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Michael Giltz: New York Times' iPhone Music Video Goes One Step Too Far
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/new-york-times-ip_b_55237.html [4/5/2009 8:51:32 PM]
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This Story to DiggNew York Times ' iPhone Music
Video Goes One Step Too Far
Posted July 6, 2007 | 05:50 PM (EST)
Read More: New York , David Pogue , Breaking Media News
You'd be hard-pressed to find a media outlet that didn't do a fluffy iPhone-mania story within the
past two weeks. That doesn't mean you have to like it. And when the New York Times crosses a line
and starts shilling for a product instead of reporting on it, it's dismaying.
David Pogue is a technology reviewer for theNew York Times who got to play with an
iPhone for days before it came out. Besides thenews articles and blog posts he spun off fromthis opportunity, Pogue also delivered a videoabout his experience.
Essentially comic, " The iPhone Challenge: Keep It Quiet " delivered some real-world critiques of
the phone. But it's overall tone was so goofy and "fun," it should have raised concerns. (The finaleshows Pogue in an office where co-workers realize he has an actual iPhone in his possession andchase after him like a frenzied mob.)
Now Pogue has blurred the line even more and taken the New York Times with him. His newest
video is " iPhone: The Musical ," a goofy tribute to the phone set to the tune of "My Way." (Not "I'll
Do It My Way" as Pogue, who has worked on Broadway, erroneously refers to it.)It's a silly piece showing Pogue throwing his old cell phone into the water and even getting people
in line at the Apple Store in Manhattan to join in. You could say it has "balance" since Poguementions some of the phone's drawbacks, including a pointed dig at AT&T (lyrics here ).
But essentially it's nothing more than a glorified ad Apple would be delighted to post on theirwebsite. If Pogue were a kid in Oklahoma who put this video on YouTube, I'd say he was clever.But he's not a kid in Oklahoma. He's a reporter for the New York Times .
Not only is the New York Times devoting time and money (and their reputation) into producing
comic bits, they're doing so in service of promoting a product from another company.
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Michael Giltz: New York Times' iPhone Music Video Goes One Step Too Far
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/new-york-times-ip_b_55237.html [4/5/2009 8:51:32 PM]
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But is the Times angry? I doubt it. They're desperate -- like all newspapers -- to figure out how to
make money out of their website. Original content like this -- however divorced from their mission
as the paper of record -- is one way to do it. So what if it devalues the Times as a news outlet and
turns it into a cheerleader for Apple?
The video could air on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart after all. And who wouldn't want that
sort of cachet? Of course the danger is that Pogue could also be hired away by The Daily Show , but
that's a risk you have to take. Up next week: a New York Times online sitcom dreamed up by the
sports department. Guess they'll have to close that bureau in Hong Kong to pay for it, but tough
times call for tough choices.
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Michael Giltz: New York Times' iPhone Music Video Goes One Step Too Far
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/new-york-times-ip_b_55237.html [4/5/2009 8:51:32 PM]
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Michael Giltz: New York Times' iPhone Music Video Goes One Step Too Far
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/new-york-times-ip_b_55237.html [4/5/2009 8:51:32 PM]
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/new-york-times-ip_b_55237.html [4/5/2009 8:51:32 PM]
APRIL 5, 2009
HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING STYLE GREEN WORLD CHICAGO
COMEDY 23/6 VIDEO BLOGGER INDEX ARCHIVE
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This Story to DiggNew York Times ' iPhone Music
Video Goes One Step Too Far
Posted July 6, 2007 | 05:50 PM (EST)
Read More: New York , David Pogue , Breaking Media News
You'd be hard-pressed to find a media outlet that didn't do a fluffy iPhone-mania story within the
past two weeks. That doesn't mean you have to like it. And when the New York Times crosses a line
and starts shilling for a product instead of reporting on it, it's dismaying.
David Pogue is a technology reviewer for theNew York Times who got to play with an
iPhone for days before it came out. Besides thenews articles and blog posts he spun off fromthis opportunity, Pogue also delivered a videoabout his experience.
Essentially comic, " The iPhone Challenge: Keep It Quiet " delivered some real-world critiques of
the phone. But it's overall tone was so goofy and "fun," it should have raised concerns. (The finaleshows Pogue in an office where co-workers realize he has an actual iPhone in his possession andchase after him like a frenzied mob.)
