The Changing Face Of News

from the down-here-in-the-muck dept

Remember all those people complaining about big media consolidation, and how all those big media companies control what people think? It seems those people forgot that we have many more media choices than ever before. Just a couple weeks ago, even CNN (owned by big media) admitted that people were going elsewhere for their news - because broadcast media just didn't cut it any more. Now, here's an editorial basically saying the same thing: big media isn't giving consumers what they want, and those consumers are going elsewhere - and aren't necessarily going to return. Of course, this brings up a fine-line issue, because he basically says that people want rumors and gore. However, if (as some major media players said) the response from major media is to tell people "you can just get that on the internet," they will - and they might wonder why they need major media at all. Of course, this result should be the most frightening for everyone. Major media does serve a purpose. The reporting they do is often useful and insightful - much more so than lots of independent sources. But, those major media players need to learn that the news world now includes both types of sources, and they need to figure out how to work with them. The editorial linked here suggests that news sources can become "the ratifiers of the news" rather than "the gatekeepers of the news" - taking all the "muck" that flows on independent sites and blogs and adding both context and factual reporting to back it up. Of course, that would require a shift in mindset. Most news organizations still hate to admit that there exists any other news organzations in the world and that (oh my!) some of their viewers/readers might actually use them as well. Update: Ah, well, as someone pointed out in the comments, it looks like the site that published this story doesn't get it either. They've set up their page in quite an annoying way. Clicking on the "print this" link gives you a new page for no reason. Also, the URL is likely going to break shortly, as it's not story or date specific - and most of their articles move behind a paid wall. I thought this was all about giving users what they wanted or watching them go elsewhere. Guess it's time to go elsewhere.
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  • identicon
    Gary, 21 May 2004 @ 12:50pm

    big media

    There hasnt been a good newscast since Cronkite left as anchor.

    Teasers and fluff are not enough. When Madonna going back on tour is a key piece of the network news you know its worthless. News be just that. Not publicity stunts, We dont need to be told at every commerial break that weather is comming up. We dont need some comic chit chat between anchors (mainly local news). Tell us the news. Local stations do local news, nation stations to national/international news. WHY IN THE WORLD does our local news program need to show a car chase from california.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Chomper, 21 May 2004 @ 1:32pm

      Re: big media

      Media in general blows now, not just news, but movies, music, films and etc. There is just so much crap out there, it's amazing that we remember what the good stuff was in the first place.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    DV Henkel-Wallace, 21 May 2004 @ 2:41pm

    That site "doesn't get it" either.

    They have the standard "control the experience" problem (they think they know better than the user does how to present their content). For example, the "print friendly" button POPS UP A NEW WINDOW! I hate that.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike (profile), 21 May 2004 @ 2:47pm

      Re: That site

      Actually, you're right... their site also uses breakable URLs and puts everything behind a pay wall.

      Whoops. Time to update the post.

      link to this | view in chronology ]


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