Charles on… anything that comes along

Wow. I noticed this a couple of days ago, but even so: the guy who got the scoop on the Mac mini is 19 - and has run the Think Secret site since he was 13. A job in journalism? I think he’s already got one. Arguably, this is a contender for scoop of the year. Unimportant in a global context? Yes, but a lot of people heard about this. From one previously unregarded web site. I think he’ll be able to up his ad rates.

Anyway, Cult of Mac: “ThinkSecret’s Nick DePlume has granted his first post-Apple-lawsuit interview to his college paper, the Harvard Crimson. DePlume [real name Nick Ciarelli] is a 19-year-old undergrad, who has run ThinkSecret since he was 13. And run it very well. As he explains:

‘I employ the same legal newsgathering practices used by any other journalist,’ he wrote. ‘I talk to sources of information, investigate tips, follow up on leads, and corroborate details. I believe these practices are reflected in Think Secret’s track record.”

For what it’s worth, I think he’s right. He certainly broke no agreements. His sources might have, but that’s between Apple and the sources, not Apple and Ciarelli. Apple should drop this suit, quietly. That way, everyone’s happy.

But what job in journalism could possibly satisfy Ciarelli, I wonder? What does he aspire to? (All right, I’ll ask him.)

(Via Cult of Mac.)

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