Why David Carr was the finest tech journalist of his time

Journalism’s biggest “fan of disruption” passed away last week, resulting in many eulogies and memories of one of the greatest voices writing about the intersection of technology and media today.

His name was David Carr, and aside from brushing past him on his way to an interview with Charlie Rose, there’s really no reason for me to claim I knew him better than those who have written amazing tributes to him this past week. But his work, and his reasons for writing, has influenced me more than any journalist writing about technology today.

Therefore the sole purpose of this piece, on a website Carr definitely never heard about, is to bring attention to his work for those unfamiliar with him. And for those well versed in Carr-verse, below a reminder of what inspires a venture like Memeburn and so many other tech-media startups across the world.

“Apple’s core skill is not innovation but refinement”

Carr said he got into business journalism because of Steve Jobs. Prior to Jobs and the stories he told, business journalism — and in particular stories about technology — were simply just too boring. Following Jobs’s death in 2011, Carr wrote this piece on what the Apple founder meant for the profession of technology journalism: Steve Jobs: He Brought the Show to Business (NYTimes, 6 Oct. 2011)

“There’s something bigger than gadget lust underway”

Carr was a master at writing about the difficult role journalists have to play between being balanced and fair, especially when confronting corporates for their perceived failures. It’s a delicate task that is expected of you from your most difficult customers and loyal fans. Carr believed Apple had a great strategy at maintaining good PR but was often critical of his own praise thereof. So if you’re in the PR business, then this is required reading. The Magic in Apple’s Devices? The Heart (NYTimes, 14 Sept. 2014)

“I am not some sad-eyed romantic for a pre-technological age”

Carr was particularly good at writing himself into stories, without turning personal encounters into egotistical fare. It’s the kind of writing that makes a review — even that of technology still to come — the type that brings home its underlying implications. Unease for What Microsoft’s HoloLens Will Mean for Our Screen-Obsessed Lives (NYTimes, 25 Jan. 2015)

“The Facebook dog is loose, and he’s acting more friendly than hungry”

Carr’s use of metaphors, and carrying those through an article from start to finish, was one of the great tricks he tried to teach his students. His students recall how insistent he was that extended metaphors “should be indulged and encouraged — the stranger, the better”. One great example of that is his description of a dog called Facebook approaching publishers: “More often than not, it’s hard to tell whether he wants to play with you or eat you”. Facebook Offers Life Raft, but Publishers Are Wary (NYTimes, 26 Oct. 2014)

“The urge to stare at oneself predates mirrors”

Addressing the fad that is a selfie stick, Carr looked at the history of the selfie and the implications our navel-gazing has on traditional media. Again this is a fun and easy read that gets you thinking, the kind of writing of which there are so many you’ll have to go and read them all here. Selfies on a Stick, and the Social-Content Challenge for the Media (NYTimes, 4 Jan. 2015)

Image: Web Summit via Flickr.