ABOUT
I’m Jolie Anne O’Dell.
I’m a tech journalist. I live in San Francisco.
I’m passionate about journalism — a subject I’ve trained in and pursued professionally since 2000. I’m equally passionate about technology, which I’ve studied from a sociologist’s perspective since the late 1990s as well as from a developer’s perspective since 2010. I learned some Java and a smattering of C# and am now turning my attention to JavaScript, all to better understand the technologies I write about and the brilliant, fascinating people who make them.
You can find me on Twitter, where I often interact with just about anybody who wants to talk with me. I also have a Facebook profile where I post about the weird, interesting things and places and people I get to see as a journalist in Silicon Valley.
If you’re a public relations professional, please don’t email me directly. I get hundreds of pitches a day. Instead, send a note to tips@venturebeat.com; our editors monitor that address around the clock and will find the best writer to tackle the subject. If it’s a developer topic, that writer might be me!
Photo by Ken Yeung, thelettertwo.com.
You are wonderful about replying to your comments on this blog! Time and time again, I smile at your participation with your commenters.
The Internet is so personal; that’s the best thing about social media, isn’t it? The interactions?
Thanks for the compliment, sweet pea. =) I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
You are simply superb. Don’t change.
Hello
my name is mahan
im a boy/age 28
im from iran
it’s nice to meet you
have a good time
Hi Jolie, i happened upon your site while searching some information about personal book publishing.
reading some of your blog here..i had never heard of a startup journalist before. you’ve got some very interesting topics on your site (i say that as I skim) but i’ll be sure to check out more later and check out some of your youtube stuff!
Haha, awesome. I’m also in the process of adding “novice Python coder” to my list of feats. If you use a Mac, take a look at Coda. It’s just so darn pretty.
Jolie, I have to say I am confused (which doesn’t take much, by the way). Perhaps I misread your Why SXSW Sucks post, but it seems totally counter to your reply above, which says, “The Internet is so personal; that’s the best thing about social media, isn’t it? The interactions?” I think you even said, “more technology and fewer people.” You slammed the “personal” part of SXSW, but from what I can tell, you seem to really embrace people. Maybe you were just having a bad day (the stolen Macbook might do it). Keep rockin’.
“And yes, ladies and gents, the rumors are true: I’m taken. We’re currently in the heads-up-each-others’-butts phase of the relationship.”
If some people don’t know who you’re dating, they might think it’s you and Pete are having a relationship! haha
Wow Jolie, it’s interesting to read another and much more personal part of you.
Hah! That’s why I put the link there. Actually, Pete’s in a relationship with a WONDERFUL girl that anyone would be gaga about. I have a girlcrush on her, myself!
Jolie,
I really like your quirky-ness. Have you ever tried acting? Your beauty, personality and attitude is PERFECT for some kind of sitcom or broadway show. You shouldn’t be studying to learn code, instead you should be rehearsing and studying lines! Please do us a favor and go try out for a play or something! You would be AWESOME!
Sadly, I had never heard of you either until tonight at our FullSail discussion. Decided to check out your sites. Sounds like you’re a very very busy bee!! Love your background and wish you the best of luck as you continue your bright future.
Hey Jolie,
sounds like you’ve been through a tough time (understatement). I think that the way you have managed to not just cope but to improve your circumstances is truly inspirational (sounds lame but is genuine sentiment!). You must have a great family and friends (and amazing will-power!)! Also, I don’t think I have ever seen anyone open up quite like this on the net before. This is what the net needs, the knocking down of emotional barriers!
Hope you’re getting on well with your OOP. I cannot get on with Java or C# (way too wordy), Python was the only way I could get into programming (very much a hobby not a dev). I’m well jealous you’ve got a part-time computer science course. They are all full-time where I live and the Uni I work for has Tim Berners-Lee on staff, how cool is that!!! I should have done my degree in CS rather than Anthropology! Never mind, I’ll have to make do with being a lowly techie for now
Anyway, didn’t feel as though I could pass through without congratulating you and rambling. If you ever want to natter with a random stranger about social science, python or whatever takes your fancy, mail me. Matt
Hi Jolie,
have to tell you that here in Rome, Italy we love your way of writing. Hope to receive something by you soon for our web-magazines (you can find them on my profile of Linkedin).
Cheers!
lol…I enjoyed your routine…way to kick it to your day….kick some major butt and get things done…I have a more unhealthy way of getting through my day as I am into tech and journalism myself by the way of doing it via videos on youtube and retweeting and copying and pasting my day a way following all the cool people on twitter, mashable, techcrunch, and others…kudos on being Freshly Pressed. whoop whoop
Love reading about what you have to say-
Ah.. you’ve got that beautiful voice on Twit
.
Great episode!
Love it when you sass Uncle Leo. He needs more sassing.
Hey Jolie
I really like your blog you’ve got going here. you are a very interesting person, Journalist and Programmer I like it. I am a Musician and Programmer and if it wasn’t for you I would have never have discovered Pluralsight (also you are on the Main Page of Their site aren’t you?) so I subscribed to your Youtube and your twitter
I currently learn C# and Website design stuff and pretty much any thing that’s to do with programming I will learn. You seem to be very successful in you journeys and stuff and I would very much like to help out with some stuff 
I love this site it’s awesome!
Hey Jolie, love your work! Enjoy how you mix art and tech. Saw you on Twit yesterday and were the only one with a PC, defending its honor;) Dont get me wrong I love my things that are apple, but its good to be multifunctional, and can hack around with all the tech we use. Hell, even John C had a MacBook! I remember when he used to talk mad scrogs against the fruit and its followers! Too Funny. anyway, keep it surreal.
Hey, I stumbled upon your blog and happened to read your post on sobriety (congratulations, by the way). I just wanted to say how awesome it was to read what you shared. I’m about to have my six months and feeling great about it. Thank you for sharing hope. Best of luck!