November 2007

Michael Arrington is a slick Internet entrepreneur and well-paid for TechCrunch’s stamp of approval on technology. However, Arrington isn’t a journalist. Companies know that. His readers know that. And Democratic U.S. Presidential candidate Barack Obama knows it. That knowledge is probably why Obama “answered” some of Arrington’s questions about various technology policy issues.

Notice, answered is in quotes.

I wasn’t in Obama’s office when his staff received Arrington’s e-mail, but here’s a likely scenario:

Obama’s computer: <Ding! You’ve Got Blogger’s Mail!>

Staffer: ‘Obama, some blogger has some geek questions. Should I delete it like I did with that Sutherland fellow’s?

Obama: ‘Wait. This is Michael Arrington - he has a huge audience of geeks, who might not all be voting for Ron Paul. What sort of questions is he asking?’

Staffer: ‘Oh, softball questions like should the Internet be free, do you believe in privacy, and your stance on net neutering.’

Obama: ‘He must mean net neutrality. This is perfect. He’s not asking about that dumb statement about my foreign policy or why a first-term senator is running for the highest elective office in the land.’

Staffer: ‘We have that issue paper we send out to all the kids — that’ll do, right?’ (blow dust off yellowed document.)

Obama: ‘Sure. It’s not like I’ll be asked any follow-up questions.’ (Throws dart at ‘Hill and Bill’ photo.)

Without follow-ups, interviews are a monologue, a blog without comments.

Some follow-ups I would have like answered:

Q: You say you are a fierce supporter of net neutrality. But what about the Internet carriers that find themselves carrying ever-greater loads of data made even more daunting by the avalanche of multimedia transferred online. Carriers have to pass on the costs somehow — if not to the Google’s of the world, it will be to the grandma down the block forced to pay higher connection fees because everyone wants to become the next YouTube.

Q: You say you will prevent abuse of individual privacy by government data-gathering measures. Does this mean you will vote against Congress’ willingness to provide President Bush with sweeping blanket warrants to tap your phone and Internet connections? Do you support Mr. Bush’s demand AT&T and other technology providers involved in the warrantless wiretap programs be immune from lawsuits? If, as it seems, Congress will approve some form of the blanket wiretap bill, will you fight for its renewal?

Q: Do you support calls to provide unlimited H1B1 visas, such as that made by Bill Gates? H1B1s are often used by foreign employers to bring in more foreign employees, paying them less that U.S. engineers and scientists. Do you feel H1B1s should be tightened to remove that loophole? Are companies using the H1B1 as a way to prevent hiring more expensive U.S. candidates?

Those are just a few follow-ups. Until blogs become more like traditional media and learn proper interviewing, they will remain simply media mini me’s.

Visitors and readers. They are the dynamic duo of a healthy blog, right? But as more and more people check out your site from something like Google Reader rather than in ‘person,’ will your advertising suffer? After all, advertisers pay for ‘eyeballs.’ That’s the intriguing question more and more bloggers are asking themselves. [click to continue...]

We are taking a breather from the fantastic Brian Gardner design to simplify our looks, returning to our blogging roots. We’ll offer the same reporting and commentary, just with a bit more approachable appearance. Let me know what you think of the design in the below comments.

IZEA CEO Ted Murphy is taking Google’s recent shakeup of its Page Rank system personally. In a letter on the company’s Web site, Murphy said Google has downgraded blogs that use PayPerPost or other sponsored posting ad networks that might compete with Google’s Adsense. [click to continue...]

Add emergency medical tech to Dave Peralty’s job description as Splashpress Media’s just hired marketing guru. Peralty has been given the job of providing CPR to the once-hot Cutline theme. [click to continue...]

Her critics have called her political views spacey, now they have more ammunition.

Huffington Post co-founder Arrianna Huffington Friday was named to the board of trustees for the X Prize. Her qualification for joining the likes of geneticist J. Craig Venter and Google co-founder Larry Page: hosting benefits for X Prize in September, according to a statement.

“I love the way it inspires people to dream big, and to push the limits of creativity and ingenuity in service of a better world,” Huffington said. The political blogging site has attracted $10 million in venture capital and recently opened 236.com, a news satire site along with Barry Diller’s IAC/InterActiveCorp.

What’s up with Automattic? How about talk of a $50 million cash-out for company founders? All good questions and ones Matt Mullenweg won’t answer after ducking out of a scheduled BlogTalk Radio interview. Mullenweg left BlogTalk CEO Alan Levy cooling his heels Thursday.

Update:  We’re told the interview has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 27. [click to continue...]

Update: Mullenweg was MIA, not appearing to wish to answer questions.

Matt Mullenweg, the founder of Automattic, will be interviewed on BlogTalk Radio at 2pm ET (11am PT) Thursday. Mullenweg will be interviewed by BlogTalk Radio’s CEO Alan Levy. The call-in page is at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/alanlevy .

Recently, Automattic has been the center of several rumors, including a $50 million cash-out for Mullenweg and the rejection of a $200 million buyout offer. Automattic’s WordPress.com Wednesday was named the No. 2 blog site, behind Google’s Blogger. For the first time, WP.com jumped ahead of rival Typepad.

GigaOM Media, a network of Web 2.0 blogs, has raised $1 million in second-round financing. The financing was led by True Venture, a VC firm that was involved in the media company’s original $1 million cash infusion.

True Venture is also funding Automattic, owner of the No. 2 blog hosting company and several other blog-related firms.

GigaOM Media, launched in 2006, operates five blogs, ranging from Web 2.0 startups, Internet television and online workers. The GigaOM has recently also expanded into the events business, joining the ranks of TechCrunch and others who are building communities around their blogging brand. Yahoo Finance has a good backgrounder.