Startup Chatter by Donna Bogatin

 PHOTO:  Donna Bogatin, Founder & CEO, StartupAlpha.com @ Gracie Mansion, June 2, 2008, in celebration of Internet Week kick-off with Mayor Michael Bloomberg!

REPORT: I have long written that the New York Times has long ago lost any legitimate claim to its own self-aggrandizing claim of being the “newspaper of record.” Saul Hansell’s purported tell-all on last evening’s Internet Week kick-off soiree held at the Gracie Mansion is but the latest “bit” of NYT editorial spin under the guise of hard, objective reporting.

The New York Times, or perhaps simply Mr. Hansell, has taken upon itself to “write” its version of the “true” story of a Bloomberg municipal technology agenda, calling “open” season on the Mayor’s open house.The Editor of NYT’s Technology beat is not content, however, to merely rewrite the real story of the gracious evening, he giddily engages in editorial dramatics to conjour up drama that was NOT the stuff Gracie’s Mansion was made of last night.

How do I know? I was an invitee of the Mayor as well, a proud one, in fact. Moreover, I spoke with Hansell at the Mayor’s reception yesterday AND observed him appreciating the Mayor’s inspiring remarks!

In his Bits column, today, though, Hansell not only mocks the Mayor’s intent but he concocts dramatic scenarios that did NOT rule the affair and paints a scene that was NOT the one experienced by the crowd.

Hansell waxes poetic “”I tracked down” the man in charge! REALLY? The Chair of Internet Week actively sought media attention: I spoke with him twice, with NO need for any undercover detective work!

Hansell also incredulously asserts he “heard several people whisper to each other” about supposed discontent. Obviously, though, it was hard enough to hear normal cocktail chit chat above the din, let alone any hush-hush “gripes.”

The Hansell Internet Week “joke” riff is no joking matter: The NYT ill serves the public by spinning a government evening to match its own political agenda.

As Founder & CEO of StartupAlpha.com, I hosted one of the first Internet Week events today: “How To Launch Your Silicon Alley Startup For $198.”  Dozens of technology entrepreneurs and startup founders joined me for a Bootstrap Workshop picnic in Bryant Park for strategy brainstorming and alliance building.

In fact, by bringing together early stage tech ventures in the heart of the Big Apple, the StartupAlpha.com Internet Week event provides an immediate, direct contribution to the realization of the technology development objectives outlined by Mayor Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion last evening: The ongoing mission of StartupAlpha.com–uniquely among the totality of Internet Week event hosts–directly reinforces the official New York City economic development objectives.

SEE PHOTOS OF STARTUPALPHA.COM INTERNET WEEK BOOTSTRAPPING EVENT 

ALSO: DO YOU HAVE AN ONLINE STARTUP, OR AN IDEA FOR ONE? PITCH YOUR VENTURE HERE FREE AT THE STARTUPAPLPHA.COM FREE PITCH NETWORK!