Bitcoin Forum

Anyone up for trying to get Wired.com to do an article on Bitcoin?  They have a good circulation base.

That would make it mainstream overnight.

I think they would be willing to do it, if it was presented to them correctly.

EDIT: spelling.

I very so too.

Although, we can't say that they'd do a good job.

I vote for Ars Technica too.

They have a "Contact Us" page here: http://www.wired.com/about/feedback/

One option is "Pitch a story idea" but it says "writers only please".  So I think the best bet is to contact a tech writer, get him/her interested and write the bitcoin story.  Any good writers out there?

I am thinking we contact the guy who wrote this article, http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.01/bittorrent.html

His name is Clive Thompson and he can do a story on bitcoin.

I don't like Wired.  They have a vested interest in the American fascist empire (take a look at all of the ads from large corporations in the print copy).  It's likely that they would find something negative to say to protect their interests.

Well, they did publish an article about the human organ black market...

Remember: the media only cater to your bias. Why would they tell you things that doesn't fit your worldviews? Did somebody die? Let make it into a headline! Did government did something sinisterly evil? Let make it into a headline! Vaccine kills? Let make it into a headline!

Let omit information that doesn't fit the worldviews of our readers! Let emphasize information that fit the worldviews of our reader!

The media is a propaganda market catering to willing consumers.

if you give it a catchy tag line, it could be a hit
p.ex. money, your robot must have.

Remember that Bitcoin already has some buzz going for it in the tech world with Security Now's article and other sources, so a tech writer might really like to jump on that bandwagon. Wired probably would too, if there isn't an article already submitted.

And if more than one gets submitted, it will just impress upon the editors that people are interested in the subject.

The idea is ripe. Listen to the buzz from the audience in Gavin's short video talk, they were practically cheering. I don't think you have to go looking for publicity ... it's coming!

May as well do The Onion too, while we're at it :-)

Here is what I sent.  I borrowed (with permission) some of kiba's letter to the EFF:


Dear Clive,

You wrote the article on bittorrent in Wired magazine, which I thought was a great article.  I have an idea for another article that will make another outstanding story.  There is a new cryptocurrency called "bitcoin" that uses peer-to-peer technologies and it is growing fast.  The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) recognizes this electronic currency and accepts bitcoin donations.  It has been on the internet radio "Security Now!", a national radio show at "One Radio Network", and has been written in many, many blogs.

The Bitcoin community comprises approximately 5,000 to 10,000 users and over 100 business enterprises employing a new open-source P2P cryptocurrency and monetary system called Bitcoins. The software for bitcoin is published under the MIT license. In addition to many other useful properties, Bitcoin has extremely low transaction fees, high divisibility, and is difficult to produce and counterfeit. These features make Bitcoin useful as a medium of exchange. As such, Bitcoin may become a threat to centralized monetary systems, which are typically backed by governments. The Bitcoin community knows that governments will defend their monetary monopolies, perhaps by suppressing the Bitcoin economy.

If you could do a story on this open source software I think many people would be interested.  Please visit the forums at bitcoin.org for additional info.  I can point to you to some reputable sources if needed.

Glenn Greenwald on Wired: http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/12/27/wired (http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/12/27/wired)

Based on the way they covered the recent Anonymous vs. HBGary thing, I think Ars Technica are much more likely to be favorable to Bitcoin.

Edit: huh, didn't realize Wired owns Ars Technica.

Clive got back to me...here is what he said...


Hi [Jimbobway]!

Yes, I read it, and my apologies for not getting back to you more quickly.

I'm a big fan of alternative currency systems, and bitcoin looks excellent! I don't have any immediate plans to write on alternative digital currencies right now, but it's a subject I'd love to write about at *some* point. I'll keep your email on file for when I get a chance to do so!

Well that's something, great job jimbobway.  If this ever does show up in Wired.... BOOM!

While we're waiting for wired(don't hold breath) get onto arstechnica, include the fact that bitcoins been covered on slashdot twice already.

We need to get this looked at and mentioned by Bruce Schneier as well, any Linux nerds here want to start contacting various Linux User Groups and let them know?

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/06/silkroad/

* sigh *

well, no such thing as bad publicity...

Let's be honest, it'll probably bump the price up. Look at this terrible website, all these evil people buying drugs, by using this very specific set of steps I'm going to lay out for you! It's bad... m'kay?

I thought we all knew this sort of sensationalist publicity about Bitcoins being used to buy/sell illegal stuff was inevitable?? :)

You know what? For most cop departments if this can get the dealers off the corners and streets then it solves a big PIA for them, and gets city offices off their backs. For beat cops, it is now someone else's problem (SEP) the institutionalised mantra for "all better". All power to Silk Road to clean up the streets.