The Crank was present at the creation of the online publishing devolution. (In fact, if anyone was writing car reviews online before 1991, the Crank would like to hear from them to arrange the surrender of his crown.)
Why a devolution? Because looking around, much of what passes for auto writing on the Web is an eye-washing waste of pixels. It is the rare auto blog that doesn’t merely masticate and spew barely-altered manufacturer press releases, and even the more serious sites rarely flirt with original journalism, much less season their writing with any detectable style. (I except, of course, the sites that reprint columns from another medium, such as RoadandTrack.com and Dan Neil’s jewels on LATimes.com.) But Henry Manney’s ghost is safe from replacement in our reverence by those who toil first in cyberspace.
Nothing inherent to the medium compels lesser thought or syntax, except that if one is truly good at the craft, other outlets pay more. Which makes some difference, but still doesn’t explain the noticeably lower quality of Web-original work. If a new Neil, Manney, Ezra Dyer, Pete Lyons, or Peter Egan is not forthcoming from the vast Internet, where at least is the next Csaba Csere, for Pete’s sake? Pat Bedard? Joe Lorio? Your name here? It is a puzzlement.
That’s why, when the Crank does find something praiseworthy, he makes sure to point it out, even if they’re competition. And one such is AutoSpies.com. To be sure, their written work is not nearly as strong as can be found even other places on the Web. But this site has gone from 0 to 60 with comparatively alacrity by specializing in that most beguiling of art forms, the spy shot. Jonesing to peep at the latest beauty machine, the newest thing that somebody doesn’t want you to see? Look at Autospies first. Don’t know who they are or how they do it, but do it they do, and consistently.
On a vaguely related subject: The temptation of instant publishing leads many websites either to flirt with or just flat ignore embargoes, a practice that puts the Crank in a mighty lather. If today’s Web writers hope ever to make it to the local magazine rack, they’ll cut that out. Corporate PR folks have long memories, and can ensure your career in print or broadcast is short and unhappy.
Embargo ignorers, you have been warned! Duty done, and now the Crank's lunch will settle well.
