Disguised as an article in the New Yorker, Eric Alterman presents an insightful obituary of the American newspaper. Premature by 30 years or so according to one author sited in Alterman’s article who predicts the last newspaper will be delivered in 2043.
The bottom line is that the newspaper is dying. The Internet is taking the industry by storm. The business model doesn’t work. Profit margins aren’t what they used to be. These issues, along with many more, come to mind and at the same time there are other underlying problems that we might not see the repercussions until later down the road.
I don’t think that newspapers are doomed. The blogosphere is growing by the second. The idea that anyone can chime in at anytime from the comfort of wherever they please upholds the idea of the First Amendment.
Essentially the Internet has democratized news discussion – which is a good thing. There is a difference between news discussion and news gathering. It’s simple enough for people to sit, read something, and write what they feel and think about it. More discourse is a good thing. But that still leaves an important job for journalists. We’ve got to give them something to read and think about.
In Out of Print, Arianna Huffington said that “traditional media just need to realize the online world isn’t the enemy…it’s the thing that will save them, if they fully embrace it.” I agree. News media need to invest in developing a business model style sheet. In a free market society there is money to be made. It's not an easy task...if it were I probably wouldn't be sitting here right now.
The quality of what they have to sit and read and think about is another discussion. Because profits aren’t ideal news organizations are cutting back – big time. It takes money to gather the news and produce a product attractive to advertisers who think it will be attractive to their target audience.
Alterman’s evidence and discussion of democracy toward the end of his article was detailed and substantive, one thing he didn’t really dive into was the broadcast side of the mainstream media.
I just got back from National Association of Broadcasters annual convention in Las Vegas. NAB President and CEO David K. Rehr delivered the keynote address and within the first 2 minutes came right out and said “our model is broken.” He said it’s broken because of technology like the iPod, smart cell phones and YouTube. YouTube’s tagline is broadcast yourself and broadcast is our business. That point was something that I’ve seen multiple times as a user of YouTube myself…but never really thought about it like that.
The “Digital Door” opened…a while ago. Every television station has to walk through it on February 17, 2009 when analog signal is cut off and the only thing out there is a digital one. It’s as if the news controllers are not in the position to grasp the importance of throwing their stations and papers at DSL speed through that digital door.
As a student, news consumer and potential professional I have to run through that door myself. I need to learn everything that I can about changing technology, the consumer market and how to package content and substance in a way that will engage new and old viewers.
Stations and newsrooms are cutting back on their staffs and budgets. As a graduating senior, it’s scary. I was standing at the resume board in Vegas praying someone would take mine and an older gentlemen came up to me and started simple conversation. Asked if I was graduating and if I was worried about the business and finding a job. Essentially he tried to scare the heck out of me. He said the business is changing and it’s not like the good old days…you don’t know what you’re getting into. You get the point.
I told him that I was going to remain optimistic because that’s all that I could do and I had no intention of finding a new industry. I was polite but didn’t appreciate his warning as if this was the last NAB conference EVER because everything was collapsing as we were standing there.
That conversation gave me a momentary sense of panic. But I realized that yes the business is changing – clearly. But it’s not all for the bad. The profession of journalism still has an important role in news consumers and commentators daily lives. We have to adapt to their needs and find ways to give them what they need to know how they want it.
News producers and consumers converge each and every day. Viewers are playing a more important role in media coverage. People want to know what is going to improve the quality of their lives, keep them safe, and what’s going on in their community. Enter the “So what? Who Cares?” factor coined by one of my professors that I carry near and dear. Let people decide what they want to read, what they want to watch, what they care about. People still want the words, the pictures and the information… maybe just not on their doorstep.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Making Sense of Primordial Chaos
Allan Sloan addressed students and faculty and the third annual William O'Neil Lecture Series in Business Journalism.
Sloan's prompt for his speech: "Is Journalism Dead? And Should it be?" Sloan addressed some of the problems that are going on right now in the business of journalism and in business journalism. Through his rich Brooklyn accent, he told students that if he could get a job anyone could.
