Googled

Ken Auletta is the author of the new book "Googled: The End of the World as We Know It." He was on CNN's Reliable Sources today and had an interesting anecdote about how some in "new media" argue exposure is the ultimate payment.

KURTZ: Did one of the founders -- did I get this right -- of Google ask you why you didn't just publish your book online?

AULETTA: Yes. In my second interview with co-founder Sergey Brin, he came in on his rollerblades and he threw his knapsack down on the table and he said, "Ken, let me ask you a question." He said, "Why don't you just publish a book for free online and get a much larger audience for it?"

And I said, "Well, I might get a larger audience, but who's going to pay me an advance so I have money to live on since I'm on leave from "The New Yorker" to do this? And by the way, Sergey, who's going to edit my book and who's going to do an index? And who's going to market it? And who's going to pay for my expenses to come out here as many times I'm coming out here?"

And, of course, at that point, Sergey Brin changed the subject.