÂing and finance. FinalÂly, when you dive into the podÂcasts, you’ll realÂize that Juliano has clearÂly takÂen pains to present an accesÂsiÂble course for lisÂtenÂers. Along with clearÂly preÂsentÂed lecÂtures, you get a host of supÂportÂing online mateÂriÂals, plus a course blog. A very nice touch.
Next, the busiÂness-mindÂed folks among us will also want to pore over the stelÂlar colÂlecÂtion of entreÂpreÂneurÂship eduÂcaÂtion resources assemÂbled by the StanÂford TechÂnolÂoÂgy VenÂtures ProÂgram. Their media conÂtent trove includes a solÂid colÂlecÂtion of podÂcasts feaÂturÂing talks with busiÂness thought leadÂers (iTunesFeedWeb Site), not to menÂtion a cache of videos highÂlightÂing preÂsenÂtaÂtions by the execÂuÂtives and VCs who make SilÂiÂcon ValÂley tick. Just genÂerÂalÂly, you’ll want to explore the many othÂer resources in the EduÂcaÂtors CorÂner.
DarÂdÂen School of BusiÂness (The UniÂverÂsiÂty of VirÂginia) iTunes — Feed — Web Site
EntreÂpreÂneurÂial Thought LeadÂers (StanÂford UniÂverÂsiÂty)iTunesFeedWeb Site
A series of weekÂly lecÂtures on entreÂpreÂneurÂship jointÂly sponÂsored by sevÂerÂal proÂgrams at StanÂford. FeaÂtures speakÂers from Google, GenenÂtech, and Juniper NetÂworks, among othÂers.
Fuqua School of BusiÂness (Duke UniÂverÂsiÂty)iTunesWeb Site
From the HarÂvard BusiÂness Review, this colÂlecÂtion feaÂtures leadÂing thinkers in the busiÂness and manÂageÂment world.
Tomorrow’s ChalÂlenges present top-ranked busiÂness school IMD’s latÂest research results. FacÂulÂty disÂcuss critÂiÂcal busiÂness topÂics such as leadÂerÂship, innoÂvaÂtion, change and govÂerÂnance. See www.imd.ch/tc for in depth artiÂcles.IMD Tomorrow’s ChalÂlenges PodÂcastAudio FeedVideo Feed
These two podÂcasts come out of one of Europe’s elite busiÂness proÂgrams.
Knowledge@Wharton Audio ArtiÂcles (UniÂverÂsiÂty of PennÂsylÂvaÂnia)iTunesFeedWeb Site
An offÂshoot of the school’s online busiÂness jourÂnal called “Knowledge@Wharton.” ProÂvides “audio artiÂcles” thatÂfeaÂture high-proÂfile execÂuÂtives and facÂulÂty, includÂing sevÂerÂal that highÂlight stock marÂket guru JereÂmy Siegel.
A series of audio and video podÂcasts sharÂing the latÂest in news and thought leadÂerÂship from the LonÂdon BusiÂness School, which is part of the UniÂverÂsiÂty of LonÂdon.
MBA PodÂcastÂer iTunesFeedWeb Site InforÂmaÂtion and advice for those lookÂing to get into b‑school.
ObviÂousÂly McKÂinÂsey is not a b‑school, but it’s the big kahuÂna conÂsultÂing firm and they put out some inforÂmaÂtive podÂcasts. Here are ones from their high tech pracÂtice.
Some of the world’s leadÂing busiÂness thinkers proÂvide the latÂest thinkÂing in ecoÂnomÂics, manÂageÂment, finance, stratÂeÂgy and marÂketÂing.
Tuck School of BusiÂness at DartÂmouth, CenÂter for DigÂiÂtal StrateÂgies iTunesFeedWeb Site
Radio Tuck brings you ground-breakÂing digÂiÂtal interÂviews, straight from the busiÂness leadÂers of today.
