There seem to be no shortage of news of Apple these days. Every few weeks or less, the guys from Cupertino seem to announce one  radical reality-altering-gadget or, in the least, be in the process of redefining the future of music, TV, books, film, or just about every other information-based industry. Well, this week, the company’s founder and CEO Steve Jobs, managed to top all of that by participating in an open-email exchange with a journalist, which one could hope, could set an example for others to follow, and change the concept of “openness and transparency” these days.

Rare is the CEO (or government official) who answers their own emails, much less get into a no-holds barred discussion with an aggressive interrogator that questions his motivations, and values; but that is exactly what Jobs did.

Jobs went “mano-a-mano” on a series of emails with a Journalist (Ryan Tate,  a writer affiliated with Gizmodo made recently famous for  their unveiling of a prototype of the next iPhone), and sparks enzued. Jobs and Tate went at it with gusto on an exchange of ideas that covered a number of subjects including the company’s strict control over it’s development platform, porn, and the future of technology.

The mails, which can be read on its entirety here,  are a fun read and fascinating in itself. But what makes it all the more special is that, living in an era of unfulfilled promises of openness and transparency from politicians and business officials of all stripes, Jobs walks the walk, and reminds us that transparency means indeed speaking frankly and directly, and that, once again reminds us of why the Apple CEO (huge ego and all) continues to be perceived as a master of innovation, and the most admired entrepreneur today.

Words to live by.

Related articles:

• Steve Jobs Lectures Us on ‘Freedom From Porn’ (Ryan Tate/Gawker) (techmeme.com)
• Steve Jobs: “What have you done that’s so great?” (macstories.net)
• If… You Could Send an Email to a CEO, Who Would It Be? (caregiving.com)