There is a lot big media can learn from the software industry

Fair enough on The Daily Beast, but that is more the exception than the rule. We launched VSL for under $200K. And did similar with other businesses. The larger point here is that while these kind of experiments may bear fruit, they certainly won’t solve the massive problems created for media companies by the emergence of the open web. That requires massive R&D, or more accurately lost profits, as the oil tanker shifts 180 degrees to avoid the storm.

PS — I know where you stand on this, but I still wish you had DISQUS on your blog so we could have it out in the comments :)

Yeah, I think you’ve told me that before. I actually had comments on my blog in 2001 (you know, centuries ago) and it was fine when I was blogging frequently enough to moderate it. And if I didn’t moderate it, the trolls (and in a couple of cases, creepy pseudo-stalkers) inevitably took over. Now I blog in binges and just don’t have the bandwidth to moderate on top of that.

I also think that people are more thoughtful and responsible when they’re responding on their own real estate instead of mine. That’s been my experience, anyway.

I don’t expect, by the way, that R&D solves all of big media’s problems. But I think it helps.

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