Comments on: State of the Media or How Journalism ‘Lost its Guts’ http://netzoo.net/state-of-the-media-or-how-journalism-lost-its-guts/ musings on new media, social web, culture, tech from a Cubs fan in Los Angeles Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:25:49 -0800 hourly 1 By: Andy Sternberg http://netzoo.net/state-of-the-media-or-how-journalism-lost-its-guts/comment-page-1/#comment-24360 Andy Sternberg Wed, 14 Mar 2007 06:44:45 +0000 http://netzoo.net/state-of-the-media-or-how-journalism-lost-its-guts/#comment-24360 Steve, wow, thanks for visiting. Two years ago I committed to getting a Master's in Journalism because I was so taken aback and bewildered by the general confusion, skepticism and lack of direction in media (OK, yeah, and shocked that somehow the public wasn't properly hipped to the shady dealings of this administration and re-elected it). Sooner or later, Americans are gonna figure out that most democracies in the world do not have corporate-sponsored newscasts. Possibly as soon as we realize that it doesn't matter whether our news has the #1 Doppler or no Doppler at all (I'm in LA.... where's my nightly seismograph?) Personally, I think the majority of execs -- weened on the "me" 80's and thriving on the what-did-i-do-to-deserve this late 90's are caught in a mindfuck. No matter how often the LA Times says its going 24/7 or Web-first... the mindset hasn't changed. I need to see the latest headlines before their 9:30 meeting ends; and what with sports stories stuck at halftime through the night. It's not a matter of investment. They've just gotta believe (and hire well). Bottom line: If the printing press was among the greatest inventions since the wheel.... why lose faith? The wheel was around loooonnnggg before there were cars. Not to mention, TribCo's doing a hell of a lot better than Ford these days. Steve, wow, thanks for visiting. Two years ago I committed to getting a Master’s in Journalism because I was so taken aback and bewildered by the general confusion, skepticism and lack of direction in media (OK, yeah, and shocked that somehow the public wasn’t properly hipped to the shady dealings of this administration and re-elected it).

Sooner or later, Americans are gonna figure out that most democracies in the world do not have corporate-sponsored newscasts. Possibly as soon as we realize that it doesn’t matter whether our news has the #1 Doppler or no Doppler at all (I’m in LA…. where’s my nightly seismograph?)

Personally, I think the majority of execs — weened on the “me” 80’s and thriving on the what-did-i-do-to-deserve this late 90’s are caught in a mindfuck. No matter how often the LA Times says its going 24/7 or Web-first… the mindset hasn’t changed. I need to see the latest headlines before their 9:30 meeting ends; and what with sports stories stuck at halftime through the night. It’s not a matter of investment. They’ve just gotta believe (and hire well).

Bottom line:

If the printing press was among the greatest inventions since the wheel…. why lose faith? The wheel was around loooonnnggg before there were cars. Not to mention, TribCo’s doing a hell of a lot better than Ford these days.

]]> By: Steve Safran http://netzoo.net/state-of-the-media-or-how-journalism-lost-its-guts/comment-page-1/#comment-24354 Steve Safran Wed, 14 Mar 2007 05:32:37 +0000 http://netzoo.net/state-of-the-media-or-how-journalism-lost-its-guts/#comment-24354 Thanks for the shoutout. I agree, the "limited ambition" wording could be more clear. But here's my interpretation: stations still look at the web as a necessary evil. They reluctantly have a website, but few have a web business. They have a brand-extension site, but nobody wants to innovate. So, there's no investing going on for the web. At the same time, there is a lot of "woe is me"-ing going on. Why won't people watch us? We're the #1 Doppler! Local TV is now truly trapped in magic thinking. The limited ambition comes when you do something because you have to, not because you want to and you're passionate about doing so. As for "diminished capacity" - I don't but it. There is plenty of money spent in newsrooms. What they need to do - now - is reallocate resources and become 24/7 news and information operations instead of 1/2 hour news sausage factories. The funny thing is that nobody really doubts this anymore. It's that - as is the classic dilemma of local news - nobody wants to be different. That's how I read it. You? Thanks for the shoutout. I agree, the “limited ambition” wording could be more clear.

But here’s my interpretation: stations still look at the web as a necessary evil. They reluctantly have a website, but few have a web business. They have a brand-extension site, but nobody wants to innovate.

So, there’s no investing going on for the web.

At the same time, there is a lot of “woe is me”-ing going on. Why won’t people watch us? We’re the #1 Doppler! Local TV is now truly trapped in magic thinking.

The limited ambition comes when you do something because you have to, not because you want to and you’re passionate about doing so. As for “diminished capacity” – I don’t but it. There is plenty of money spent in newsrooms. What they need to do – now – is reallocate resources and become 24/7 news and information operations instead of 1/2 hour news sausage factories.

The funny thing is that nobody really doubts this anymore. It’s that – as is the classic dilemma of local news – nobody wants to be different.

That’s how I read it. You?

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