State of the American News Media: Not So Good Posted
by Bob at 03/12/07 01:39 PM
The good folks at the Project for Excellence in Journalism are out with their latest "State of the American News Media" report and it's a pretty gloomy document.
Among the findings in the 700-page report:
For the first time in years, every sector of television news lost audience in 2006.
Newspapers faced more downbeat financial assessements, despite garnering a larger audience than ever for their content via online platforms.
Shifting economic fundamentals are spurring mainstream news organizations to try to build audience around "franchise" area of coverage, specialties, and "crusades."
This is the fourth annual "State of the American News Media" report and the authors say some definite trends are emerging.
"Trends that we have been tracking now for four years are reaching a pivot point," says Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism. "Only one media sector, the ethnic press, is still growing, and every measurement for audience -- even page views and visitors -- is now being questioned. Things are now moving faster than companies can even recognize. Mainstream news media are adapting, in part, by focusing on specialties. In a sense, every outlet is becoming more a niche player with reduced ambitions."
The report says there are growing questions about whether the dominant ownership model of the last generation, the public corporation, is suited to the transitions newsroom are now making. Private markets now appear to value media properties more highly that Wall Street does.
"What is unknown is whether these potential new private owners are motivated by public interest, a vision of growth online, having a high profile hobby (like a sports team), or as an investment to be flipped for profit after aggressive cost-cutting. Public ownership tends to make companies play by the same rules. Private ownership has few leveling influences."
Call us cynical, but we are pretty darn sure these potential new private owners are getting into it strictly for the money. And while we have nothing against making a buck, we suspect we are not heading into a new golden age for journalism.
comments
(2)
1
Posted by Serena Larson at 03/29/07 01:56 PM
I believe the national media today is biased towards almost anything liberial and condesending
towards conservatives and/or christianity at best.
That doesn't make me happy. Nor an I happy with
how fast the media is quick to jump on anything
negative about the war or our military and dosen't seem to want to print anything positive. TV media is much the same. Infurating!
2
Posted by James at 04/10/07 05:17 PM
I no longer rely on the American media for my news.
Private does imply ownership. There is sensorship as to what can be said or not said. Just look at what Rosie O'Donnel said. This sent a shiver throughout the country. Why?
This is definetely the most covered up news story in our history. People are dying just talking about it.
Why?
There is money to be made.
The media IS employed by some powerful people.
Where does our money come from?
Our savior, the federal reserve. Are they outsourcing our jobs and contolling our existence.
Are they a government agency?
NO!
