What worked for HBO won’t work for news

I love The Wire. It’s the best TV series ever. I’ve paid for it twice, once on HBO and once on DVD. So I not only believe in paying for content I love, I practice it. Redundantly!

[Redundant practice is an interesting concept. Buying a CD because you want to reward the band even though you already downloaded the mp3s is a redundant act.]

I just don’t think the reporter model is working. All it does is inflate the self-importance of these people, turn them into gatekeepers, and often bullies. People who behave like the power brokers they’re supposedly covering.

[I've been thinking for a long time journalism is too tied up in power. The Murdoch factor trickles down to the front line. Just as we need to remind politicians they are servants to the people who elect them, so we also need to imbue that sense of public service into journalism, at least if it wants to be supported as an essential service.]

I also think there’s a need for aggregation, but it’s a practice people like Simon often mock. In fact reporters base their work on generous people who contribute their knowledge for free — sources.

Seeing the social web as your rolodex on steroids with ESP is a no brainer.