Copyright (c) 2009 Karen Friedman Enterprises, Inc.
As a former TV news reporter and anchor, I often wonder whether TV news still matters. My first thought is usually "Of course it does." However, perhaps a better question in this age of social media is "Does TV news matter as much as it once did?" Research suggests it does not.
According to data from Nielsen Media Research, viewership on the three evening network news programs has steadily declined over the past 25 years, falling by more than 1 million viewers each year— translating into millions of dollars in lost annual revenue. The 2009 Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism's State of the news Media annual report says that local news staffs, already too small to adequately cover their communities, are being cut at unprecedented rates. As a result, this caused local revenues to fall by a surprising 7 percent in an election year—and ratings continue to drop. Only cable news is flourishing. As previous Pew annual reports have shown, new media — including the Internet, blogs, podcasts and video sharing — is rapidly becoming mainstream media. Pew cited one survey stating that the number of Americans who say they found "most of their national and international news" online increased 67 percent in the past four years.
While the growth in online news consumption cut across all age groups, it was fueled by young people. It appears that the limitations of three main channels and a dinner-hour time slot are to blame. Even an unofficial survey that I conducted of my college-bound son's friends with short attention spans revealed that if they want news, they'd rather obtain it online, without commercials and with the ability to move on when they lose interest. Rick Williams, executive producer at WPVI-ABC TV in Philadelphia, agrees. Williams says that because younger viewers get most of their information from the Web, it is critical to cross-promote news between the TV and Web platforms. That means streaming news events live and carrying breaking stories on the station Web site so that viewers don't have to wait until the evening broadcasts. To do this, many stations have hired producers who do nothing but create Web content, update stories online, produce video for Web sites and create breaking-news alerts that are sent to subscribers' cell phones and e-mail. As a result, Williams says that WPVI is probably in better shape than most stations because it has focused attention on viewer habits, and also maintained a loyal audience who has followed the same anchor for more than 30 years. "Our ratings are still strong, but clearly not as strong as back in the day," says Williams. "Overall TV viewing is down, especially given you can now watch what you want to watch when you want to watch it." He says that many stations "have all but turned out the lights in their newsrooms and have laid off scads of people" because they can share video and use more canned pieces from other content providers. However, he stresses that TV news, especially local news, is still relevant for many stations around the country, especially regarding weather reporting. Williams says that even though you can click on many Web sites for a quick update, local weather reports remain big drivers for TV news viewers.
Additionally, as lifestyles change and people start their days earlier, morning news programs are also growing. About 40 years ago, viewers only had three channels to choose from. As cable grew, more channels were offered. As the Internet exploded, more videos started popping up on the Web, generating millions of hits and prompting creators to improve quality. Combine this explosion with "friending" on Facebook, "tweeting" on Twitter, blogging, podcasts and "linking" to one another on LinkedIn, and it's easy to understand why TV news is no longer the gold standard for delivering and receiving information. TV stations are now having the same experience as newsrooms: award-winning journalists and broadcast executives are fleeing TV stations to begin alternative news sites that provide investigative reporting, tap freelance journalists for content and offer long, in-depth pieces that are tough to find in today's revenue-challenged TV newsrooms.
Media and political consultant Larry Ceisler says that the financial pressure on local news is forcing those operations to air more voiceovers and use fewer reporters. "The fact that reporters are younger and less experienced in their markets is a detriment." Ceisler says because money is tight, many newsrooms can't afford to hire experienced reporter and producer staffs who are familiar with the market where they work. Ceisler adds that the quality of reporting has diminished, and he believes that the days when local TV was a PR expert's most important task is over. "It is always good for the client, when they have an event, to see cameras," he says, "but cameras are becoming more like props for clients. Bottom line, TV just does not have the impact it once did." While this may be true, other
PR professionals believe that TV is a convenient and effortless way to stay on top of what's happening in the world, especially for older people who are not as computer savvy. "When you consider that more people [use] TVs than computers to access news online, [then] the role and continued value of TV news becomes more apparent," says Lori Neuman, communications manager for NRG Energy. She adds that TV news speaks to and reaches all audiences. It's still an important vehicle to get your message out, Neuman says.
Former major market television news reporter turned media and crisis consultant Rick Amme believes TV news is actually more relevant than it's ever been and credits You Tube, the popular video sharing website frequented by users from around the world who upload and share video clips. Amme cites a Fortune 100 client who just a few years ago told him she was much more concerned about print media because it could be replicated and circulated much more easily than broadcast media. In Amme's opinion, You Tube has changed that entirely. "tv news has now become potential source material for good or bad news and the viral videos can have a more powerful visceral impact on many different audiences."
As for my own opinion following two decades as a television news reporter and anchor, I also believe TV news, especially local news, will remain relevant to people who want to know what's happening in their own backyard. Despite the steady decline of viewers, Pew also reports approximately two-thirds of Americans say they still get their news from their local television stations. Although newsrooms across the country are cutting salaries, staff and merging operations to cut costs, many continue adding additional newscasts in an effort to remain profitable as news programming can account for nearly half of a station's overall revenue.
Like any good product, TV news must strive to remain relevant by continuing to beef up web presence and attract younger viewers. But I also believe TV news must consistently differentiate itself by doing what it does best which is broadcasting world events and Live breaking news in a way that only television cameras can capture.
Chopped
Several alert readers are reporting a bloodbath at KPTM, where the station's new owners have allegedly decided to fire most, if not all, local news personnel and fill existing news slots with simulcasts from Davenport, Iowa. The changes are said to be scheduled for September.
