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The easy lesson might be that journalism is not a game of bean bag, and it would be best left to professionals. But we are in a pro-am informational world where news comes from all directions. Traditional media still originate big stories, but many others come from all corners — books, cellphone videos, blogs and, yes, radio shows built on storytelling.

But there is another word for news and information that comes from advocates with a vested interest: propaganda.

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- I like this take from Paul Carr (of the New York Times) and his reference to a ‘pro-am’ information age. It’s a worthy read discussing Mike Daisy’s lack of transparency on This American Life, with reference to the scandal around Kona 2012.

"I suspect this is a prelude to much of tomorrow’s post-event coverage, echoing the initial tech press reaction to the iPhone 4S. But if a faster processor, more RAM, a double-the-resolution retina display, a better camera, and maybe even LTE networking make for a “modest” update, then what would it take for the iPad 3 to be deemed an immodest update? A fusion energy source? Teleportation? A camera that sees into the future?"

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I first saw this kind of talk shabbily reported on the Toronto Star (I know, I know) and then all over the place since. Ironically, The Star can have one article claiming it will lack luster and another saying it’s a desktop killer. Killing off the desktop computer does not come without some lustre. 

I couldn’t agree more with Jon Gruber’s quote above. Some editors have lost track of what matters and what is actually impressive. Try finding any other device makers achieving strides of this nature; not to mention while retaining impressive battery life. via Daring Fireball

"Most are stories written with little or no research done. They’re written as quickly as possible. The faster the better. Most are just rehashing information that spread by some other means. But that’s great, it means stories can be written without any burden beyond the writer having to read a little bit and type words fast. Many are written without the writer even having to think."

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Have you thought about where you’re getting your news from recently? I totally understand if you want to get the latest from Mashable, but just make sure you take a deeper look somewhere else if you want to do anything more than skim the surface. Consider the motives of the publications/authors you read. 

If you don’t want to read the whole post, take a look at this example of Mashable connecting the Oslo massacre and Google+, essentially link baiting and writing vacuous content solely to find relevance in search. 

Via MG Siegler

"The most remarkable attribute Krugman has brought to the Times is rudeness. The social niceties that accompany his exalted position are utterly lost on him. He does not seek out the company of famous politicians and cannot be courted with flattery or access. He understands that you can’t arrive at truth without explaining why mistaken beliefs are wrong."

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Love that. 

Because Paul Krugman Didn’t Keep His Calm - Reasons to Love New York 2011 — New York Magazine

"The problem with the Internet is there’s so much of it. It’s highly fragmented, and most of it’s for free,” he (Sir Martin Sorrell) says. “Consumers must pay for content if they value it,” he insists."

- That’s a debate starter if I’ve ever seen one. Nearly nothing online is free, I’d add. We pay through labour (viewing ads) nearly everywhere when there isn’t a pay wall. Most people simply don’t acknowledge that as a cost. That said, there is money to be made in distinguishing yourself from the masses. What that really means is you need to make something worth it - paying or working for. Ad Titan Martin Sorrell Says Readers Must Pony Up - Newsweek