Sloan, a self proclaimed recovering English major, said that Journalism has a business problem. After 38 years in the business he laughingly said he used to have hair and he used to be young. Hitting the highlights of his career he reflects back telling the audience about how he wanted to be a sports writer and that's what he thought he was. He was THE business staff in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He said that there's never been more of a need for people to understand the business realm. Now, he says, the audience is on their own. If you sit down and read the numbers that might not make sense they eventually will. In doing this, you have the power to change the way people live their lives for the better. Sometimes, the lack of a story may be the story says Sloan.
Sloan offered a real life experience to credit that statement. After receiving 400 pages of information that Blackstone released he said he found himself looking through it all asking, "where's the good stuff?" He analogized this instance to an episode of "Sex and the City on regular cable minus the good stuff."
The best piece of advice that Sloan gave was that journalism isn't just about writing something, go out look at what's going on and explain it to others who wouldn't normally understand. He even simplified the explanation of what journalists do each and every day. He says that with the flood of information that the business demands a sane, rational and calm voice to translate what's going on into something that resembles English. In other words, to make sense of the primordial chaos that's going on in what we call the profession of journalism.
I couldn't agree more. There is SO much information out there. I talk to people all the time that say they just don't even know where to begin because there is so much information. People don't want to be bogged down with useless data or information that doesn't improve the quality of their lives. Sloan offered a fresh perspective. I am not a numbers person, at all. That's why I chose words. To people who aren't in the business of business the jargon and language is overwhelming. For there to be someone that can shed light on a confusing subject is incredibly helpful to readers all the while making it interesting. His charge to know simple math and learn how to read business documents makes me want to sign up for another math class.
Sloan's prompt for his speech: "Is Journalism Dead? And Should it be?" Sloan addressed some of the problems that are going on right now in the business of journalism and in business journalism. Through his rich Brooklyn accent, he told students that if he could get a job anyone could.
Sloan, a self proclaimed recovering English major, said that Journalism has a business problem. After 38 years in the business he laughingly said he used to have hair and he used to be young. Hitting the highlights of his career he reflects back telling the audience about how he wanted to be a sports writer and that's what he thought he was. He was THE business staff in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He said that there's never been more of a need for people to understand the business realm. Now, he says, the audience is on their own. If you sit down and read the numbers that might not make sense they eventually will. In doing this, you have the power to change the way people live their lives for the better. Sometimes, the lack of a story may be the story says Sloan.
Sloan offered a real life experience to credit that statement. After receiving 400 pages of information that Blackstone released he said he found himself looking through it all asking, "where's the good stuff?" He analogized this instance to an episode of "Sex and the City on regular cable minus the good stuff."
The best piece of advice that Sloan gave was that journalism isn't just about writing something, go out look at what's going on and explain it to others who wouldn't normally understand. He even simplified the explanation of what journalists do each and every day. He says that with the flood of information that the business demands a sane, rational and calm voice to translate what's going on into something that resembles English. In other words, to make sense of the primordial chaos that's going on in what we call the profession of journalism.
I couldn't agree more. There is SO much information out there. I talk to people all the time that say they just don't even know where to begin because there is so much information. People don't want to be bogged down with useless data or information that doesn't improve the quality of their lives. Sloan offered a fresh perspective. I am not a numbers person, at all. That's why I chose words. To people who aren't in the business of business the jargon and language is overwhelming. For there to be someone that can shed light on a confusing subject is incredibly helpful to readers all the while making it interesting. His charge to know simple math and learn how to read business documents makes me want to sign up for another math class.
The Straight Talk on McCain
For a candidate who has focused his campaign on 'straight' talk and rides around on the Straight Talk Express, he certainly addressed the media confidently and calmly regarded the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html?hp”>
article hit the Web.
The article alleges, among other things, that Senator McCain engaged in an affair with lobbyist Vicki Iseman. But there is so much more in the article, and as one of the 2430 comments posted on paper's Web site noted "how are people supposed to read or see anything other than that?"
I heard the press conference over XM radio in the car on the way down to Austin for the Democratic debate. Standing by to offer instant analysis was political contributor Bill Bennett. He said that in many ways John McCain should thank the New York Times because what he needs some way to unite the conservative conservatives and the moderate rights. Bennett said this could very well be the uniting factor because McCain went after the paper.
