[Sigia-l] The Time magazine person of the year is YOU

[Ziya Oz]

Terence Nelan:
> Having spent some  years working for Time, let me say that there is some
> difference (believe it or not) between the editorial staff of the
> magazine and the company business practices and strategies.

Terence, that wasn't my point.

Where I find the irony is that the company behind the "You" decision is the
least equipped one to take advantage of the myriad opportunities "You"
represents.

As I said, the output of Time's "editorial" staff is highly packaged,
static, one-way, broadcast, top-down products, where the only function to be
performed by "You" is consumption. In turn, Time secures the pipes, the
distribution networks for these products whereby this one-way flow continues
to generate profits. That's the business model.

Until and unless that business model changes, the selection of "You" will
remain an unrealizable potential for Time, regardless of what the editorial
departments say or write. And to my demented mind it looks silly proclaiming
a revolution one doesn't intend to take part in...at one's own expense.

Olly asked what else can be done. Well, at least one person, Chris Anderson
of "The Long Tail" fame, is thinking along these lines at Wired/Conde Nast:

<http://www.longtail.com/the_long_tail/2006/12/what_would_radi.html>

Ziya
Nullius in Verba