The new media is coming. It’s probably already here.
Last week a major nail in the coffin of newspapers was hammered home by scores of layoffs from newspaper giant Gannett (you check out the bloody details at the Gannett blog. Today it was reported that The Miami Herald is for sale from the McClatchy Group. Of course with the decline of newspapers making so much news itself you have to wonder who would be willing to pony up for the Miami Herald.
It also makes me think perhaps newspaper owners will be the next to ask for some government help. After standing in line behind Ford and GM they can ask for a handout too. But instead of a billion dollars they should ask congress to turn back the clock to 1960.
It’s not as though none of us didn’t see it coming. In fact wasn’t all this supposed to have happened by now? A few years ago podcasting was the new media that was destined to generate revenue and become a force in the world. Instead it’s a slow progress to say the least. Satellite radio is another piece of the new media that was supposed to take hold. Right Sirius is trading on the NASDAQ for about 15 cents. Of course that is a lot better than terrestrial radio’s Westwood One which is trading at about 2 cents a share on the OTCBB. Great time to be doing a radio show!
Even network television is feeling the crunch. Call it the recession if you want, but the eroding audience of the networks has been a long time coming. Yesterday NBC (which seems to be imploding) said they’d do away with 10pm programming and instead stick Jay Leno in that timeslot. This was right after NBC president Jeff Zucker said that perhaps NBC shouldn’t be broadcasting every night of the week. Sure Jeff, take a few nights off. Hang low with the CW. How programmer Ben Silverman keeps his job is beyond me. Hey Ben give me a call. I’d love to chat.
As a member of the new media (ya I blog and do some dog and pony net radio show so that’s gotta count for something) it’s all very interesting to see. It’s also very sad. I feel as though I’
I really don’t know where we’re going to be in 10 years with media, though I have a feeling everyone will rolling with iphones that can do just about everything eventually.
People on the subways riding into work with their cup of joe in one hand and an iphone in the other reading…well hell. If the papers are gone just what will they be reading? The Huffington Post? The Radio Dan Blog?
In a twist of irony, in the last two days, I’ve had two freelancers ask for more money. It’s kind of like, “helloooo? Hello? Are you reading? Watching TV? Listening to anything? I’m lucky I’M employed.” Sigh. It breaks my heart. It really, really does.
How can some people be so oblivious? I just read that Shaun Powell, one of the best sports columnists out there, was let go from Newsday last week. It’s just ugly.
I know. That’s what my bosses said when I told them the freelancer wanted more money. It reminds me of how a writer I had wanted to be a “TV critic.” And he said “Well, every major newspaper in the country has a TV critic,” and I said “Yes, and every major newspaper in the country has probably just laid them off.” I’ll be honest — there are times that I think about how easy it would be to get rid of my job. That’s why I try to take on extra projects and volunteer to do news-side things. I want to be valuable not just as the arts/entertainment editor, but as a desk editor, too.
Or, I do it in vain and end up working at Target. But at least that means I’m movin’ back in with Mom and Dad, and they just got a sweet 42-inch plasma.