The McCain campaign was quick to respond to the article. Learning from previous candidate’s mistakes, it’s all about damage control – even if you have nothing to hide. Poliics 101: It’s better to get it out on the table and defuse any rumors that might be floating around then to let it circulate in the media. John Kerry learned this the hard way when he didn’t respond to Swift Boat Ads in 2004 and remained silent. On the McCain Web site, Campaign Manager Rick Davis blogs about how the campaign needs your help to combat the attack from the Liberal Left. How can you help? Donating money $$$$.
Check out this Times article that looks at the rest of the Senator's day after the press conference.
One CBS blog by Andante Higgins said that the McCain campaign was pleased with the response that they were receiving by the end of the first full day after the article had been published.
Meghan McCain blogs about how lucky she is and how great of a person her father is. You should really check out her blog. It's an interesting, inside look at the McCain campaign that really no one else could provide.
This blog on DAILY KOS essentially says that if you "have yourself a suit and a hankering to attack the media then you could get on T.V." This blog captures in quotation boxes some of what the blogger perceives as jabs at the media.
There is an overwhelming amount of information from both sides of the aisle out there. Most all of it is critical in some way. I personally think that this gave the McCain campaign the perfect chance to unite the party behind something that they see as "the enemy," the liberal media. Personally, when I read the article I was skeptical of the anonymous sources especially when the substance of what they were sourcing was an attack right at McCain's character and personal life. It is pretty bold to accuse someone of having a relationship outside of their marriage when you have no proof to present to your readers. I do think that the media serves a purpose and a watchdog function on the people who are putting themselves out on the line to serve as President of the United States...it just might have been nice for there to have been a little more substance to their accusations.
article hit the Web.
The article alleges, among other things, that Senator McCain engaged in an affair with lobbyist Vicki Iseman. But there is so much more in the article, and as one of the 2430 comments posted on paper's Web site noted "how are people supposed to read or see anything other than that?"
I heard the press conference over XM radio in the car on the way down to Austin for the Democratic debate. Standing by to offer instant analysis was political contributor Bill Bennett. He said that in many ways John McCain should thank the New York Times because what he needs some way to unite the conservative conservatives and the moderate rights. Bennett said this could very well be the uniting factor because McCain went after the paper.
The McCain campaign was quick to respond to the article. Learning from previous candidate’s mistakes, it’s all about damage control – even if you have nothing to hide. Poliics 101: It’s better to get it out on the table and defuse any rumors that might be floating around then to let it circulate in the media. John Kerry learned this the hard way when he didn’t respond to Swift Boat Ads in 2004 and remained silent. On the McCain Web site, Campaign Manager Rick Davis blogs about how the campaign needs your help to combat the attack from the Liberal Left. How can you help? Donating money $$$$.
Check out this Times article that looks at the rest of the Senator's day after the press conference.
One CBS blog by Andante Higgins said that the McCain campaign was pleased with the response that they were receiving by the end of the first full day after the article had been published.
Meghan McCain blogs about how lucky she is and how great of a person her father is. You should really check out her blog. It's an interesting, inside look at the McCain campaign that really no one else could provide.
This blog on DAILY KOS essentially says that if you "have yourself a suit and a hankering to attack the media then you could get on T.V." This blog captures in quotation boxes some of what the blogger perceives as jabs at the media.
There is an overwhelming amount of information from both sides of the aisle out there. Most all of it is critical in some way. I personally think that this gave the McCain campaign the perfect chance to unite the party behind something that they see as "the enemy," the liberal media. Personally, when I read the article I was skeptical of the anonymous sources especially when the substance of what they were sourcing was an attack right at McCain's character and personal life. It is pretty bold to accuse someone of having a relationship outside of their marriage when you have no proof to present to your readers. I do think that the media serves a purpose and a watchdog function on the people who are putting themselves out on the line to serve as President of the United States...it just might have been nice for there to have been a little more substance to their accusations.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
“Blog of the people, blog by the people, and blog for the people.”
