About the Author

Mike Springer

Are Writers Powerless to Make a Living in the Digital Age?

In Guest Contributors by Mike Springer

• Jaron Lanier is the author of You Are Not a Gadget and “father of virtual reality” considers whether writers and “content” creators can make a living in the Digital Age. • Lanier argues against mashups and content fragmentation, saying, “economic incentives will be in favor of supporting individuals instead of . . . a collective vision.” Interview by Mike …

What Do Young People Want from Media?

In What's the Buzz by Mike Springer

By Mike Springer If Shannon Fitzgerald had to choose one word to describe what today’s young people expect from media content, it would be: Authenticity. “They are so smart and so savvy,” says Fitzgerald, the new Vice President of Series Development at MTV. “They sniff out BS really quickly now.” In her view, young people feel empowered by social media …

The Ideavirus: Seth Godin as a Microcosm of Publishing’s Flux

In English Language by Mike Springer

• Following Seth Godin’s decision last week to leave traditional publishing behind, several questions have been raised. Is he really making a radical change? Or is this simply another smart marketing play? • Godin’s very public defection is just one more example of how publishing is in flux. He may be the exception to the rule, but his example sets a precedent for others to …