Coming From Project

A Journalistic Exploration by NYU Studio 20

Personal

by on

‘I hate abuse of power’: Journalist Rob Pegoraro explains his relationship with tech companies

Rob Pegoraro is a seasoned American journalist who writes about tech for media outlets like The Washington Post, USA Today and Yahoo Tech. After reading the disclosure statement on his personal website, the reader will know his views on some key technology issues, who pays for his work and even what gadgets he uses on a daily basis.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT

Here’s what we like about this statement in the context of ComingFrom.org:

He shares his views on the tech industry and politics

As super-powerful companies play a central role in the tech conversation, Pegoraro openly shares his point of view on these industry giants:

  • Pegoraro: “I hate abuse of power and control freakery, whether it’s Microsoft choking off browser competition in a prior decade, Apple dictating what gets into its App Store in this one or big entertainment companies’ ongoing insistence on customer-hostile usage restrictions on digital media. The computer is among the most amazing general-purpose tools ever invented; why would you artificially constrain its utility?”

Pegoraro adds that he voted, according to his worries about the abuse of power by corporations, by choosing Democratic candidates in presidential elections since at least 2000:

  • Pegoraro: “My history in recent presidential elections: Gore, Kerry, Obama, Obama, Clinton, Biden. I don’t regret those choices, aside from wishing I could have written in somebody else for vice president in 2004.”

He explains how he interacts with technology

If the reader is wondering what makes a good tech product in Pegoraro’s eyes, he is open about that: he prefers usability over perfection.

  • Pegoraro: “I can be more tolerant about aspects of technology besides usability. I’ve never qualified as an audiophile or videophile and in general, will accept a good-enough product that’s cheaper or available now over a more expensive or not-yet-shipped ideal version.”

He discloses what gadgets he uses

Pegoraro has a straightforward statement to inform readers that the gadgets he uses do play a relevant role in what he covers. He mentions that he is a Verizon client and prefers streaming services over traditional TV providers, for example.

  • Pegoraro: “The limited range of software, hardware and services I use every day is likely to inform my coverage, in one way or another, and you should keep that in mind as you read my work.”

He provides a comprehensive list of companies he has worked for

Pegoraro lists dozens of clients he has worked for since he became a freelance reporter in 2011. He also mentions that he has taken fees from companies like Google and details who is paying for his travel.

by on

Fernanda Santos opens up to her readers while ‘rebuilding’ her life

Fernanda Santos isn’t afraid to tell the world where she’s coming from. Santos, a Brazilian journalist, a contributing columnist for The Washington Post and a journalism professor at Arizona State University, shares her story in intimate detail on her personal website.

“I climbed the journalism ladder step by step, using my multicultural heritage — I’m of Native Brazilian, Portuguese and African descent; my multilingual skills — I speak Portuguese, English, Spanish and French; my uncanny eye for details that matter; and my burning curiosity for everyday-life stories to distinguish myself.”

Fernanda Santos
Read the full stAtemenT

Santos is included in the ComingFrom.org collection due to her unique honesty and vulnerability.

In the “My Story” section of her website, Santos connects her passion for journalism and human stories with her life in Rio de Janeiro, where she witnessed “violence, inequality and immeasurable hope.” That’s part of where she’s coming from. She also tells readers about her time working at The Eagle-Tribune in Lawrence, Mass., the first majority-minority city in New England.

Knowing all this information, it’s easy to understand why she chooses stories about people navigating through different languages, identities and social hierarchies – because you learn that Santos is one of them. Santos writes about the life she knows and doesn’t parachute into communities for her stories. As a reader, that allows you to trust her work.

In the last paragraph, Santos moves away from presenting her journalistic work and tells about the major event that shaped her as a person: her husband’s death. She publicly explored her pain in a New York Times essay in 2019.

“Together, we’ve managed to plod through the muck, gulp for air and dive under these stormy waters we’ve sailed, holding our breath, and holding it, as we wait for the storm to subside, wait for the whirlpool to stop spinning. We’re still out there, swimming. We have each other as lifesaver.”

Fernanda Santos

Rarely does one come across such open, personal statements on the About pages of journalists’ websites but your personal life shapes your professional life. Because Santos shared her “My story” with her readers, it cultivated a new level of connection and trust towards her work.

by on

Casey Newton shares his views on tech and is aware they might change

Casey Newton is an American journalist who covers the intersection of technology and democracy. Newton thinks social networks have failed to reduce political polarization and may be accelerating it. Since 2016, he’s been analyzing whether social networks are undermining democracy.

All of this and more were written by Newton himself as the Silicon Valley editor at The Verge and later as the founder of Platformer to make sure readers know how he sees the world.

As Newton told us for our research on this project, his guide is a useful tool to better articulate his outlet’s mission and increase reader trust.

“Writing a ‘where I’m coming from statement’ was enormously useful to me as I started my newsletter. It forced me to articulate an editorial mission, my values, and my editorial process. I send it out to everyone who subscribes when they sign up, and many readers have told me that they trust me more because of it. I strongly encourage more journalists to write one of their own. The benefits are real!”

Casey Newton
Read the Full Statement

We decided to include Newton’s guide in the ComingFrom.org collection for several reasons.

His views are clearly stated

A list of your conclusions about specific topics is a straightforward and efficient way to disclose your point of view. That is exactly what Newton does in his statement.

  • Newton: “We ought to put at least as much pressure on the government to make change as we do on tech companies.”

He admits that his POV can change

Newton chose to disclose his views by answering a simple question: “How do you see the world?”

He explores how his perspective on tech companies changed after the events of 2016, when it was revealed that foreign actors weaponized social media during the U.S. presidential election. It is good to know that a journalist is open to changing his mind and is constantly evolving as the world changes.

  • Newton: “After 2016, my concern shifted from a business concern to a more patriotic one: are social networks undermining democracy?”

He explains his editorial process

Being transparent about how you work is always a good call when you want to increase trust. Newton does this well by dedicating a space in his statement explaining the sources of information he relies on to write his newsletter.

  • Newton: “I’m in regular, direct communication with most of the companies I write about, and that perspective informs my reporting and analysis.”

To learn more about Newton’s work, follow him on Twitter and check out Platformer News on Substack.