Long before computers and technological advancements, President Abraham Lincoln characterized democracy as a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”
So what does this have to do with blogging?
The emergence of the “blog” provides people who wouldn’t have traditionally had a voice in society a platform to express their opinions. After reading portions of David Kline and Dan Burstein’s book blog! It became apparent to me that one thing blogs have succeeded at is democratizing information flow. According to Kline and Burnstein knowledge once held by a few has seeped into the hands of many where the lines between creator and consumer are becoming invisible.
For citizens who rely solely on blogs for information or for amateur bloggers it’s important to not throw mainstream media out or kick it to the curb. The reporters and producers serve as news gathers and disseminate information throughout the Web. This is not the case for all bloggers but typically information that is presented by the media is picked up by bloggers and from there compelling conversation starts.
Compelling conversation can stimulate, and often does, political action. From action starts the process of change. I see the result of this conversation online today. The emergence of blogging and the role of the internet became evident during the 2004 Presidential election. Howard the scream Dean launched his presidential campaign online and raised awareness, and big money, through the Web. Volunteers and supporters were able to use sites such as Meetup.com to literally meet up and promote Dean. He didn’t make it to the White House, but he was one of the candidates to see the importance of the internet and use it.
We should be thankful for the emergence of the blog. By showing your thanks, I’m not advocating that you agree with every blog or even that you have to spend hours reading blogs. Thanks should be given because of the platform the internet provides via blogs giving ordinary citizens the chance to be heard. There are concerns about citizen journalists and the ethical guidelines that non-professionals are to follow or even what they are. Am I concerned that someone could take my future job from the comfort of their own bedroom? No. I believe there is a need for journalists and that they can only benefit from browsing these blogs. The people and their stories are the news.
Media companies see the importance of the i-Report or the citizen journalist. They want feedback from news consumers on their stories because more stories come from just that, the feedback.
The more people involved in the process the better. If only voting could catch on as the blog craze has the principles of democracy would be in full swing.
So what does this have to do with blogging?
The emergence of the “blog” provides people who wouldn’t have traditionally had a voice in society a platform to express their opinions. After reading portions of David Kline and Dan Burstein’s book blog! It became apparent to me that one thing blogs have succeeded at is democratizing information flow. According to Kline and Burnstein knowledge once held by a few has seeped into the hands of many where the lines between creator and consumer are becoming invisible.
For citizens who rely solely on blogs for information or for amateur bloggers it’s important to not throw mainstream media out or kick it to the curb. The reporters and producers serve as news gathers and disseminate information throughout the Web. This is not the case for all bloggers but typically information that is presented by the media is picked up by bloggers and from there compelling conversation starts.
Compelling conversation can stimulate, and often does, political action. From action starts the process of change. I see the result of this conversation online today. The emergence of blogging and the role of the internet became evident during the 2004 Presidential election. Howard the scream Dean launched his presidential campaign online and raised awareness, and big money, through the Web. Volunteers and supporters were able to use sites such as Meetup.com to literally meet up and promote Dean. He didn’t make it to the White House, but he was one of the candidates to see the importance of the internet and use it.
We should be thankful for the emergence of the blog. By showing your thanks, I’m not advocating that you agree with every blog or even that you have to spend hours reading blogs. Thanks should be given because of the platform the internet provides via blogs giving ordinary citizens the chance to be heard. There are concerns about citizen journalists and the ethical guidelines that non-professionals are to follow or even what they are. Am I concerned that someone could take my future job from the comfort of their own bedroom? No. I believe there is a need for journalists and that they can only benefit from browsing these blogs. The people and their stories are the news.
Media companies see the importance of the i-Report or the citizen journalist. They want feedback from news consumers on their stories because more stories come from just that, the feedback.
The more people involved in the process the better. If only voting could catch on as the blog craze has the principles of democracy would be in full swing.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
B-Logging the Race
It’s been about a year. A year since politicians from both sides of the aisle tossed their hats into the race for the White House – with the exception of Fred Thompson. Journalists have literally covered every move of the major candidates. They are called the traveling press. They pack their bags and literally travel with the press to provide Americans with information about their potential President. They file stories each day for web, print and broadcast.
