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Writers and Editors (RSS feed)

Ever wondered about those TED talks and conferences?

Watching a TED talk online, I noticed that most of the audience appeared to be well-groomed men, so I looked for explanations of who gets invited and how and why TED gatherings work. Liked what Jacob Ward of Popular Science had to say: I Didn't Like TED. Then I Got It (3-1-16) "It launched in 1984 as a conference around Technology, Entertainment and Design, and has grown to include not just its two annual events (in Scotland and the United States), but a host of related events, including TEDx, self-organized versions of the main shindig. "Each event centers on the speakers, who deliver, typically in 18 minutes, what the promotional literature describes as "the talk of their lives." You have to apply to attend the big annual events, and if you're accepted it then costs several thousand dollars to do so. (The one I attended, in Long Beach, California, costs $7500 per person. I was fortunate enough to receive a press pass.) Even watching the live event via web video will set you back $995...."TED has figured out a formula for getting good ideas going.And that's when I realized that this is what TED is about....There was a real sense of the transmission of good ideas across the folks who really are in a position to put them into practice. I'm glad they spend this week insulated from the overwhelming pressures of the professional world, and are instead helpfully fooled, for a few crucial days, into opening their minds." There's more, as captured by other participants:

The #1 myth of TED: You have to be invited (TED Staff, TED blog, 2-14-13)

How TED got famous (Richard Galant, CNN, 3-20-14) Another overview of how it developed.

Why TED Matters (Tim Bajarin, Time, 3-24-14) TED has become a launching point for some interesting soul searching, creating within me a desire to learn more about things that matter outside of my own world.

How To Attend A TED Conference Like A Pro (Keith Ferrazzi, Forbes/Tech, 6-26-12) Remember the 7 P’s. Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.

The elephants in the room at TED (Robert Scoble, Scobleizer, 2-14-10). Yes, it's expensive. The money supports free TED for many (online etc.).
Why is attending a TED conference so expensive? (Quora)
How much does it cost to attend a TED talk? (Quora) "The next TED Talk will be on April 24-28, 2017 in Vancouver, Canada. And the price of attendence is $17000.
Watch TED live, in your living room.

How TED Connects the Idea-Hungry Elite (Anya Kamenetz, FastCompany, 9-1-10)

It's not always pretty:
Why I'm Fed Up with TED (Sarah Lacy, BloombergBusiness, 3-1-08) Maybe it's sour grapes because I wasn't invited, but I'm irked by the conference's smugness and the nearly unqualified show of support from Silicon Valley.

The Haves and Have-Nots: The True Story of a Reader Suddenly De-Invited from TED (Anonymous letter from a disenchanted participant, posted by Sarah Lacy, TechCrunch, 2-27-11). The ugly behind-the-scenes truth: Money talks.

WATCH FREE AT HOME OR WHILE WAITING IN LINE AT THE SUPERMARKET:
TED: Ideas worth spreading. Archive of all recorded TED talks. Watch free at home or on the bus! Check out the full online library of TED talks.
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