Kara Swisher LIVE Chat on Product Hunt

Discussion

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

Hi, I am Kara Swisher, a tech reporter. I annoy people in tech.

@karaswisher What sort of process do you go through to prepare for an interview? Do you think about snappy comebacks for non-answers in advance? 😈

11 tweet share2015-09-17T16:08:17.791-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@stevesi I do NO prep as you know! I am just a snappy comment factory. In all seriousness, I spend my yer paying attention to tech. I think if you prep too much you miss the conversation completely. Also, I listen more than it seems.

4 tweet share2015-09-17T16:19:32.767-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@stevesi BTW Steve, you have a LOT of snappy comebacks. So POT=KETTLE

5 tweet share2015-09-17T16:22:28.096-07:00

Steven Sinofsky — a16z

@karaswisher No fair, you have the microphone right now 🆘

3 tweet share2015-09-17T16:32:05.068-07:00

Ryan Hoover — Product Hunt

Kara! Welcome. You recently wrote a piece about the future CEO of Twitter. Who would make a good CEO for Twitter and why?

P.S. Great job with the Re/code Decode podcast. 👍

6 tweet share2015-09-17T16:01:30.195-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@rrhoover You would. My dog would at this point.

10 tweet share2015-09-17T16:13:54.957-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@rrhoover Seriously, they need someone who understands product, advertising and media.

6 tweet share2015-09-17T16:14:21.523-07:00

Casey Newton — Silicon Valley editor, The Verge

Hi Kara — longtime fan here. Any tips for getting people to tell you something you can use that they absolutely do not want to tell you / let you use??

5 tweet share2015-09-17T16:31:48.189-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@caseynewton Tweak their overly coiffed hair senseless like I plan to do to you at next tech event. Calling Vox HR!

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:46:10.087-07:00

Casey Newton — Silicon Valley editor, The Verge

@karaswisher Kara you have blanket permission to ravage me whenever you like. I made sure this was written into your contract

3 tweet share2015-09-17T16:48:23.885-07:00

Jeff Needles — BI @ Meerkat & Maker of Things

@karaswisher Hey Kara! What is the most important piece of tech you think should've taken off but didn't? Why not? Could it make a comeback?

4 tweet share2015-09-17T15:35:39.022-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@jsneedles Hmm, I think perhaps Google Glass. I think they made it so that any normal human being would reject it (you responded to the device rather than vice versa). But I do think the concept of visual search and discover is going to be huge. Or, as Trump say: YUGEEEE

5 tweet share2015-09-17T16:13:27.279-07:00

Corley — Product Hunt

@karaswisher What do you think of diversity in tech? And what do you think would have the biggest positive change?

4 tweet share2015-09-17T16:50:14.123-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@corleyh I talk about this issue all the time. Tech has been failing here by any metric. Positive change: HIRE MORE WOMEN. HIRE A MORE DIVERSE WORK FORCE. LOOK UP FROM YOUR COMPUTER AND SEE WHO IS WORKING FOR YOU.

3 tweet share2015-09-17T16:57:29.603-07:00

Amrit Pal — Product @Square

@karaswisher You have an innate ability to make your guests feel comfortable, and yet ask intimidating questions. How do you balance it?

3 tweet share2015-09-17T16:02:03.502-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@amritpa1 I think smart people like to answer smart questions. I think I am tough but fair and that is pretty much what works. Also I am not shy.

6 tweet share2015-09-17T16:10:55.094-07:00

Melissa Joy Kong — Content, Product Hunt

If you could completely redesign tech journalism as a whole, what would you change and why?

3 tweet share2015-09-17T16:26:19.267-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@melissajoykong Hmm, less cheerleading and tech love. More interest in the wider world and tech's impact. Less doing commodity journalism that is meaningless.

3 tweet share2015-09-17T16:40:09.852-07:00

Kate — Product Hunt, Intern

@karaswisher who are some of your biggest influences?

And like Ryan mentioned, BRAVO on your fantastic podcast. One of the highlights of my week!

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:07:40.783-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@katesegrin Thanks. I love the podcast. Hmm, Nora Ephron was a big influence. Joan Didion. Ben Bradlee. Also Steve Jobs in an odd way. I think most people got him wrong by calling him heartless. He was all heart, for better or worse.

