Why Do Newspapers Keep Publishing Bogus Piracy Numbers From Lobbyists As Fact?
from the why-newspapers-are-dying dept
With all this whining about how the death of newspapers will somehow lead to the "end" of investigative reporting, it has to be asked why newspaper reporters never seem to tire of rewriting industry press releases full of bogus numbers as factual? If newspaper reporters are really so great at investigative reporting -- shouldn't they be questioning the bogus stats? We've seen this for years in reports on "piracy" stats, which are almost always calculated by industry lobbyists who have every incentive in the world to blow the numbers out of proportion. Looking at the details, it's not at all difficult for anyone to realize that the stats are completely bogus -- but, for some reason, these lobbyists can always find press willing to restate the numbers as fact, and that often leads to a nice virtuous circle, whereby industry lobbyists and politicians can then point to the news report to support their bogus piracy numbers.The latest gullible reporter? Tony Wong of the Toronto Star, who has written an article that probably could have been written every year for the last decade about the awful threat of piracy to the satellite TV industry. What's amusing is that it really does look just like an article years ago, even quoting bogus 2001 "piracy" stats and then just saying "that number is likely far higher today." But the reporter does nothing to verify this at all. He then goes on to talk about how the satellite TV companies are "fighting back," with a "tough new encryption system." I remember reading nearly identical stories from a decade ago, about some great new encryption scheme that would wipe out satellite TV piracy. Yet here we are in 2009, rather than 1999, reading the exact same article. Isn't it the reporters' job to ask questions about both the bogus basis for the numbers and the fact that the industry has been trotting out the same "fighting back! stronger encryption!" story for over a decade? No wonder newspapers are collapsing.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Because
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
As for Tony Wong's numbers, I won't say good or bad, but he quotes a source, and that is usually not a bad thing. However the "that number is likely far higher today" is speculative and likely should not have gone past an editor. They perhaps let it slide only because of the use of the word "likely". It's shakey, but it isn't clear to me either if this is a news story of a columnist, which would change the requirements (just like a blog).
Piracy is a real issue up here, and the effects can be seen with the comment "I can't believe I was actually paying for cable before" - so this guy (no idea how many more like him) stopped paying cable to instead go down this route.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
ISPs are afraid of becoming 'dumb pipes' and want to keep their profits artificially inflated.
(PS--have you checked your pulse yet?)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: WH
That tribute convinced me that the numbers published in the newspaper are indeed factual. One only need look around your own neighborhood and then project what you see upon the rest of the world, no need to do any further research.
Those basturd pirates!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: WH
Look, I am in Canada (where this article is from) and my neightborhood isn't any different than thousands of others in this country. I would go out and surveyother neighborhoods if that would help, but then again, nobody is paying me to do the work.
It's safe to say that if I can find 1 directv, 1 dish, and at least 3 FTAs basically withing eyesight of my front door, then I don't doubt I would find more 2 streets away, 3 streets away, and so on.
The point being the numbers are likely good for 2001, his presumption that it is more today is massive speculation, but I can tell from what I see that the issue has not gone away.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: WH
trolled a troll
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: WH
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: WH
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: WH
"If a law would make a large enough number of citizens criminals, its NOT a valid law." that would suggest that if enough people break a law, it isn't valid, so if you can get a big enough mob together, you can make anything legal - including murder? Sorry, your fail whale arrived on that one.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: WH
Well, if you thought about it for more than a few seconds Harold ...
I know that is asking too much, but what the hell.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: WH
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: WH
Oh - I see. Copyright violation is the same as murder .....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: WH
Remember, some countries consider killing an honor. Their rules are different from ours.
So keep going, you guys are just proving the points for me over time.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: WH
As anyone with half a bit of common sense would understand, the rule of law is simply designed to present what everyone knows is *naturally* right. It's to codify what most people recognize as being right. Murder, most people recognize as being wrong - fundamentally. You could never get together a large enough mob to murder, because most people recognize that it is fundamentally wrong.
The same is not true of file sharing. Many, many people do not recognize it as being fundamentally wrong - and there's a clear reason why: they can show why no one is actually *hurt* by it. With murder, you can't do that.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: WH
Canada: Downloading goes on pretty much without issues, and yet only 23% of internet used have downloaded anything in the last 30 days. Under your logic, there is everything there for more severe controls, because the vast majority of Canadians aren't downloading (but pay a tax to cover the downloaders when they buy blank CDs, tapes, etc).
It doesn't matter how loud your mob is or how big the signs are, when they don't represent more than 50% of the people, it's isn't the will of the people, who apparently do know what is naturally right.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Duh!
How about because many (most?) newspapers are owned by the big media companies, the same companies that own the companies in the recording, motion picture and other "old economy", pre-internet, companies?
So, when you read that crap, consider the source. They are simply non-credible.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
...to the why-newspapers-are-dying dept
/Insert links here to the hundred of articles about the death of newspapers...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Numbers?
You expect them to do work and get the right numbers on their own? Good luck with that...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Numbers?