Now Pogue has blurred the line even more and taken the New York Times with him. His newest
video is " iPhone: The Musical ," a goofy tribute to the phone set to the tune of "My Way." (Not "I'll
Do It My Way" as Pogue, who has worked on Broadway, erroneously refers to it.)It's a silly piece showing Pogue throwing his old cell phone into the water and even getting people
in line at the Apple Store in Manhattan to join in. You could say it has "balance" since Poguementions some of the phone's drawbacks, including a pointed dig at AT&T (lyrics here ).
But essentially it's nothing more than a glorified ad Apple would be delighted to post on theirwebsite. If Pogue were a kid in Oklahoma who put this video on YouTube, I'd say he was clever.But he's not a kid in Oklahoma. He's a reporter for the New York Times .
Not only is the New York Times devoting time and money (and their reputation) into producing
comic bits, they're doing so in service of promoting a product from another company.
Popular Stories on HuffPost
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Michelle Obama And
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy
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PHOTOS, POLL)
*Video, poll and slideshow
(to...
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Banks (VIDEO)
***UPDATE*** 8:30pm:
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So here's the thing.There's no shortage ofarticles dedicated to that
certain je ne...
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Discusses MichelleObama's "Fantastic"
Fox News Columnist Meeting Execs In
AM Over Review Of Leaked
"Wolverine"
AP: Threat To Shut Boston Globe
Shows No Paper Is Safe
This Week In Mags: Jihad For Usury
Laws, "Idiot's Guide to Pakistan,"
Agenda for K Street
Michael Giltz: New York Times' iPhone Music Video Goes One Step Too Far
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/new-york-times-ip_b_55237.html [4/5/2009 8:51:32 PM]
Michelle Obama's Clothing
Has Sean Hannity All Out OfSorts
Cenk Uygur: Have WeReached the Tipping Pointon Guns?
RICHARD POPLAWSKI,Pittsburgh Gunman, Kills 3Police Officers
Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld: DoesIran Harbor Osama binLaden?
TV SoundOff:
Sunday Talking
Heads
Levi Johnston On
Tyra: Will YOU
Watch...
"Family Guy,"
"American Dad"
Men Talk Hillary...
Roger Friedman's
Leaked "Wolverine"
Review Gets Him...
But is the Times angry? I doubt it. They're desperate -- like all newspapers -- to figure out how to
make money out of their website. Original content like this -- however divorced from their mission
as the paper of record -- is one way to do it. So what if it devalues the Times as a news outlet and
turns it into a cheerleader for Apple?
The video could air on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart after all. And who wouldn't want that
sort of cachet? Of course the danger is that Pogue could also be hired away by The Daily Show , but
that's a risk you have to take. Up next week: a New York Times online sitcom dreamed up by the
sports department. Guess they'll have to close that bureau in Hong Kong to pay for it, but tough
times call for tough choices.
Comments for this post are now closed
More in Media...
HuffPost Stories Surging Right Now
Ads by Google
Bikini Bathing Suits
Get Great Bikinis Here. Top Bikini Suppliers, Visit
Today!
www.teenyweenybikinis.com
Comments for this entry are currently under maintenance but will be restored soon.
Style On CBS'
"Washington
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Arianna was on CBS'
"Washington...
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Arianna was a guest this
morning on...
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Scenes And More
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NATO Leaders Focus
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Plea For Troops
(SLIDESHOW)
STRASBOURG, France— On the eve of the
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Michael Giltz: New York Times' iPhone Music Video Goes One Step Too Far
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/new-york-times-ip_b_55237.html [4/5/2009 8:51:32 PM]
Sports
AIG
Computers
India
Barack
Obama
Michelle
Obama
Olympics
Housing
Crisis
Fox News
MORE BIG NEWS PAGES
»
Books by this author
A cabin of one's own: New
England's MacDowellColony celebrates 100years of artistic utopia.And the gay and lesbianartists who prosperedthere celebrate ... (Thenational gay & lesbiannewsmagazine)
by Michael Giltz
Affairs to remember:Farley Granger beddedAva Gardner, ShelleyWinters, and LeonardBernstein. In hisautobiography, IncludeMe Out, Hitchcock's muse... (The national gay &lesbian newsmagazine)
by Michael Giltzchemical used in rocket
fuel were found in
samples of...
HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES
Bloggers Index
Read All Posts by
Michael Giltz
This Blogger's Books from
Michael Giltz: New York Times' iPhone Music Video Goes One Step Too Far
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/new-york-times-ip_b_55237.html [4/5/2009 8:51:32 PM]
HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING GREEN STYLE WORLD CHICAGO COMEDY FUNDRACE
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