UniÂverÂsiÂty of ChicaÂgo GradÂuÂate School of BusiÂness iTunesFeedWeb Site
Is it someÂthing of an oddÂiÂty to see the words of famous philosoÂphers and hisÂtoÂriÂans getÂting digÂiÂtized
and downÂloaded to iPods everyÂwhere? Sure it is, and that’s why we genÂerÂalÂly like talkÂing about humanÂiÂties podÂcasts. But is it strange to think of AmerÂiÂca’s leadÂing busiÂness schools carvÂing out a space on iTunes and bringÂing their ideas to an interÂnaÂtionÂal audiÂence? HardÂly. For schools whose sucÂcess depends on being closeÂly tied to the pulse of AmerÂiÂcan and globÂal audiÂences, getÂting involved with podÂcastÂing is a no brainÂer.
Let’s take a brief tour of what AmerÂiÂca’s top b‑schools are up to these days, startÂing with The WharÂton School of The UniÂverÂsiÂty of PennÂsylÂvaÂnia. Launched about a year ago, this podÂcast colÂlecÂtion (iTunes — Feed — Web Site) is an offÂshoot of the school’s online busiÂness jourÂnal called “Knowledge@Wharton.” And what you get here are “audio artiÂcles” that feaÂture high-proÂfile execÂuÂtives and facÂulÂty, includÂing sevÂerÂal that highÂlight stock marÂket guru JereÂmy Siegel. Some of these podÂcasts focus on timeÂless b‑school issues (stratÂeÂgy, innoÂvaÂtion, mergÂers, alliances, etc.). OthÂers explore more timeÂly quesÂtions: New ModÂels for TV and InterÂnet, What Makes an Online ComÂmuÂniÂty Tick?, and Which New Tech ComÂpaÂnies Are InnoÂvatÂing Most?. Most are worth your time.
From PhiladelÂphia, we move to HarÂvard in CamÂbridge. This podÂcast colÂlecÂtion, known as HBR IdeaÂCast (iTunesFeed), is also closeÂly aligned with the school’s busiÂness jourÂnal, the famed HarÂvard BusiÂness Review. And, here again, you get well-proÂduced audio segÂments that offer insights on key issues in today’s busiÂness world, whether it’s how to do busiÂness in ChiÂna, how to be an effecÂtive and resilient leader, or how to adapt to very new trends in e‑commerce.
MovÂing south to the Research TriÂanÂgle, we visÂit Duke’s Fuqua School of BusiÂness (iTunes — Web Site), which has the beginÂnings of what promisÂes to be a strong audio colÂlecÂtion. While you’ll want to give the most time to the fairÂly robust DisÂtinÂguished SpeakÂer Series, you may want to peruse the MBA LeadÂerÂship and MarÂketÂing ExpeÂriÂence series as well. Also in the same genÂerÂal vicinÂiÂty is anothÂer colÂlecÂtion worth a good look. It’s from the DarÂdÂen School of BusiÂness at the UniÂverÂsiÂty of VirÂginia (iTunes — Feed — Web Site)
By now, you probÂaÂbly have a good sense of what you can genÂerÂalÂly expect to find in these colÂlecÂtions. So let’s briefly leave you with two last ones. First, the comÂpiÂlaÂtion assemÂbled by The UniÂverÂsiÂty of ChicaÂgo GradÂuÂate School of BusiÂness (iTunesFeedWeb Site). Among othÂers, you’ll encounter talks by Nobel Prize winÂner Gary BeckÂer and also Steven Levitt, the co-author of the recent bestÂseller FreakoÂnomÂics. LastÂly, we end at StanÂford and its series called “EntreÂpreÂneurÂial Thought LeadÂers,” which gives you access to what SilÂiÂcon ValÂley has in no short supÂply — entreÂpreÂneurs, includÂing ones from Google, GenenÂtech, and Juniper NetÂworks. Click. DownÂload. Sync. And you’ll be in busiÂness.
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Is it someÂthing of an oddÂiÂty to see the words of famous philosoÂphers and hisÂtoÂriÂans getÂting digÂiÂtized
