Periodically

The Takeaway

By Jessica E. Lessin

An inside perspective on tech, media and startups from a reporter and founder who tells the truth about Silicon Valley.

By providing your email, you agree to The Information’s Privacy Policy

Recent Editions

The Takeaway

Redefining the Local “Tech Scene”

By Jessica E. Lessin · May 2, 2014 12:02pm PDT
I spent this week in New York for interviews, meetings and the DLD conference, where I interviewed two veteran journalists (Wired’s Steven Levy and New York Times’s John Markoff) and one disruptor disrupting them (Buzzfeed’s Jonah Peretti). And seemingly everywhere I went, people wanted to talk about the same thing: the... I spent this week in New York for interviews, meetings and the DLD conference, where I...
The Takeaway

Misleading Pushback on Media Reports Does Nobody Good

By Jessica E. Lessin · Apr 25, 2014 12:56pm PDT
I try not to dwell too much on the inner workings of journalism in these columns. But there’s a big shift happening in the media business that no one is talking about, and I believe it has big implications for journalists and companies alike. Companies are going on the PR offensive, disputing stories and firing off feisty comments in... I try not to dwell too much on the inner workings of journalism in these columns. But...
The Takeaway

For Google, No Silver Bullet on Payments

By Jessica E. Lessin · Apr 18, 2014 1:21pm PDT
Is it time for Google to pay up for payments? For years, we’ve been watching the Internet giant experiment with technology for people to pay online and in physical stores. The latter is through its mobile service Google Wallet. Google isn’t interested so much in payments as revenue stream, people who have worked on those efforts have... Is it time for Google to pay up for payments? For years, we’ve been watching the Internet...
Where Have All the Launches Gone?
By Jessica E. Lessin · Apr 4, 2014 12:58pm PDT
The Takeaway

Where Have All the Launches Gone?

By Jessica E. Lessin · Apr 4, 2014 12:58pm PDT
When did the technology industry stop launching big new products? I am not talking about iterations on well-established winners, like Microsoft Office for iPad or Android for wearable devices. Nor am I talking about new products in existing categories, like Amazon.com’s Kindle Fire TV. I’m talking about major innovations in hardware,... When did the technology industry stop launching big new products? I am not talking about...
The Takeaway

When $3 Billion is Not $3 Billion

By Jessica E. Lessin · Mar 28, 2014 12:46pm PDT
It is time for the technology industry to change how it discusses company valuations. The press, investors and entrepreneurs have been fixated on some eye-popping numbers. $10 billion for Dropbox. $10 billion for Airbnb. Larger than some large hotel chains! Approaching American Airlines! But those numbers don’t represent the actual value... It is time for the technology industry to change how it discusses company valuations. The press,...
The Takeaway

Publishers Need Ad Revolution, Not Evolution

By Jessica E. Lessin · Mar 21, 2014 1:12pm PDT
This week I traveled to London and learned a new language. Not Briticisms like “bollocks,” but a new lexicon of digital ad industry terms that were front and center at the Guardian newspaper’s two-day Changing Media Summit. Old ways to measure and charge for online ads, like click-through rate and how many times an ad is loaded... This week I traveled to London and learned a new language. Not Briticisms like...