∞ Be a publisher, not a republisher

Written by

Matt Gemmell on publishing services like paper.li:

Newspapers contain editorial. There’s some kind of journalistic contribution, however brief, in each article. With these online “newspapers”, there’s zero. It’s just a wad of links and extracts, styled to appear something like a newspaper. No commentary by the “publisher”.

…Even just a brief remark on why you care about each item enough to share it? Give me a reason to be interested.

I read articles and links because of the contribution the person brings to that article or topic. The contribution doesn’t have to be an essay — sometimes a few words on why they think it’s important is enough.


  • http://www.macgasm.net Joshua Schnell

    Umm…. editorials contain editorial. News reports don’t contain editorial, even at the New York Times.

    • http://twitter.com/MarketingXD MarketingXD

      contribution the person brings to that article or topic != editorial

      • http://www.macgasm.net Joshua Schnell

        Sure, but Mr. Gemmell used the word editorial. You can add to a topic, and every writer should, but that doesn’t mean all articles need to editorialize.

        For instance, telling the world that Apple updated Lion leaves very little room for editorializing.

        • http://www.loopinsight.com Jim Dalrymple

          Semantics, I think. Josh, we’re all saying the same thing when it comes down to it.

          • http://www.macgasm.net Joshua Schnell

            Not sure I agree. There’s a very separate place for opinion and news. A clear distinction needs to be drawn between the facts and my opinion.  I happen to agree that there needs to be more editorial in the tech-news world, but not all news invokes editorial needs.

          • http://www.loopinsight.com Jim Dalrymple

            Nobody said anything about opinion and news. I know what you’re going to say next :)

          • http://www.macgasm.net Joshua Schnell

            That it’s implied in the quote? ;)

          • Peter Cohen

            Whatever. Gemmell’s point is that if you’re not adding value, STFU.

          • http://mangochut.net/ mangochutney

            @macgasm:disqus Like in this post:
            I didn’t create the content, but I tried to add something to it.

        • http://www.loopinsight.com Jim Dalrymple

          Semantics, I think. Josh, we’re all saying the same thing when it comes down to it.