magazines, blogs, news, and my favorites.

Once upon a time Business 2.0 was my favorite magazine. I loved reading about the hottest companies and ideas. There were great one-page articles on what’s hot and cool -right now-. It was filled with news about young people doing amazing things. It brimmed full of interesting ideas and tips. And that was awesome perspective and information. I’d tear through the issue as soon as I got it, often that same night.

A funny thing happened though. I noticed this year that my joy and love for Business 2.0 had dimmed. Significantly. “But why?” I asked. And then it dawned on me. Blogs. Though I’ve “blogging” (does doing LiveJournal in 2000 count?) for years now, I’ve only been sucked in, spending over an hour a day reading blogs, this year. All of the great stuff that I used to love from Business 2.0, was now being fulfilled and then some by my blogs. And they lent themselves more naturally to blogs. They were bite-sized, quick stories and the fact that they ran the spectrum of all topics under the sun made them better.

I read recently that Business 2.0 was having some issues. Circulation down, etc. That got me thinking about all this. So where I always go when I read something like that is “So…what would you do, Surya?”. And of course, I have an answer. And of course, I’m going to painfully make you hear it. If I was a publisher at a major magazine today, I’d run as fast as I can to what my medium does best. And what the medium that threatens me doesn’t necessarily do well. What does that mean? I’d refocus Business 2.0 around lengthy deep analysis into the big questions that people are asking about the new business world. Leave the quick profiles, the news updates, and the spotlight of the “hot startup” to blogs. They do it better anyway (or so I say). Magazines have the advantage of engaging readers for more than a few scant minutes (a challenge of blogs that I constantly challenge and so annoy the few loyal readers I do have), full-time staffs who can spend the time doing thoughtful, careful research, and the credibility to gain access to many of the halls of power, and notable personalities that all but the most connected of bloggers don’t. And of course, if you’re reading a looong article, you’d much rather have it physically in your hand. So…I’d propose that Bus 2.0 grows up into it’s older brother Fortune, but with a different focus. Leave the Fortune 500, yes, to Fortune. Tackle the hottest questions that Silicon Valley is asking, etc.

So why this entry now? Because of two things.

1) Marc Andreessen, the amazing entrepreneur, just started blogging. And he’s totally wrecking my view of the world. (which i just stated above) He’s posting these long, insightful, seemingly deeply researched posts on a wide-expanse of topics. It’s ridiculously amazing. Anyone interested in business, and/or technology should read every one of his blog entries. My favorite.

2) Owen Thomas my favorite writer/editor at Business 2.0. Today, I read that he’s leaving to be the blogger at Valleywag. That’s the blog to which everyone working in technology (or wannabe tech) is ridiculously addicted to. It’s the equivalent of those entertainment shows on TV: Extra, Entertainment Tonight, etc. They more or less are usually right (as opposed to National Enquirer), sometimes cover weighty topics (but not always like NYT), and is pretty glitzy (it’s sexy to have been mentioned). I can remember thinking when I was younger and obsessed with Hollywood, how cool it would be to one day be on one of those programs (of course, with The Apprentice, we were all on there, which was surreal)– I believe it to be similar for Bay residents hoping to be mentioned on the ‘wag. Anyway, my point here is that Thomas who was blogging for 2.0 anyway, has gone full-bore into the “new medium” for this kind of news. It’s exciting. And I can’t wait to read it now.

End random thoughts on blogs vs magazines.