3rd
Everyone’s A Critic… Writer, Publisher, Analyst, Editor..
I remember back when I was a kid and it seemed like “working adults” in offices had transcriptionists and typists to help them create simple documents. Back then, it really took a lot of effort to write a nice formal letter. (Or so it seemed to me as a kid.) Now we all have computers and type everything ourselves (how tedious!), so apparently, with great power does come greater responsibilities.
I sorta wonder what happened to typists — that profession isn’t too prominent these days. And that job was killed by desktop publishing tools. Are newspapers and magazines next on the chopping block? A ton of newspapers are dying — and web/desk publishing tools are getting better and better. MagCloud is an interesting example to me. Anyone can publish a nifty-looking magazine, and MagCloud charges for printing costs (which are remarkably reasonable?). This could turn into a “Threadless for magazines” and really expand the market for niche magazines. (Does that mean no more “12 steps to firmer abs” magazines? Or even MORE tips on how to lose weight and firm abs?)
In any case, just as typists are a rare breed and people expanded their skills to include typing and micro-publishing, the ever-improving tools of publishing are turning everyone into authors, editors, critics, analysts…. (how tedious?)
