Kara Swisher goes native
By Marc Perton
That’s great, Kara. Really. Welcome to the nabe. However, there’s just one problem with this approach: This business is about the content. The web, newspapers, magazines, cellphones, TVs, etc., are all just distribution channels. Each channel has its own strengths and weaknesses, and content developed for one channel doesn’t always work out all that well on others (which is why newspapers and magazines are finally turning their web sites into unique products, rather than just conduits for repurposing). The web is great at interactivity and immediacy. TV’s great at, well, video. And print is good for, um, something or other. But there’s no reason to swear eternal fealty to a single distribution channel. And, yes, I say this as someone who started in print, but has worked online-only for well over a decade. I may never write for a print publication again, either. But that doesn’t mean I’m online-only forever. If the right magazine, TV, radio, newspaper or cerebral implant opportunity comes along, I’ll go for it, especially if it provides a chance to create exciting, compelling content that takes advantage of the unique capabilities of the channel.
From Kara Swisher’s latest “Boomtown” blog entry:
“First, after almost eight months of daily blogging for this site, I think it is safe to say that I will probably never write another thing professionally for a print publication and will spend the rest of my career–such that it will be–publishing online only.”
That’s great, Kara. Really. Welcome to the nabe. However, there’s just one problem with this approach: This business is about the content. The web, newspapers, magazines, cellphones, TVs, etc., are all just distribution channels. Each channel has its own strengths and weaknesses, and content developed for one channel doesn’t always work out all that well on others (which is why newspapers and magazines are finally turning their web sites into unique products, rather than just conduits for repurposing). The web is great at interactivity and immediacy. TV’s great at, well, video. And print is good for, um, something or other. But there’s no reason to swear eternal fealty to a single distribution channel. And, yes, I say this as someone who started in print, but has worked online-only for well over a decade. I may never write for a print publication again, either. But that doesn’t mean I’m online-only forever. If the right magazine, TV, radio, newspaper or cerebral implant opportunity comes along, I’ll go for it, especially if it provides a chance to create exciting, compelling content that takes advantage of the unique capabilities of the channel.
