The hand behind this pen relives a failure every day.
If you’ve read this story, like I did yesterday, then it’s probably the most you’ve ever thought about the NY Press. My first reaction was that I probably wouldn’t have even let this go to print when I was EIC at my college monthly magazine, or editor at our weekly paper, as it’s of the lowest, most despicable form of journalism, but apparently what passes for a cover feature in the NY Press these days.
The thesis(?) of its yellow journalist, Matt Elzweig:
…New York’s latest nobodies who have people repeating their names as though they’ve actually done something. They’re what might best be called Faming Assholes—famous for nothing except their remarkable ability to manipulate the Internet to promote themselves.
I read that, and the rest of the piece, and felt like punching Mr. Elzweig in the face. Because really what is this, the New York media scene or Middle School PS-58? How out of touch is Elzweig that he needs to coin a phrase to conceal his obvious jealousy for the regular (and talented) people he tries to tear down in this poorly written/researched/edited piece?
In fact, the whole thing comes off like the sports reporter asking irrelevant locker room questions of the jock he wanted to be but instead settled for a press pass. Because what Elzweig calls “manipulating” the internet, regular people call “using” and the regular people would be correct.
I’ve followed the Moberg story with the same genuine delight and appreciation as most because no matter what comes of it, it began as a genuine and authentic thing. How many people wish they could’ve talked to their subway crush and didn’t? Isn’t that why “Missed Encounters” on CraigsList is so popular and intriguing? But Moberg had both talent (tell me that drawing isn’t really cool, or his designs for that matter) and the means to spread virally his product - himself - and took it a lot further than most would be willing. Because if you want something bad enough, you go after it.
And I don’t think he was in it for the interviews, the coverage, the movie deal - he was just in it for the girl. And as a twenty something male in New York, how can I not back him up on that?
Luckily the object of his affection has embraced this media attention, as it quickly got out of control. The interviews came to him. The agent found him. The movie deal found him. And if all of these things came pinging into your Gmail Inbox, wouldn’t you welcome them too? Moberg was looking for a girl and came into all of this. I think he would’ve been just as happy with getting the girl and only the girl, but he’s not stupid as to turn down the opportunities that came with her.
Secretly most of us would love to have the gravitas to put ourselves out there (phone number and all!). To have copycats flattering through imitation. To have romantics swoon and techies rejoice and artists finally get compensated. He took a chance, got more than the bargained for, and is riding this strange torpedo to the end, critics be damned.
But for Elzweig to try to knock him down, submarining his friends as well, is just lame. His posted correspondence with Jakob and Julia reads like an embittered ex-boyfriend in a pissing contest. What professional journalist takes such a lazy and biased approach on a genuine internet/New York love story worthy of attention, praise, and an IMDB page? It’s Elzweig’s blantant mudslinging approach to the characters involved that discredits both the NY Press and the journalism industry.
Someone give him a blog because he obviously doesn’t belong in print. Trees shouldn’t have to pay the ultimate price just to give this friendless media hack a voice. And because Moberg’s friends happen to have a internet platform doesn’t mean they weren’t friends otherwise, and such friends help their friends out, no matter what. For them all to be photo-shopped into a horrible cover in a transparent attempt to give the NY Press any sense of relevancy, is the final straw. I want to see Elzweig locked into stocks outside the NYT office downtown.
Where’s the accountability? Tell me, Matt Elzweig, if you could use the internet to post lame interviews you were too lazy to edit, get in touch with “celebrities” you would stand no chance of reaching otherwise, and then fictionalize a scandal/conspiracy involving everyone so as to spread your story around to be read by those same popular entities you’ve lambasted, would you “manipulate” the internet to promote your nobody self?
Oops, sorry for the redundant question, you seem to have answered that already yourself.