Interview: TechCrunch Europe主筆Mike Butcher短訪

前些時候在柏林巧遇Mike Butcher, 我自己是TechCrunch Europe (TechCrunch歐洲姊妹版) 的忠實讀者, 自己在觀察歐洲的網路創業及行動應用發展上非常感興趣, TechCrunch Europe也是眾多重要資訊來源之一. 以下是我前天和Mike做的迷你短訪, 我問了他一些關於網路大方向的問題, 也許問題不是那麼的精闢, 而且答案都很開放, 但這都值得自己再深入思考.

Mike Butcher是現任TechCrunch Europe的總編輯. 今年2010年, 他被Wired UK選為英國科技圈Top100最具影響力的人士之一. 除了記者的身分, Mike Butcher也負責Tech Hub, 定期舉辦聚會, 讓歐洲的科技創業家和投資人互相交流.

Ewan:你似乎走遍了全歐洲大大小小的網路聚會活動, 而且有機會更深入地觀察各地方不同的網路創業生態. 我滿好奇的是, 你每個月大概參加多少會議活動? 你還有多餘的時間來閱讀和寫作嗎?

Mike: 歐洲有很多國家, 每一個國家都有自己的相關活動. 所以每個月都有相當多會議及聚會在進行. 可是我比較會選擇出席主要讓歐洲網路人士拉近彼此距離的活動.

Ewan:到目前為止, 各種網路及行動的服務都發展的越來越細膩成熟了, 主要的目的是要讓人們的生活更便利, 舒適. 而且許多創新的服務應用不斷地推出. 在你看來, 目前還缺乏什麼樣的服務, 等著大家持續地開發?

Mike: 我認為目前還沒有一個應用服務是已經達到極至完美的階段, 有太多東西還等著被開發創造. 特別是在電子商務和行動應用這一塊更持續地在擴大, 所以如果這其中的元素能夠結合開發的話, 一定會出現很強的應用.

Ewan:根據你長期觀察網路創業及行動發展的經驗來看, 其中有沒有讓你為預料到的發展結果, 剛開始推出時, 你不覺得會有什麼突破性, 但最後卻大受歡迎?

Mike: 當然有. 5年前會使用社交網路的都好像是一些怪咖, 當初沒有人會想到現在社交網路應用會成為主流.

Ewan: 你個人最看好5個由歐洲人發展出來的網路創業名單有哪些?

Mike: 這恐怕很難精準地回答, 畢竟選項太多了. 如果要我選的話, 應該會是: Spotify.com, Huddle.net, Wooga.com, Pleet.me and iGlue.com.

Ewan: 觀看德國地區的網路商業模式, 你贊同這樣的想法「拷貝複製的商業模式是讓網路創業極速成長最有效率的方法之一」嗎?

Mike: 也許可以這麼說, 但這缺乏了創新. 試想當其他人也和你一樣在操作這種複製的模式時, 你會怎麼反應? 保持原創為上策.

Ewan: 你身為一個具有一定影響力的科技部落格 (TechCrunch Europe) 的主筆, 一定遇過網路創業家纏著你要你幫他們做報導, 他們會惹惱你嗎? 你通常怎麼處理這樣的情況?

Mike: 不舒服的情況當然會發生. 這我還能接受, 畢竟這是工作的一部份, 無法避免. 煩不煩倒是還好, 只要基本的禮貌有顧到.

Ewan: 新聞和公關稿總是很難去界定. 對此你的看法是什麼? 你介意常常有人說TechCrunch只是一個報導科技圈內八卦新聞的部落格嗎?

Mike: TechCrunch所報導的新聞都是最真實的, 毫不遮掩. 即便是傳言的消息, 也是我們認為站得住腳的才會放出來.

Ewan: 你怎麼看未來付費內容的發展 (針對線上新聞媒體) ? 尤其是Google傳出今年底將推出Newspass, 幫助線上新聞媒體實現內容的營收?

Mike: 付費內容終究會有自己的解決辦法, 但我認為在未來, 付費牆的方式不會是一個可行之道.

Ewan: 哪一些新聞來源或是部落格是你每天必須吸收的? 如果讓你考慮搬到另一個歐洲城市, 哪裡是你的首選?

Mike: 我每天必讀TechCrunch, 其他還有一些新聞媒體, 幾個歐洲主要的部落格. 柏林是我目前最喜歡的城市.

Ewan: 最後一個問題, 你可以預見未來跨洲間投資人和網路科技創業的互動會愈來愈頻繁嗎? 特別是歐洲和亞洲及中文地區?

Mike: 我非常肯定將來會有這樣的可能性, 而且我也很樂意參與這樣的過程. 我很喜歡中國 (註: Mike之前告訴我他去過一次上海), 如果有機會的話, 我希望能夠再度造訪. 我認為歐洲和中國將來會有很大的交流空間.

感謝Mike, 我收到他的回覆是半夜2點.

1.      It seems that you are attending almost every event and are closely observing the different startup scenes in Europe. I`m kind of curious about your working life. About how many events do you visit monthly? Do you still have time to read and write?
Because there are many countries in Europe, each country has its own
set of events. That can mean a lot of events in one month in Europe.
But I tend to attend the major ones which bring the main players from
Europe together.

2.      As technologies and web- and mobile services are becoming more and more sophisticated to make people’s life easier and much more comfortable, and everyday tons of web innovation pop up, in your opinion, what kind of web- or mobile applications are still missing or waiting to be developed?

I would say no-one has really come up with the perfect application yet
so there are plenty of things still waiting to be created. In
particular we are seeing an explosion in ecommerce and mobile now so a
combination of those elements will be very powerful.

3.      Having seen so many mobile developments and web startups, have you ever had the experience that some of them, you thought when they started, it`s just ok, but no big deal, turned out that people were crazy for them?

Yes, of course. No-one thought social networking would be very big 5
years ago as it seemed only odd people liked it. Now it is mainstream.

4.      Which ones are your personal top-5-European-internet-start-ups in the near future?

I’m afraid it’s too hard to say and there are too many to choose from,
but I would pick perhaps Spotify.com, Huddle.net, Wooga.com, Pleet.me
and iGlue.com

5.      Looking at the German internet business, do you agree that copycat business model is one of the most efficient ways making a startup a big success?

It can be but it is not considered very innovative. Plus, what do you
do when everyone else is also doing your copycat? It’s better to be
original.

6.      As an influential editor for an important technology blog (TechCrunch Europe), you surely have been tracked down by entrepreneurs to pitch a blog article. Did some of them really bother you? How did you usually deal with them?

It can happen, but I also accept that it “comes with the territory”. I
do not mind so long as people are polite.

7.      There is always that fine line between true journalism and PR reports, what is your opinion? Do you mind people judging TechCrunch Networks as a blog just spreading rumors?

Well TechCrunch breaks real stories most of the time. We only report
rumours when we feel there is a valid story.

8.      How do you see the future of paid contents in online journalism? Especially in terms as Goolge is releasing at the end of this year a new service “Newspass” with online publishers for their monetization.

I think these problems will be sorted out but I don’t think “paywalls”
are the way to go for the future.

9.      Which news sources or blogs are on your must-read list on a daily basis? If you would have to move to another European city, which one would be your first choice?

My must read sources are TechCrunch.com and few newspapers and major
blogs in Europe. Berlin is my favourite European city right now.

10.     Last question: Do you see possibilities in the near future for more active cross-continental interaction between startups and investors especially Europe and Asia, the Chinese-speaking areas?

I definitely see many more possibilities for this to happen and I
would like to be part of making it happen. I love China and I would
like to visit again if I can. I think Europe and China have a great
shared future together.