After about four and a half years of tracking disruptive technologies for Wired.com, I've elected to try something new. It's been an honor and a privilege writing for you.
Wired.com is many things, but one thing it's not is dim. What a relief it has been, when faced with a disagreement, that it's never about understanding the facts but how to interpret them. I've never worked with a smarter group of people.
It's no easy feat to churn out thoughtful, well-sourced journalism at the speed and frequency of today's information stream. But it's well worth trying to spread honest facts and analysis at the expense of misinformation. I think that's what we’ve done here, what Wired.com will no doubt continue to do in the future, and what I will continue to do at my new venture (The Echo Nest).
For all the times I've been attacked by someone who clearly hadn't read an article, I've also received plenty of kind or elucidating words from our readers, who, as a crowd and in many cases as individuals, have contributed greatly to my work. So thanks for that.
But really, a job like this is its own reward. A wise person whose name I can't recall once said something like, "Journalism is a way to get the public to finance one's ongoing education." So thanks for that too -- and to Wired.com staff for allowing its writers to follow interests and form their own analyses. (And, yes, sorry about that anonymously sourced quote -- what a way to go out.)
Lately, for me, that education has taken the form of continuing to analyze the digital music scene, as I've done professionally since '97, while expanding into other realms: television, social networks, advertising, crowdsourcing, the business of news, and even the odd humanitarian science piece. So thanks, also, for turning me into somewhat of a "real" reporter with the ability to paratroop, metaphorically speaking of course, into unfamiliar terrain and learn enough to orient myself and inform the reader.
See what I mean about "getting the public to finance one's ongoing education?"
The other great thing about journalism is that the only way to do it wrong, assuming you're any good, is to veer from the truth, intentionally or otherwise, when many other jobs require that capacity -- and that's the other thing that makes this one of the greatest jobs in the world.
I've enjoyed it thoroughly, and will continue to do so at my new home at The Echo Nest. We're not ready to disclose what I'm working on there, but stay tuned.
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