4 tweet share2015-09-17T16:18:35.836-07:00

marlo — Founder, 82 Labs

@karaswisher thank you. i'm late to the party but i wanted to know what it was like working with Steve Jobs? Anything you can share. From all I've read, you were his favorite reporter and you worked quite closely. That has always fascinated me and made me very interested in your work.

upvote tweet share2015-09-18T04:10:16.001-07:00

Cristian Olarasu — Tech entrepreneur

@karaswisher Thank you for being here. Can you touch briefly on the subject of ad-block on iOS9 not being available in apps. Is running it really like "stealing content" for users. What is you opinion?

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:10:48.516-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@cristianctin I think ad blockers are fine. Ads need to be better.

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:24:21.889-07:00

Eric Willis — Mod @Product Hunt/ Founder @Chatmunk

@karaswisher Do you have one article/post that you think is absolutely your best work or favorite? If so, which one is it and why?

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:12:06.667-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@erictwillis Hmm, when Dave Goldberg died. That was from the heart. Also some essays on women and tech.

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:24:47.758-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@erictwillis also not that serious: Liveblogging Yahoo earnings. I made good points with humor. I won a Loeb Award for that, so people got it!

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:25:41.025-07:00

Eric Willis — Mod @Product Hunt/ Founder @Chatmunk

@karaswisher Thanks!

upvote tweet share2015-09-17T17:48:38.066-07:00

Teresa Hammerl — Socialmediapreneur

Hi Kara, you say that you annoy people in tech. How do you do that?

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:20:24.812-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@colazionearoma I joke, but I poke. I guess because I am a mouthy broad.

5 tweet share2015-09-17T16:33:20.452-07:00

Arlo Gilbert — Founder & Angel

What would your secret service code name be?

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:21:08.370-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@arlogilbert Ahahaha. What a good question that was absolutely BLOWN by all of them except Trump. Hmm, Elvis.

3 tweet share2015-09-17T16:34:29.762-07:00

Varun Deshpande — N/A

@karaswisher Idk, I thought 'Justice Never Sleeps' was wonderfully succinct, catchy, and zzzZzzz

upvote tweet share2015-09-17T16:35:29.153-07:00

Melissa Joy Kong — Content, Product Hunt

What tech titan did you used to have an unfavorable opinion about, but have since changed your mind—and why?

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:30:15.208-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@melissajoykong Marc Andreessen, whom I met when both of us were young (more than 20 years ago), were always bickering because we were both jackasses then. Our convos now (see podcast) are now bracing.

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:45:20.329-07:00

Ryan Hoover — Product Hunt

For reference, here's the podcast with @pmarca.

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:46:27.383-07:00

Sam Houston — Senior Community Manager, Bugcrowd

How has your experience been as a new podcaster and how do you see the podcast complimenting the written journalism work that Re/code is most known for?

1 tweet share2015-09-17T15:17:23.238-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@samhouston I LOVE IT. But I am an egomaniac, so I would. Also it fits in nicely with what we do at Re/code events: Smart, tough, fair and engaging interviews of substance and depth. People appreciate that in this soundbite world.

3 tweet share2015-09-17T16:12:04.242-07:00

Arlo Gilbert — Founder & Angel

What are the most interesting 3 interviews you've ever done?

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:08:42.790-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@arlogilbert Hmm, Jobs for sure with Gates. Historic. Larry Ellison. Hysterical. I liked interviewing Hillary Clinton. Also my mother about Twitter. That was classic ("What is this TWITTER?")

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:21:55.705-07:00

David Geller — CEO & Founder of Spryly

@karaswisher Perhaps jumping on Christian's theme - how significant will iOS9's impact on ad revenue be? Are you hearing comments in the industry that it will have a dramatic impact?

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:12:17.285-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@davidgeller I am not an expert, but people are worried. Apple, which does not make $ on data or advertising, is incentivized to create software and hardware that deliver great experiences. Ads are overall not good experiences. Marketers have to get more creative.

2 tweet share2015-09-17T17:02:52.221-07:00

Ryan Hoover — Product Hunt

@karaswisher to piggyback this question, do you have plans to experiment with new ad formats or revenue models at Re/code?

upvote tweet share2015-09-17T17:04:23.036-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@rrhoover Good question. We think about it a lot, but we now have the much smarter folks of Vox to help us. A lot of our revenue is from our events, so delivering a lot of value and a great experience is how we do well there. Much easier than advertising as it depends on our editorial creativity.

1 tweet share2015-09-17T17:05:45.236-07:00

Adam Waxman — Product, SeatGeek

@karaswisher Hey Kara! 2 questions:

1) Which social channels drive the most traffic (or are the most popular) on re/code?

