From CrunchNotes: We Don’t Do Reprints

So a poor intern sent a note to TechCrunch and got a pretty curt response.  I’m sure Mike thought this was a slam on old media, by pointing out that they don’t do prints, reprints or otherwise, and then posting the email for all to see.  What I think is getting lost here is that this is really a slap in his own face.  While Mike is clearly a pundit in our world, he’s not a brand name.  Beyond the core web20 and tech sector, who knows about TechCrunch?

Taking a shot like this is really in poor taste, and a bit childish, but it also reinforces the notion that we are all legends in our own mind.  Further, TechCrunch really missed an opportunity here.  Who wouldn’t want a reprint of their blog post hanging in someone’s office?  Talk about not getting it.  If you want your brand to be well known, and expand your influence beyond your 700K feed readers, you have to look at the bigger picture.  Instead, all you have done is insulted someone who was probably trying to do something for a client.  Fortunately, no cigars were hurt in this intern slamming incident, but who knows…Mike could be on his way to the Oval Office.

Kudos to the (purportedly) kids boss for leaving this comment on the posting:

Congratulations for picking on and publicly humiliating a college intern who was giving you the courtesy of asking permission to use your content for our benefit. Given how dumb this issue is, I’m baffled at the extent to which you all have gone to attack this smart, capable young woman. I hope you feel great about yourselves.