Baio
Blogger Andy Baio raises numerous technological, cultural, and ethical questions. First, take a look at how I introduce the subject on my blog, then post your agenda item responding to Baio's entry:
From an anonymous source close to the company, I've found myself in possession of the "Infocom Drive" -- a complete backup of Infocom's shared network drive from 1989. This is one of the most amazing archives I've ever seen, a treasure chest documenting the rise and fall of the legendary interactive fiction game company. Among the assets included: design documents, email archives, employee phone numbers, sales figures, internal meeting notes, corporate newsletters, and the source code and game files for every released and unreleased game Infocom made.For obvious reasons, I can't share the whole Infocom Drive. But I have to share some of the best parts. It's just too good.
You needn't answer all these questions, but here are some questions I feel this situation raises.
- Can a blogger be a journalist? Is this particular blogger a journalist? Who decides?
- Is it journalism if it relies wholly on archival material?
- Is
it reliable journalism if it depends on anonymous sources (in this
case, the unnamed source who provided the author with the Infocom
archives)?
- Is it journalism there is no editorial oversight -- nobody to say "Woah, there, are you sure you should be publishing the full text of e-mails that were sent from one private individual to another?"
- Was the information pressing enough, or of sufficient news value, to justify a "publish first and ask questions later" attitude?
- Is it journalism if the author offers to de-publish text that the original authors don't want published?
- What opportunity for insight and subtlety was lost when the author chose to publish without checking with the sources?
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/DaniellaChoynowski/2008/04/hitchhikergate.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/RachelPrichard/2008/04/baio_blog_respo.html#comments
I just wanted to clarify in writing what we discussed about "Restaurant" last Tuesday -- what I will and will not agree to.
I will not sign a blank sheet of paper: I refuse to take responsibility for "Restaurant" in the state it presently is in -- not knowing who is creatively in charge, how much thinking has actually been done, or how much of a script is written. ...
What I'd like to see is a piece of paper, on which is an exact, REALISTIC schedule of how much creative input the programmer is to receive, and when, that Bywater and/or Adams has/have signed. Then I'll tell you whether I agree to take the project or not. ..." (Amy Briggs)
My blog entry:
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/JeremyBarrick/2008/04/el336_response_to_baios_blog_e.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/DavidCristello/2008/04/hitchhiker.html
"From an anonymous source close to the company, I've found myself in possession of the "Infocom Drive" — a complete backup of Infocom's shared network drive from 1989. This is one of the most amazing archives I've ever seen, a treasure chest documenting the rise and fall of the legendary interactive fiction game company. Among the assets included: design documents, email archives, employee phone numbers, sales figures, internal meeting notes, corporate newsletters, and the source code and game files for every released and unreleased game Infocom made.
For obvious reasons, I can't share the whole Infocom Drive. But I have to share some of the best parts. It's just too good. (Andy Baio, Waxy)"
Trackback: http://blogs.setonhill.edu/ChristopherUlicne/025452.html
My responses to Baio.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LeslieRodriguez/025404.html