Jarvis and Rosenbaum Feud Over Books

Authors Ron Rosenbaum and Jeff Jarvis launched a flame war between old and new media writers yesterday, blasting each other while speculating about the future of writing. As the smoke cleared, GalleyCat combed the wreckage for bits of publishing wisdom.

Rosenbaum, a long-time journalist who wrote Explaining Hitler, criticized “[Jarvis'] dim view of the ‘book people’ and their foolish romantic optimism. These poor fools; they might as well be making buggy whips. Sure, they do serve some purpose–merchandizing his book–so it’s good they’re still in the foolish business long enough for him to monetize their death. But otherwise, if they don’t make big profits, dead-tree books are not worth doing, according to the new-media gospel.”

Jarvis, a journalism professor, former magazine editor, and new media guru, responded: “I’m not sure what he’d rather have me do: Sit in my room and mope, sitting shiva for the past? Refuse to discuss the future of journalism … Would that be in solidarity with my hack brethren who did too little to transform journalism in the last 13 years of the web?”

Visit Slate to read Rosenbaum’s initial article, and then check out Buzz Machine for Jarvis’ response. The NY Observer has a roundup of the fracas. Which side are you (and your books) on?

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