Having been fascinated by data since my mom bought me a book on the best baseball players of 1964 when I was 6, I don't want to be too skeptical of all the Big Data hype. Still, the evidence suggests that Big Data will, in some fields, just make things cruddier.
Consider higher-end journalistic outlets. Has The Atlantic improved, overall, as it has evolved over the last two decades from the voice of WASP genteel foreboding to a data-driven vehicle for delivering maximum clicks by the all-important female consumer demograpic? Has Slate improved as it has evolved along the same Big Data path? Is National Review better? (To its credit, the New York Times has retained more of its self-respect.)
I probably should try to think of something else to say on this topic before I hit "post," but I've got to feed the beast. The Twittersphere can't wait!
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