2) Who's your favorite non re/code tech writer?

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:16:53.930-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@ajwaxman 1.) organic! But Google and Twitter after that. 2.) Hmm, that is a hard one. Jessica Pressler when she writes on tech.

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:31:50.981-07:00

Niv Dror — Social 🔑 @ProductHunt

@karaswisher what was it like asking Hilary Clinton the most awesome question of the night? 👋😜

(high five)
http://imgur.com/blWyF0G

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:17:20.305-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@nivo0o0 Let's be clear SHE high-fived me!

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:32:31.301-07:00

Cathy — tech analyst

Who or what encouraged you to pursue this vocation?

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:20:47.912-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@mamaohm65 My 7th grade English teacher, Sally Gilbert. Also my early mentors at the Washington Post.

upvote tweet share2015-09-17T16:33:54.081-07:00

Brandon Carte — Reviewer at Purch

@karaswisher You have both a reputation where people fear you and respect you a great deal. In fact, my heart is slightly racing while I am writing this question! Anyway, what do you make of this and would you say that you are a nice person?

P.S. thanks for being one of the hardest workers in technology journalism. I admire you greatly and hope to meet you someday.

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:22:28.072-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@brandoncarte Calm DOWN, Brandon! I think I treat people with respect but don't treat them like they are gods. People lick internet execs up and down all day, largely based on their net worth. I could care less. Also I met almost ALL of them in their garages.

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:35:54.145-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@brandoncarte thanks about hard working. One time someone asked me why I was so successful and I said: BECAUSE I WORK HARDER THAN YOU DO. It's no magic formula.

4 tweet share2015-09-17T16:36:35.809-07:00

Itamar Rogel — Co-Founder, Newsfusion

Hello @karaswisher, honored to have a shot at asking you a question :)

You've founded two leading tech journalism websites with the same co-editor, but in different business settings and (arguably) different eras of digital media. What were the most striking differences between these two experiences? And what was the top takeaway from each?

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:23:55.525-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@itamarro All Things Digital was easier to get an audience since we were in a smaller pool and platforms like Facebook did not dominate the distribution (no one did but Google and that is easier in a way).

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:37:43.286-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@itamarro That said being at the WSJ/Dow Jones/RupertWorld hindered our ability to grow and we missed a great moment to bust out. With Re/code the takeaway was that content was changing quickly and you needed to not wait when it did. We did not.

upvote tweet share2015-09-17T16:39:04.586-07:00

Itamar Rogel — Co-Founder, Newsfusion

@karaswisher Thank you. I think I'm going to start a theme park and call it RupertWorld :)

upvote tweet share2015-09-17T17:06:08.884-07:00

Mike Pegg

@karaswisher - What was the experience like being on Silicon Valley? :) Are you a more a fan of season 1 or 2?

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:26:56.181-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@mpegg I loved it, but I am an egomaniac, so I would. Seriously, all such sharp people working one that. Also the food was not as good as that of an average Internet company. I did like the golf cart to the set 15 feet away from trailer.

3 tweet share2015-09-17T16:41:17.655-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@mpegg I think they really nail at lot of the idiocy of tech, but also they love it, which is why it works.

2 tweet share2015-09-17T16:41:50.849-07:00

Carmel DeAmicis — Re/code

What's the biggest mistake you ever made as a reporter?

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:35:31.596-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@carmeldea Good one, Carmel.

1 tweet share2015-09-17T16:48:36.379-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

@carmeldea ok, it is always when I am not trying harder on a story and being lazy as a reporter. Too many do that and think it ok. Also not being fair is always a failure to me.

upvote tweet share2015-09-17T16:52:00.182-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

Ok peoples of Product Hunt, I have to go to a big gay tech event at GitHub, because I am a big gay in tech, so last questions pls as I have to walk through the traffic hell that is Dreamforce's annual takeover of SF.

2 tweet share2015-09-17T17:08:13.248-07:00

Ryan Hoover — Product Hunt

Haha, thanks so much for joining us (and for stopping by the office!). 🙌

Sorry to keep you waiting outside though. I feel terrible. 😞

1 tweet share2015-09-17T17:10:33.853-07:00

Kara Swisher — Executive Editor, Re/code

Bye all, please feel free to write me: kara@recode.net or @karaswisher

2 tweet share2015-09-17T17:10:15.984-07:00