Seems like the writer decided to stab them in the back, didn’t find any weak points, but decided to give it her best shot anyway. I’m not sure any response is necessary other than “don’t trust Karen Hao in the future”.
I feel like it’s quite possible that the headline and tone was changed a bit by the editor, it’s quite hard to tell with articles like this.
I wouldn’t single out the author of this specific article. I think similar issues happen all the time. It’s a highly common risk when allowing for media exposure, and a reason to possibly often be hesitant (though there are significant benefits as well).
Hmm, I agree that this might’ve happened, but I still think it is reasonable to hold both author and the magazine with its editors accountable for hostile journalism like this.
I think these comments could look like an attack on the author here. This may not be the intention, but I imagine many may think this when reading it.
Online discussions are really tricky. For every 1000 reasonable people, there could be 1 who’s not reasonable, and who’s definition of “holding them accountable” is much more intense than the rest of ours.
In the case of journalists this is particularly selfishly-bad; it would be quite bad for any of our communities to get them upset.
I also think that this is very standard stuff for journalists, so I really don’t feel the specific author here is particularly relevant to this difficulty.
I’m all for discussion of the positives and weaknesses of content, and for broad understanding of how toxic the current media landscape can be. I just would like to encourage we stay very much on the civil side when discussing individuals in particular.
Thanks, I agree that my comment would be much more helpful if stated less ambiguously, and I also felt frustrated about the article while writing it (and still do). I also agree that we don’t want to annoy such authors.
1) I interpreted your first commented to say it would not be a good use of resources to be critical of the author. I think that publically saying “I think this author wrote a very uncharitable and unproductive piece and I would be especially careful with him or her going forward” is better than not doing it, because it will a) warn others and b) slightly change the incentives for journalists: There are costs to writing very uncharitable things, such as people being less willing to invite you and giving you information that might be reported on uncharitably.
2) Another thing I thought you were saying: Authors have no influence on the editors and it’s wasted effort to direct criticism towards them. I think that authors can talk to editors, and their unhappiness with changes to their written work will be heard and will influence how it is published. But I’m not super confident in that, for example if it’s common to lose your job for being unhappy with the work of your editors, and there being little other job opportunities. On the other hand, there seem to be many authors and magazines that allow themselves to report honestly and charitably. So it seems useful to at least know who does and does not tend to do that.
Seems like the writer decided to stab them in the back, didn’t find any weak points, but decided to give it her best shot anyway. I’m not sure any response is necessary other than “don’t trust Karen Hao in the future”.
I feel like it’s quite possible that the headline and tone was changed a bit by the editor, it’s quite hard to tell with articles like this.
I wouldn’t single out the author of this specific article. I think similar issues happen all the time. It’s a highly common risk when allowing for media exposure, and a reason to possibly often be hesitant (though there are significant benefits as well).
Hmm, I agree that this might’ve happened, but I still think it is reasonable to hold both author and the magazine with its editors accountable for hostile journalism like this.
I think these comments could look like an attack on the author here. This may not be the intention, but I imagine many may think this when reading it.
Online discussions are really tricky. For every 1000 reasonable people, there could be 1 who’s not reasonable, and who’s definition of “holding them accountable” is much more intense than the rest of ours.
In the case of journalists this is particularly selfishly-bad; it would be quite bad for any of our communities to get them upset.
I also think that this is very standard stuff for journalists, so I really don’t feel the specific author here is particularly relevant to this difficulty.
I’m all for discussion of the positives and weaknesses of content, and for broad understanding of how toxic the current media landscape can be. I just would like to encourage we stay very much on the civil side when discussing individuals in particular.
Thanks, I agree that my comment would be much more helpful if stated less ambiguously, and I also felt frustrated about the article while writing it (and still do). I also agree that we don’t want to annoy such authors.
1) I interpreted your first commented to say it would not be a good use of resources to be critical of the author. I think that publically saying “I think this author wrote a very uncharitable and unproductive piece and I would be especially careful with him or her going forward” is better than not doing it, because it will a) warn others and b) slightly change the incentives for journalists: There are costs to writing very uncharitable things, such as people being less willing to invite you and giving you information that might be reported on uncharitably.
2) Another thing I thought you were saying: Authors have no influence on the editors and it’s wasted effort to direct criticism towards them. I think that authors can talk to editors, and their unhappiness with changes to their written work will be heard and will influence how it is published. But I’m not super confident in that, for example if it’s common to lose your job for being unhappy with the work of your editors, and there being little other job opportunities. On the other hand, there seem to be many authors and magazines that allow themselves to report honestly and charitably. So it seems useful to at least know who does and does not tend to do that.