Although only four people commented on the last post, I am going to continue with what appears as a not so local issue, but will alter TV news as we know it on a local level. In the interest of full disclosure I saw this on lostremote.com. I know a couple of the readers always say that the site is against broadcast TV and only cares about online issues. I think no matter how you feel, people have to be somewhat open for discussion on how TV news is evolving. An article in the Miami Herald, features one show which may provide us a glimpse of where TV news is headed. The article features a show on CNN from 2PM until 3PM weekdays, hosted by Rick Sanchez. It is high paced and many issues are discussed in the hour. The show is interactive by having an open dialogue with viewers and the host through social networking sites: Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace. The show is viewed as a success, certainly by the network, because ratings for that hour have increased 25 percent, since it began. Its this ratings success which worries me. Will shows like this become mainstream and eventually replace Today's newscasts as we know it? Also it would be cheaper production wise because you would need less reporters and production people. They could be replaced with a talking head who scans his or her social networking sites. Some may say a show mixed with Facebook and Twitter livens up a show. However, as I wrote in the last post I think it opens the media up for criticism if information, not so accurate, gets out all in the name of interactivity or citizen journalism.
In the Miami Herald article, John Klein, the head of CNN America is quoted as saying, "The speed of life has increased steadily for decades. We've gone from the network TV news cycle, delivering stories once a day at 6:30, to the cable news cycle, 24 hours a day, to the Internet news cycle, nearly instantaneous, to the blog news cycle, where it doesn't even have to be news, just whispers or rumor. Now we've reached Twitter, which is life beat-by-beat: I'm picking up the phone, I'm on the phone, I'm opening a Coke. That's the speed of Rick's show." I know the business is evolving and some (such as Sanchez) may call me a dinosaur, but I question if this really is good for informing the public. -Hal
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5 comments:
The vast majority of people are ignorant of what is going on around them. You really want to give them the power to spread information. An example are news "stories" and blogs that say Obama is a Muslim. The reason we do what we do is to inform people and by that very definition we are more informed than others. It may sound un-PC but it's the truth.
Everyone always talks about how technology is so great, helps our society advance.
In many cases though, technology means job loss and diluted quality.
That's exactly what has happened in television news.
In my opinion, that Sanchez broadcast is such a joke. I'm sure the execs love it though, because it saves them money. No reporters, etc. Saving money has become the top priortity.
Apologies for OT, but anyone notice Gray TV is selling for 86 cents a share????
This is really terrible. News Organizations that are accountable and play by the rules are going out of business, while the lawless and totally unaccountable Internet grabs a bigger and bigger piece of the pie.
I agree with a prevois post: Overall, technology has HURT the news comsumer. There are great aspects of technology, but overall its has HURT the consumer
Its been awhile since you not only commented on a real local TV news topic, but also personalities. I was thinking today that the various stations have added some new talent and I am curious of your breakdown of them.
Let's not start this one again...
The personalities topic will turn into a flame war instantly.
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