The State of Local Television Newsrooms

I found two pieces that address the topic of television newsrooms. The first piece focuses on local television newsroom budgets. It explains that money in local television newsroom is being spent on technology for the coming switch to digital broadcasting. That expenditure is coming at the cost of people for newsgathering. It also talks about the possibility that digital broadcasting can give station more opportunity to air news programs. I am skeptical that we will see any more news that we see now, we will just get rerun of earlier broadcasts. That can be found at the following link:

http://www.stateofthenewsmedia.org/2008/narrative_localtv_newsinvestment.php?cat=4&media=8

The other piece was more about national news shows, specifically CNN, and how profit has affected the newsroom.

http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/05-1NRspring/88-90V59N1.pdf

 

Questions for Mr. Shelby:

1. Are local newsrooms regarded by management (at the corporate level) as having a responsibility to public service? To clarify, do the corporate owners of local newsrooms view the newsrooms as still needing to adhere to the idea that new media should inform and educate the public to be fully engaged citizens in our society, or do they view the news rooms as tools to increase the bottom line?
   
2. Is it true that most of the current investment in local television newsrooms is for new technology revolving around the switch to digital broadcasting? How will it affect the news gathering ability if only technology is upgraded, and people are not?
   
3. Since digital broadcasting opens more broadcasting "space", will we see an increase in local newsrooms, or in increase in reruns?
   
4. Will we continue to see increases in coverage of things like American Idol, and decreases in actual news?
   

 

 

Bill Moyers on Media Reform: "Democracy Only Works When Ordinary People Claim It as Their Own"

From the National Conference Media Reform June 2008...
and Bill Moyers:

"So it is that democracy without honest information creates the illusion of popular consent while enhancing the power of the state and the privileged interests protected by it. Democracy without accountability creates the illusion of popular control while offering ordinary Americans only cheap tickets to the balcony, too far away to see that the public stage has become just a reality TV set. Nothing more characterizes corporate media today, mainstream and partisan, than disdain toward the fragile nature of modern life and indifference toward the complex social debate required of a free and self-governing people."

DEMOCRACY NOW web site story

NY TIMES still doesn't get it... it's not commentary you idiot, it's reporting!

“As journalists, and certainly for me over the last few years, we’ve gotten overly obsessed with parity, especially when we’re covering politics,” Ms. Brown said. “We kept making sure each candidate got equal time — to the point that it got ridiculous in a way.”

“So when you have Candidate A saying the sky is blue, and Candidate B saying it’s a cloudy day, I look outside and I see, well, it’s a cloudy day,” she said. “I should be able to tell my viewers, ‘Candidate A is wrong, Candidate B is right.’ And not have to say, ‘Well, you decide.’ Then it would be like I’m an idiot. And I’d be treating the audience like idiots.”

NY TIMES — Weighing In: An Anchor Tacks Toward Commentary

Above is a quote from the story in Saturday, Oct. 3, 2008 New York times Television Section on Campbell Brown's new approach to journalism on her program on CNN...

So, is the approach that Campbell Brown is now taking commentary or journalism? What is it when a journalistic reports a conclusion based on their reporting?

"CNN, after all, has sought to build a brand for its journalism by positioning itself as objective, which would seem hard to reconcile with Ms. Brown’s increasingly expressing opinions of her own."

Is CNN acquiescing to Ms. Brown because of ratings or do they believe that the role of journalism is for reporters to be active in their reporting and to report what they find. To say, no, that's wrong.

Commentary or journalism? We report, you decide.

Bill Moyers - Media and Democracy 2007

Remarks at National Conference Media Reform 2007.
Moyer's take on Wednesday night's class discussion topic.

Polical Events Today (Thursday)

I thought I'd just post a rundown of the political events for this evening, just in case anyone is interested.

Chicago 10 - Walker Art Center
Time: 7:00 p.m. FREE
Place: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

"Anyone who calls us the Chicago Seven is a racist..." - Jerry Rubin

At the 1968 Democratic Convention, the Chicago Police Department violently clashed with protesters and the resulting riots were witnessed live by a television audience of more than 50 million. Eight protesters were charged with conspiracy. Chicago 10 explores the buildup to and unraveling of their trial. Filmmaker Brett Morgen (The Kid Stays in the Picture, On the Ropes) amassed 180 hours of 16mm film, 40 hours of video, 14,000 photographs, 200+ hours of audio, 23,000 pages of court transcripts—and commingled it all with motion-capture animation to craft this work of experimental cinema—a parable of hope with connections to current events. 2007, 35mm, 110 minutes.

Following the screening, join Morgen and documentary filmmaker Matt Ehling (Urban
Warrior, Security and the Constitution) for a discussion about their practices in media and their commitment to staying true to a story. Moderated by University of Minnesota media and ethics scholar Jane Kirtley.

Support provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Vice Presidential Debate

The DFL (specifically the 62nd Senate District DFL) is hosting a viewing "party" at the Riverview Theater http://www.riverviewtheater.com/show/show/1112

Or watch with the folks at MinnPost at Trocaderos:
On large-screen TV at Trocaderos in the 3rd floor boardroom

107 Third Ave N, Minneapolis Warehouse District
Free admission/Free snacks/Cash bar
Pre- and post-debate discussion hosted by writers and editors

Please RSVP 3 days before each event to Gin at 612 455-6950 or vkujawa@minnpost.com
http://www.minnpost.com/about/debates/
Open to MinnPost members only. New members welcome too — Join online or at the door!

Or go see Keith Ellison and Brother Ali at Coffman Union Great Hall
Doors: 6pm Music: 8Pm
http://www.myspace.com/studentsforkeith

Now, how can I be at more than one place at a time?

In regards to yesterdays class discussion

This is a commentary/opinion on Sarah Palin's Joe-Six-Pack remarks contributed by Bob Cesca that seems to support Lippman's views.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/sarah-six-pack-needs-to-p_b_130977.html

I thought it was particularly timely considering our discussion last night. It's an entertaining read, if nothing else.

NPR Story about Credit Freeze

The Week America's Economy Almost Died by Adam Davidson and Alex Blumberg
This is the story I referenced tonight in class. It originally aired on All Things Considered late last week. This is some of the most thorough, straight-forward, not-just-for-economists reporting about the financial crisis that I have come across. Alex Blumberg is a producer for the This American Life, which is easily the best show on radio, IMHO.