Steve Jobs Buys the Press
That headline might sound a bit harsh or even hyperbolic to some, but it's the only plausible explanation for the results of a Pew Research study concerning media and technology companies. Well, that and the fact that the data curiously omits the time period when antennagate reached its peak.
The study tracked mainstream media coverage of the leading technology companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook, and Twitter over the course of a year. The results show what we've all known for quite some time: reporters are mostly Apple fanbois. Or at least, they get paid to act like they worship that glowing piece of fruit. Not only did Apple get mentioned more than anyone else, but they were far more likely to get gushing reviews, which indicates an obvious bias on behalf of the press. For example, the study shows that USAToday.com called the turrible iPhone 4 "the [Smartphone] to beat".
I rest my case.
Now it's certainly fair to question just how Mr. Jobs manages to wield this kind of influence over the corporate media, considering that his firm's annual revenues would barely cover Eric Schmidt's monthly dose of Starbucks lattes. But a quick glance at the list of media outlets that the study relied on reveals the ugly truth. For instance, NBC and their cable affiliate MSNBC are on the list of sources. Anyone who's watched an NBC TV show recently can't miss the fact that the characters use Apple products religiously, from desktops to MacBooks and iPads. If you don't believe me, tune in to next week's episode of Parenthood, where you'll see MacBooks galore and one of the Baldwin brothers carrying around an iPad like it's been surgically attached to his palm. And let's not forget that ABC and Fox (despite Apple's supposed "boycott" of their news channel) represent the sole partners for Jobs' soon to be failed TV venture.
This list is far from complete as it would simply take too long to follow the money trail. Hopefully the folks at the Pew decide to do this again next year and perhaps include the months of July and August of 2010 in their investigation. The Pew data further divulges that Google gets less press than Apple, but that's probably because Google doesn't really bother with buying anyone's affections. They're above that sort of thing, especially when you consider that already own a news outlet that's included on the Pew's source list. Not surprisingly, they enjoy a considerable amount of positive spin. Almost every major company is involved in their AdSense network, and no one wants to be black listed into oblivion for bad mouthing the world's most powerful monopoly.
Another concept to ponder would be who in the hell pays attention to these people's ramblings about tech stuff? Using CNN to get your tech fix is the equivalent of taking your stock tips from Jim Cramer. Anyone foolish enough to consider either one trustworthy deserves to lose their money. It's also worth noting that one of the radio commentators (yes, the radio still exists) the Pew deemed "mainstream" enough to pay attention to happens to be none other than Rush Limbaugh. For those who don't tune in to his meandering daily broadcast, Rush is HUGE Apple fanboi. So, in light of today's big news, I'd like to offer a hearty Megadittos to Jobs and company for money well spent.
Update: As if to prove yesterday's point about Apple's cozy relationship with the corporate media, here's a laughable iPad plug from none other than Rupert Murdoch's own Faux News. Read it here. Notice that the article's title seems to suggest that the subject's going to be about Blackberry's tablet and the merits of these devices in general. Instead it turns into a total iPad fluff piece for no apparent reason. Perhaps Apple realized that marketing its tablet as a netbook alternative wasn't going to cut it because the author even admits that it's no computer replacement. He "chooses" to focus his energy selling it as an $800..... coffee table book.
Oh, how I wish I were making this shit up.
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