What's Good for the iPod is Good for the Country

A contrarian view on CES from National Journal's "Off Message" column by William Powers (via Paul Holmes):

"Being extremely modern, we journalists like to think our craft has moved beyond the bad old days when business got a soft ride from the press, and the business pages read a bit like the old quotation from former General Motors President Charles E. Wilson: "What's good for the country is good for General Motors, and vice versa." ...

"Except that Microsoft, Apple, and Google are pretty much the General Motorses of today, and an awful lot of the coverage they get is right out of the Charles E. Wilson school. This is especially true of the general establishment outlets, while, in a small irony, the technology trade press has a lot of serious, critical fare. To read the pop coverage of these trade shows -- news flash! amazing iMacs shipping soon! -- it's as if these aren't companies at all. We cheer them as if they were disinterested do-gooders or beloved folk heroes, not profit-driven powerhouses with legions of lobbyists in D.C." ....>

At 463, we've long argued that the tech industry has moved from cult figure-hood to treatment that something that more resembles other industries in DC.  No longer do we get a free pass just because we are cool and innovative -- just look at the stock option expensing debate.  And, moreover, since we are now part of the fabric of nearly every American's life, we also have to expect deeper scrutiny from both policymakers and media.

That said, we respectfully submit that Mr. Powers should take off his cranky pants and get into something more comfortable.  Yes, CES is over-the-top.  Yes, coverage of the annual Steve Jobs State of Apple message is overblown.  But, hey, technology is fun and many, many people want to know what the Now Big Thing is.  You can cover privacy, piracy and patents all year and still leave room for breathless prose about a sexy device that leaves your buddies green with envy -- much like what a car from General Motors might have done many decades ago.

As I type, the Golden Globes are on.  Lord knows how much coverage that will get (and is it even a real award show?  Who votes?).  Have sober minded journalists gone soft when they write about Scarlett Johansson? 

Enjoy tech's stars while they have the spotlight and are wowing the nation with things people enjoy talking about and things people want.  We know that every light eventually fades.  Just ask Charles E. Wilson.

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