Example, his "A Detailed Explanation Of How The BSA Misleads With Piracy Stats" http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080718/1226541724.shtml uses another blog as it's "source" material: http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/07/18/bsa_us_states_piracy/ - rather than pointing us directly to the actual study, http://www.bsa.org/country/ResearchandStatistics/~/media/Files/statestudy07/statestudy07.ashx , which includes a detailed methodology: http://global.bsa.org/idcglobalstudy2007/studies/methodology_globalstudy07.pdf
So rather than agree or disagree with the study and address the particulars in it, Mike points to another blog, possibly hoping that nobody ever actually reads the data.
blog + blog != truth, but blog + blog = opinion, and opinion != truth.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Numbers?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Newspaper demise
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
This reminds me of a Dave Barry quip to the effect of: "We're gonna have solar power as soon as they figure out how to run a sunbeam through a meter." Look, we live in a world where material resources are still scarce. Shouldn't we be happy that information, at least, is limitless?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
You can receive the random 1s and 0s and enjoy them as they are. That is all you get for free. After that, you have to break the law to get the rest.
Information is limitless - protected works aren't part of that information.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Comments were recently made about DMCA takedown notice data cited by Google in a submission to the NZ government. Peering behind the "curtain", however, reveals interesting information. See:
http://copyrightsandcampaigns.blogspot.com/2009/03/googles-numbers-on-bogus-dmca-notices.html
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: looking - curtain - innuendo
What is it you are trying to say?
The numbers are wrong?
There is no abuse of the DMCA?
You want more click thru on your fav blog?
Did you verify the validity of data linked to and found on the linked to blog?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Abusive Laws
Lots of words, but nothing of substance.
All it takes is one abuse of the DMCA, and the rest is just arguing about the quantity. Certainly you are not claiming that there has not been any abuse at all.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Not quite, but nice try.
A newspaper is a reporting vehicle, where the reporter is expected to first ascertain the numbers behind the report, and then go through a fact checking process.
An opinion blog post, such as what we do here, is based on reports that are out there, and done as part of a discussion where by the numbers can be debated and followup can be discussed -- which is exactly what happened in the comments to the original post, where the claims Sheffner raised later were already discussed.
As for Mr. Sheffner's post, it's pretty meaningless when you look at the details. First, he repeatedly attributes to ME quotes from a Google filing (Sheffner has a weird and slightly disconcerting obsession with Techdirt, such that a fairly large % of posts on his site are now about us.)
What Mr. Sheffner leaves out of his post is the fact that if you look at the original report, there was a minor misstatement of numbers by Google, but the overall point raised by Google is actually supported by the numbers.
Furthermore, I replied to Mr. Sheffner's post, but he is refusing to post my comment, claiming (incorrectly) that it includes a personal attack on him -- which it did not (it just questioned why Sheffner seems to be posting so often about Techdirt). I also found it amusing that while he accused me of posting a personal attack on him, he had no problem allowing others to post personal attacks (incorrect ones too) on me. Funny, but not too surprising.
Also amusing, was that in that same thread, one M. Slonecker had no problem typing in his full name, though here on these boards, that same M. Slonecker has repeatedly said that he cannot type in his name and must be anonymous -- for reasons that he cannot explain other than some odd and totally unrelated issue having to do with "cookies."
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Collapse of newspapers
Many years ago, satellite TV was desirable, but their business model stunk. I got a pirate antenna as a result.
Then the threats, the so-called "encryption", the reported roving trucks looking for "criminal" satellite "pirates" - they made me so angry I kept my antenna, when I would otherwise have junked it, and started preparing for a long fight in court when they "busted" me. Unfortunately, they never did - I was looking forward to the fight!
Finally they came off the high-handed BS, adjusted their business model, and I started paying.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
By what economic logic can one conclude that satellite broadcasters may be pursuing a "dead end" business model akin to the ubiquitous references to "buggy whips"? If such logic can be articulated, then what might be some examples of business models that hold promise for success?
Of course, totally ad supported models may be one possibility, but what about those who are sick and tired of Viagra, proraisis, restless leg syndrome, etc. commercials? If I hear just one more time a user "having an erection lasting more than 4 hours" one more time I will surely heave.
I subscribe to DirecTV and pay for a basic subscription and various premium channels such as HBO, Showtime, etc. I do this precisely because I can no longer broach conventional ad supported models where the ads at times seem to run far longer than the actual show I am trying to watch.
What is a satellite broadcaster such as Dish Network or DirecTV to do short of adopting an ad supported model as used by most terrestial broadcasters?
I would really appreciate some insight into how this issue may be addressed in a manner that makes economic sense and is fair to all.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Interesting
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Economically, there isn't that many more advertisers out there to pay, and there is likely little increase in the eyeballs to create more value. It's one of the rubs of everyone wanting their own personal narrow niche channels: there isn't enough money to pay for it.
Most of what gets tossed out as "buggy whip" businesses around here truly are not. Much of it is wishful thinking, based on a total lack of understanding of the infrastructure required to create the Utopian fantasies they are pushing.
But hey, I am all ears - I would love to hear how we can ditch the sat and cable companies and all enjoy whatever we want whenever, and all the live events too.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Harold's Insignificance
No?
So you have no basis for your arguement other than your assumptions?
Oh ... that explains a bit.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Streaming legal content should be a bigger worry
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Newspaper
In the present economic situation if you are looking to get your message across to people and advertising your business without spending loads of money, then you can opt for traditional outlets like print advertising agencies. These agencies can offer you classified ad space at special discounts. This is also a great opportunity especially if you are setting up a new business or are tight on your advertising budget.
When you use a professional ad agency, you tend to receive an early notice of the special offers and prices and also a considerable reduction in the advertising rate for national press. So help your business grow by promoting it in the low priced publications. Use print media to cut your costs and boost your advertising efforts in this growing economic recession.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]