This is a shame, both for the individuals being terminated and for local viewers. After years of mismanagement, things at
This is a shame, both for the individuals being terminated and for local viewers. After years of mismanagement, things at
Again
Well, it appears that Channel 7 just couldn't resist giving outgoing anchor Julie Cornell the PP treatment.Longtime Omaha news sufferers are likely to have flashbacks to the nightmare that was WOWT's days-long goodbye to anchor Pat Persaud in 2005. The primary difference between Cornell's exit and Queen Pat's is that WOWT shamelessly milked Persaud's swan-song, running promos around the clock and
Islamic Center Backers Won't Rule Out Taking Funds from Saudi Arabia, Iran
'Ground Zero Mosque' Developers in Talks With NY Gov. Paterson
By RUSSELL GOLDMAN
The developers behind the Islamic center planned for a site near Ground Zero won't rule out accepting financing from the Mideast -- including from Saudi Arabia and Iran -- as they begin searching for $100 million needed to build the project.
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie says the president is playing "political football."
The religious organization and the development company behind the center declined to say how much of the $100 million needed to build the facility has already been raised.
"We are in the planning stages," said Oz Sultan, spokesman for the center now called Park51. "We have just started the process of fundraising planning."
Sultan said it would take three to six months to establish a plan on how to raise the needed capital. He said any fundraising campaign would begin domestically, but he would not comment on whether it would extend overseas or to foreign governments.
By RUSSELL GOLDMAN
The developers behind the Islamic center planned for a site near Ground Zero won't rule out accepting financing from the Mideast -- including from Saudi Arabia and Iran -- as they begin searching for $100 million needed to build the project.
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie says the president is playing "political football."
The religious organization and the development company behind the center declined to say how much of the $100 million needed to build the facility has already been raised.
"We are in the planning stages," said Oz Sultan, spokesman for the center now called Park51. "We have just started the process of fundraising planning."
Sultan said it would take three to six months to establish a plan on how to raise the needed capital. He said any fundraising campaign would begin domestically, but he would not comment on whether it would extend overseas or to foreign governments.
Filly
SuxNews is milking the hell out of the fact that Ejacuweather meteorologist Andrea Rich ran in Monday's Boston Marathon.
[Insert your own thoroughbred joke here.]
[Insert your own thoroughbred joke here.]
Wednesday Morning Quarterbacking
• For all the hype WOWT put into the CONTINUOUS TICKER it promised for election night, they might have considered making the words visible to the naked eye.• KETV buried inept reporter/anchor Fubar Fazal about as deeply as it could without taking her off the air entirely during Tuesday night's coverage. Fubar was sent out to cover those opposed to Initiative 423. Technical difficulties prevented
Premature Evacuation
As reported in Sean Weide's Reader column last week, KPTM reporter Cliff Judy has bailed out of the station after less than three months on the job. What would lure him away? Apparently the bright lights of Wichita. He's not much of a reporter yet (he's only been out of college since May), but give the guy credit for having the sense to get out of 42 before he even had all his boxes unpacked.
Controversy
Tribune Company executive Randy Michaels is under fire from TV news types after a news director in Chicago passed along Michaels' list of phrases he no longer wants to hear on Tribune-owned stations.
The list (below) was disseminated by WGN's Charlie Meyerson to his Chicago underlings, and the blowback on assorted media blogs has been colorful, to say the least.
Critics are right to suggest
The list (below) was disseminated by WGN's Charlie Meyerson to his Chicago underlings, and the blowback on assorted media blogs has been colorful, to say the least.
Critics are right to suggest
KETV, KXVO Prepare to Unveil New Programs
Sean Weide's column in this week's Reader is brimming with TV info, especially regarding the impending launches of news programming in Channels 7 and 15. Highlights:• According to Weide, KXVO's "10 O'Clock News" will debut, as scheduled, next Monday. As mentioned several times here, the program will be anchored by KPTM's Calvert Collins; Weide adds that Jo Giles, another KPTM-er will anchor on
News
Breaking stories on this morning's SuxNews Daybreak program:
Maltard Maddox's hair is back to normal and, according to Maltard, she doesn't want to "spind twinny becks" to see Hawt Teb Time Machine.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Thiedlecki reports hearing that Hot Tub is about as funny as The Hangover.
No wonder folks in the Heartland turn to SuxNews.
Maltard Maddox's hair is back to normal and, according to Maltard, she doesn't want to "spind twinny becks" to see Hawt Teb Time Machine.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Thiedlecki reports hearing that Hot Tub is about as funny as The Hangover.
No wonder folks in the Heartland turn to SuxNews.
Revelation
This week's "High School Cribs" segment, featuring SuxNews morning bimbo Mal-Tard Maddox, showcased Papillion-LaVista High School, where Mal-Tard was excited to find Spanish classes and the same "ro-BAW-tics" classes that so amazed her when she visited "BIN-sun" High School a month or two ago.Putting Mal-Tard on this series makes perfect sense: stories about high schools being delivered by
Dimwits
What a sad group of misfits, creepers, and pandering politicians. Local idiots staged "tea parties" on Wednesday to demonstrate their outrage at taxes, government, liberals, terrorists, immigration, socialism, flouridated water, paved streets, secular humanism, public schools, flag-burning, the Kennedy assassination, the 14th Amendment, and anything else they think Barack Obama has done to
All Those Letters Are Soooo Confusing
One of our regular readers, who goes by the name "Bandit," reports that KETV anchor Elictia Hammond (pronounced, believe it or not, uh-LEE-sha) this morning kept referring to the NCAA basketball tournament as the "NAACP" tourney.She scares us. It's just plain scary to flip on the TV first thing in the morning and have that staring back at you. We can only imagine how dispiriting it must've been
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