this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2023
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Linus Tech Tips
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Are they going to address Linus's active investment in companies from markets they cover? The Framework investment seems like a conflict of interest that should be addressed since it was part of Gamer Nexus' criticism.
At some point I feel like you have to admit you are a biased entertainment show or commit to journalistic standards. I don't know that an active investment in a subject you report on can be waved away by disclosure and a promise not to let it color your conclusions. Im sure there is a balance, and maybe I am being too critical.
I don’t think it’s ever been stated that the framework investment hasn’t lead to direct criticism of competing products. The disclosure is there to let us know that there is pre-existing bias in the upcoming review.
This is similar to watching Mac Address and being pissed off that they have a bias towards Macs.
Linus specifically said he wasn't going to let the investment influence their coverage of Framework or competing product when he announced his investment in the company, though that is not Gamer Nexus's point. It is the long term and ongoing potential for bias that is the issue. Id argue that discloure is certainly better, but that doesn't mean it's suddenly no longer a concern. It just means you know about it. You can't in one breath claim to be an authoritative reliable source of knowledge and explain why you are not in the next.
The Mac Address show is a different issue. Bringing it up is either a misunderstanding or a strawman. If Apple the company had a show about Mac's and Apple products, that would be a similar issue. If a large investor of Apple made the show, that would also be a similar issue. LMG, to my knowledge, has not disclosed a ownership stake in Apple.