PandoMonthly: Mark Suster on why he can't be so polarizing anymore

TL;DR

Silicon Valley press tends to avoid controversy and acts more as cheerleader press, but some writers like Nick Bilton and Kara Swisher are willing to take on controversy and do investigative reporting.

Transcript

your blog and i you know i used to work at techcrunch now your posts were always the most widely read post on a very widely read site um getting back to people hating you one of the knocks that people get to give up give to you one of the knocks people say is great you know a little bit of what bilton said about jack dorsey his greatest product is ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😑 The Silicon Valley press tends to be overly positive and avoids negative coverage of the tech sector, acting more as cheerleaders for companies.
• ❓ Certain writers, like Nick Bilton and Kara Swisher, are willing to take on controversies and conduct investigative reporting.
• 🖤 The author criticizes Apple for its culture, censorship practices, and lack of encouragement for democracy and innovation.
• 💯 The author prefers the culture of Google and Amazon over Apple, despite acknowledging that they are not perfect either.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why does the author criticize the Silicon Valley press?

The author believes that the press in Silicon Valley tends to avoid controversy and act as cheerleaders for companies, rather than critically covering the tech sector.

Q: Which writers does the author praise for their willingness to take on controversy?

The author specifically praises Nick Bilton and Kara Swisher for their willingness to address controversies and conduct investigative reporting.

Q: What does the author criticize about Apple's culture?

The author criticizes Apple's culture for its lack of encouragement of democracy and innovation, as well as its tendency to censor content and restrict employee communication.

Q: How does the author view Google and Amazon in comparison to Apple?

The author prefers the culture of Google and Amazon over Apple, as they are more willing to embrace messy democracy and encourage innovation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author criticizes the Silicon Valley press for being too positive and avoiding negative coverage of companies and individuals in the tech sector.

• The author praises certain writers like Nick Bilton and Kara Swisher for their willingness to address controversies and conduct investigative reporting.

• The author specifically criticizes Apple's culture and censorship practices, contrasting it with China's similar tendencies and Google's more democratic approach.