Discussion

• @benyt Ben Smith on x

  A key venture capitol fund starting its own “pro-tech” media outlet to counter the rest of the media https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @amir Amir Efrati on x

  .⁦@a16z⁩ is serious about being a media publisher and is looking for two senior editors to launch, among other things, an opinion section that is “unapologetically pro-tech.” ⁦@zoeSaintBernard⁩ reports. https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @dsquareddigest Dan Davies on x

  If you don't tax these people they tax themselves, and they're really bad at it https://twitter.com/...

• @marshallk Marshall Kirkpatrick on x

  People are criticizing @a16z's forthcoming content site, but having been a tech journalist I believe that most of them are far more cynical (afraid of losing face) & disinterested in what's possible than you might think, or than founders & investors. https://www.techmeme.com/...

• @kantrowitz Alex Kantrowitz on x

  Just wait for @a16z to start a Substack. Media and tech twitter's heads will explode simultaneously. https://twitter.com/...

• @edbott Ed Bott on x

  I've spent decades as an editor, including time with large, influential publications, and I can say that whoever takes the job as editor in chief of this thing is just asking for pain and misery. https://twitter.com/...

• @marshallk Marshall Kirkpatrick on x

  People are criticizing @a16z's forthcoming content site, but @firstround is an example of a tech VC firm that produces AMAZING content. Lots of how-tos etc https://firstround.com/review/ https://www.techmeme.com/...

• @emilybell Emily Bell on x

  the *one thing* the tech industry should take away from the past four years is that publishing is in fact *really hard* . A management time suck and reputation sinkhole for businesses that think they know what they're doing, but don't https://twitter.com/...

• @nmasc_ Natasha on x

  there's so much here on tech optimism, media cynicism, and the difference between press and pr in a16z's eyes v. worth a read via @EricNewcomer https://www.newcomer.co/...

• @mathewi Mathew Ingram on x

  We already have this, it's called the PR and marketing department of every tech company and all the pieces they place in publications around the country. Cutting out the middleman I guess? https://twitter.com/...

• @parismarx Paris Marx on x

  I don't think this is a particularly good development, but it's not an unexpected one. It's important to recognize that private media has a long history of serving the interests of their owners, and that only becomes more clear as other funding erodes. https://www.theinformation.…

• @tomgara Tom Gara on x

  Here's a fantastic look at the long arc of how Andreessen Horowitz has approached the media, which is also pretty representative of the Silicon Valley / media relationship in general over the last decade, complete with the recent turn to “going direct” etc https://www.newcomer.co…

• @taylorlorenz Taylor Lorenz on x

  I see media people bashing this, but they're not trying to break news, it's “unapologetically pro-tech, pro-future, pro-change” opinion coverage. That seems like what you'd expect a VC firm to publish? https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @ajs Alyson Shontell on x

  I'm still thinking about @EricNewcomer's article about how a16z has strategically blocked out press so the firm can build its own media operation. Startup puff may be what VCs crave, but it won't be a credible authority without critical self reflection https://www.newcomer.co/...

• @s_m_i Stacy-Marie Ishmael on x

  A natural next step when you've blocked every journalist who declined to reprint your press releases or asked even mildly skeptical questions https://twitter.com/...

• @nxthompson @nxthompson on x

  Andreessen Horowitz is launching its own opinion pages, which will be ""unapologetically pro-tech, pro-future, pro-change." https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @alexisohanian @alexisohanian on x

  Welp, that was fast. @a16z is smart to do this: https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @birdyword Mike Bird on x

  Cool, I've always thought that what the media ecosystem needed was more opinion pieces https://twitter.com/...

• @paulbradleycarr Paul Bradley Carr on x

  Oh good, a billionaire Facebook board member (and major substack/clubhouse investor) is launching an “unapologetically pro-tech” opinion site. That sounds totally unsinister and certainly won't run defense for sociopaths. https://twitter.com/...

• @jason_kint Jason Kint on x

  Exactly. If they plan to have an ounce of editorial credibility, they'll need the rest of their house to start taking and answering tough questions from journalists rather than just blocking anyone who challenges them on Twitter. https://twitter.com/...

• @tomgara Tom Gara on x

  I want to congratulate Marc Andreessen, who has inexplicably blocked me, for his commitment to investing in editorial content https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @bluespacecanary @bluespacecanary on x

  ah yes, Futurist political writing in service of wealthy industrialists, a thing with absolutely no historical analogues, https://twitter.com/...

• @chrismohney Chris Mohney on x

  It's just mindboggling that tech's need for absolute public deference to its mythology still has them barking up this tree, even now https://twitter.com/...

• @ajs Alyson Shontell on x

  You know a story is great when you're jealous you didn't publish it. Bravo, @EricNewcomer. Fantastic and important reporting here. Very curious to watch this a16z strategy play out. https://twitter.com/...

• @claytonacollins @claytonacollins on x

  “This is the story of how Andreessen Horowitz disrupted the world of venture capital by cozying up to the media and then, how they purposefully threw that relationship away. Let me tell you the story from the beginning.” @EricNewcomer https://twitter.com/...

• @dangillmor Dan Gillmor on x

  They're describing basically all tech journalism until very recently. https://twitter.com/...

• @quinnypig Corey Quinn on x

  Oh shit yes, just what we all have been craving: more VC Opinions on things! https://twitter.com/...

• @gaberivera Gabe Rivera on x

  My guess is rather than countering anti-tech reporting, this could succeed in simply promoting ideas the tech press isn't interested in or capable of conveying. (Which sounds potentially good to me...) https://twitter.com/...

• @teddyschleifer Teddy Schleifer on x

  “Andreessen also has been known to block members of the tech press from viewing his tweets.” https://www.theinformation.com/ ...

• @john__rosevear John Rosevear on x

  So Fox News, but for tech bros. https://twitter.com/...

• @zebulgar Delian on x

  techies have been talking non-stop about forming their own media institutions so that we can tell our own stories unapologetically pro-tech pro-future pro-change graet to see a16z putting their money where their mouth is and building an editorial team!! https://www.theinformation…

• @wadhwa Vivek Wadhwa on x

  Trump may start his own political party and Andreessen how own media outlets. Maybe they should team up. https://twitter.com/...