Google CEO talks to news execs, makes no news
Eric Schmidt couldn't have made less news tonight in his opening talk at ASNE. I was there, and, Matt Mansfield, I tweeted nothing because there was nothing to tweet. That said, it was Sunday in my town, and I started the day with friends, a park and cupcakes. Add the Masters and half-hour afternoon nap, and the subsequent Twitter bar is high.
But it was fascinating to watch Schmidt talk. Great wealth and power seems to make a man easy-going. Never once did Google's CEO stand directly behind the podium, He began by leaning on its side and later propped his notes on it as he stood beside it. He popped open a soda during ex-Billboard editor Rob Levine's tough question on the YouTube case, but that was the extent of any noticeable or possible stress.
My favorite moment: Schmidt reaching into the podium and pulling out a neatly arranged handful of Android, Kindle and iPad to show the mix of devices consumers desire for their news consumption. A roomful of PC-thinking minds… a nearly audible ka-boom! That said, the questions were decent, and the news industry's Google fear didn't show. When Schmidt explained Murdoch's remarks on Google as part of a business negotiation, people (again, nearly audibly) seemed to get that. Cool.
2nd favorite moment (tie): Schmidt pronouncing "Pulitzer" wrong (or at least in news' minority) and his ASNE introducer saying "Novell" wrong.
Fair enough.
The spread afterward was the best of any news conference I've ever attended. Below was just the desserts. How did I fail to capture the mini-crabcakes? Oh, because I inhaled them. Despite R. Heslin (where did you go?) bailing, there was all kinds of good conversation at the reception, including with Levine, a USAT crowd and various ONA mafia.
3rd favorite moment: Catching up with Medill's Rich Gordon about his Chicago music pursuits, for a second straight year involving J. Tweedy.
April 12th, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Those desserts look delish.
April 12th, 2010 at 12:50 AM
Ha!
Eric Schmidt: Not Making News In DC Speeches Since 2006. :)
Witness:
http://news.cnet.com/Google-CEO-Techies-must-educate-governments/2100-1028_3-6126938.html
http://news.cnet.com/Googles-Schmidt-pitches-self-governing-Net/2100-1038_3-6156821.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9852849-7.html
April 12th, 2010 at 4:47 AM
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April 12th, 2010 at 9:56 AM
Thank you, Anne, for the background/confirmation. I'd like to see him in front of his own people and let loose some. And, Greg, they were. Am hoping the good food run continues today.
February 13th, 2012 at 3:13 PM
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