Not everything that journalists see out on the trail makes news. That is where bloggers comes into play. They have the ability to add color to the campaign race. Making it more about the people and the environment then who is winning today in what early state. All the major news networks have political correspondents who have blogs on their respective websites. I subscribe to MSNBC’s http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/ and CNN Political Ticker which are these two networks political blogs that provide both news and instant analysis in the form of a blog. I get anywhere from two to four – and maybe more – emails a day about what the candidates are doing. If you don’t have the time to keep up everyday these emails provide a LOT of information on the race.
I went to New Hampshire for the primary with KDFW as part of the Fox U Team. Our marching papers? To blog, blog, and blog some more. (You can check out my blog at http://community.myfoxdfw.com/blogs/FOX_SMU_Ann_Wyatt ) There were not enough hours in the day to blog about everything interesting and offbeat that you would never know about if you didn’t have the opportunity to go to New Hampshire. The beauty of blogging from New Hampshire was that my team and I could use one platform to post still photos, interviews, video, and words.
At a Chowder Fest in Windham, New Hampshire for Mike Huckabee I spoke to one woman who has called the granite state home her whole life. She has participated in the primaries for as long as she could remember, even as a little girl. I asked her what she thought the biggest change was between this season and four years ago. Her answer? Bloggers. She said that you see more and more people with laptops and PDA’s in the back of campaign events just typing away and instantly the world knows what goes on. As an undecided Independent voter she said the compressed schedule gave her less time to make up her mind.
At a forum for John Edwards two days before the polls opened Mark Norris and I walked into a middle school cafeteria to set up with the rest of the press. As we walked in there were three women passing out cookies calling them “Seabiscuits.” Why? Because Elizabeth Edwards called her husband the “Seabiscuit” of the race. Hollywood ending for Edwards in New Hampshire? No. I had not seen this done at any other event and there was something unique and yet desperate about it.
In what critics refer to as the "horserace" coverage that journalists are producing it might not be such a bad idea to have these political blogs or logs to keep taps on all of the potential Seabiscuits of the race.
Not everything that journalists see out on the trail makes news. That is where bloggers comes into play. They have the ability to add color to the campaign race. Making it more about the people and the environment then who is winning today in what early state. All the major news networks have political correspondents who have blogs on their respective websites. I subscribe to MSNBC’s http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/ and CNN Political Ticker which are these two networks political blogs that provide both news and instant analysis in the form of a blog. I get anywhere from two to four – and maybe more – emails a day about what the candidates are doing. If you don’t have the time to keep up everyday these emails provide a LOT of information on the race.
I went to New Hampshire for the primary with KDFW as part of the Fox U Team. Our marching papers? To blog, blog, and blog some more. (You can check out my blog at http://community.myfoxdfw.com/blogs/FOX_SMU_Ann_Wyatt ) There were not enough hours in the day to blog about everything interesting and offbeat that you would never know about if you didn’t have the opportunity to go to New Hampshire. The beauty of blogging from New Hampshire was that my team and I could use one platform to post still photos, interviews, video, and words.
At a Chowder Fest in Windham, New Hampshire for Mike Huckabee I spoke to one woman who has called the granite state home her whole life. She has participated in the primaries for as long as she could remember, even as a little girl. I asked her what she thought the biggest change was between this season and four years ago. Her answer? Bloggers. She said that you see more and more people with laptops and PDA’s in the back of campaign events just typing away and instantly the world knows what goes on. As an undecided Independent voter she said the compressed schedule gave her less time to make up her mind.
At a forum for John Edwards two days before the polls opened Mark Norris and I walked into a middle school cafeteria to set up with the rest of the press. As we walked in there were three women passing out cookies calling them “Seabiscuits.” Why? Because Elizabeth Edwards called her husband the “Seabiscuit” of the race. Hollywood ending for Edwards in New Hampshire? No. I had not seen this done at any other event and there was something unique and yet desperate about it.
In what critics refer to as the "horserace" coverage that journalists are producing it might not be such a bad idea to have these political blogs or logs to keep taps on all of the potential Seabiscuits of the race.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
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