Reporting Critically on Tech

Paris Marx is joined by Jason Koebler and Samantha Cole to discuss why they launched 404 Media, how it was inspired by their work at Motherboard, and their reflections on the state of tech media.
 
Jason Koebler and Samantha Cole are co-founders of 404 Media. Jason was editor-in-chief of VICE’s Motherboard. Samantha was a senior editor at Motherboard and is the author of “How Sex Changed the Internet.” Find out more about 404 Media.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

• Last week the 404 team introduced themselves. Among the stories they published were pieces looking into Apple AirPods Max and AI-generated porn.
• Vice declared bankruptcy in May 2023.
• Paris argued in Disconnect that the media failed the public in how they reported on Elon Musk.

• What Google Zero Means for Journalism w/ Matt Pearce
• How DOGE is Remaking the US Government w/ Makena Kelly
• Google and Meta Are A Threat to Journalism w/ Matt Pearce
• Kara Swisher Shows Tech Journalism’s Flaws w/ Edward Ongweso Jr.