tomoates.tv

In a recent Pay-on-Performance blog post: New Las Vegas News Broadcast launches – forebearer of things to come?

The question was raised about 702.tv in an article from the Las Vegas Sun A new kind of local TV news show debuts.

“Is this the future of local TV news, or is what’s happening in Vegas staying in Vegas?“

My response:
The first sentence of the article tells you exactly how this show should be perceived: as an alternative.

It’s not going to replace the local news because it deals with different subject matter.
702.tv is clearly identifying itself as “info-tainment” (traditional broadcast news strays clear of embracing itself as entertainment programming, although the field does understand/battle the concept of entertainment=viewership=ratings=revenue).

Will it remain only in Las Vegas? Or can this spread nationwide?
Only a small group of television markets have the industries or environments to support programs like 702.tv: New York, LA, Miami (see WAMI from 1998-2002) have ample opportunity for shows – and 702.tv identifies itself as a ’show’ complete with a ‘cast’ not a news program.

As much news happens in Little Rock, AK or Spokane, WA, there just ain’t ’nuff going on around town worthy for “info-tainment”.

News will still be news; this hasn’t changed. People will still care about the latest accident on the 215 and what the weather will be like tomorrow.
It’s the publishers which are changing; technology opens everyone to the tools to publish and broadcast today.
This creates more content and more distribution methods; giving users more options to gather their news, pulling audiences away from traditional media.

Example: I’m currently watching the Sotomayor hearings…on-line.
I can’t count the amount of on-line venues (web sites from broadcasters, newspapers, blogs are all providing streaming links)

So the question isn’t Is 702.tv a new trend in broadcast news? It is a new program providing niche content, made possible by today’s technology and convergence of print and broadcast media.

The question is: Will 702.tv survive?
It must compete for its audience – just like every other program (or show).

With the advent of so many more content options, “traditional media” is slowly fading away. The major “mainstream” media beasts are branching their distribution (publishing) methods to reach audiences in multiple methods.

With terabytes of digital information available at my laptop, over 400 channels at my fingertips, and HD radio providing countless hours of content…isn’t every show an alternative today?

admin Communications 101 audience, media, pay-on-performance, television, TV News

Last week, a colleague was ranting about the amount of media attention given to Michael Jackson’s death.

He then proceeded to include details about the Jackson estate, suspected drug use, and the future of the pop star’s children.

It appears he was so disgusted with the media coverage, he couldn’t stop himself from absorbing as much as possible.

The deaths of Michael Jackson and former NFL MVP Steve McNair – and the stories surrounding how they both died, the lives the deceased led, and their grieving families – bridge tragedy and tabloid.

Why does this happen?

Is it ever warranted?

First, and this is repeating what so many others have said and written:

1) We are dealing with human beings, complete with personal flaws and prone to mistakes.

2) I am not defending or excusing anyone’s actions. Infidelity, drug abuse, and legal troubles have no excuse.

I. Journalists have the obligation to the public ask questions and seek answers.

The questions asked about both Jackson and McNair floated in and out of public and private conversations and thoughts.

The difference is these two men lived their lives in the public eye, making them popular figures for whom questions are asked louder and spark interest from more people.

Also, the manner in which both died fueled more curiosity, sensationalism and shock.

These two factors lead to more questions and more coverage.

II.  Time and technology can further support the inundation of reports, perspective, events, conversation and speculation.

The rolling boulder of the 24/7 news monster struggles to find new programming and topics; networks quickly produced ratings-grabbing specials on the life and death of Michael Jackson.

Abundant recordings, turning private moments public.

If there’s a phone, it’s got a camera (and most likely comes with a USB connection), so any captured image becomes a distributable image.  It didn’t take long before TMZ posted vacation photos of McNair and his girlfriend.

The Metro Nashville Police, as procedure, employ dashboard and back seat cameras in patrol vehicles.  Arrest images were made available a week after Sahel Kazemi’s 2 July arrest for DUI.  News organizations use these images to augment their coverage, especially as newspapers and television & radio stations also have web sites to support.

Even the release of these images creates new storylines, extending the coverage.

III. News organizations have to fend for themselves.

A need for news programs to generate revenue forces cable, network and local newsrooms to consider audience ratings and popularity.

While journalists may argue this, citing how their coverage never loses objectivity – which may be true, I counter with this question: did your specials include commercial breaks?  If so, why?

So when does the cycle stop?  When does the coverage become ‘overload’?

1. When we run out of new questions to ask.

2. When we run out of new answers.  If the story stops developing, the story ends.

3. OR if my colleague stops watching.

admin Communications 101 media, television

We’re not robots.

“Simon Says” is merely a game.

So why are many marketers – and others who work in communications – surprised when their audience doesn’t react to their message?

Because their audience never had a reason to react.

The best lesson in journalism I ever received is a four-word sentence:

“Why do I care?”

This is what every audience member/viewer/reader is constantly asking themselves when receiving a message.  Understand this, and you’ll start to incorporate your audience’s perspective into what you say, write, and present.

Oh, sometimes it’s easy. Sometimes the topic naturally demands attention…especially when it pertains to a major concern of the general public

If it’s the weather…everyone cares if it’s going to rain; knowing this affects how we’ll dress.

The economy’s crumbling; most folks care if their job is in jeopardy or gas prices rise.

However, in the corporate world, attracting an audience to a niche product or service may prove difficult. Corporate communications departments, insulated with their own message and personal investment, tend to easily lose perspective to the rest of the world and a general audiences.

“Why aren’t people watching my YouTube video on hand-held automatic kilowatt meter-readers???”

Because no one’s given them a reason to care.

Now, if folks knew understanding their kilowatt output could lead to lower monthly electric bills…they may care.

Advice: Relate your message to your audience’s needs, desires, or interests…and perhaps you’ll have an audience willing to pay attention.

And I didn’t even have to say “Simon Says.”

admin Communications 101 audience, Corporate Communications, message

This is Social Media at its best; serving the community.

A few weeks back, I viewed a presentation from Clay Shirky (twitter: @cshirky) on how our original media filters (book publishers, limited broadcast outlet decision-makers) are going away.

Now with user-generated content, 200+ channels broadcasting 24/7, and an expanding blogosphere, we are left with a combination of information overload and faulty filters.  We have too much information, and no way to clearly find newsworthy content.

Although this is an ongoing problem, there are benefits to our new information-sharing society.

The world wouldn’t see these images, learn details, gain perspective without the technology or sociological behaviors of our new methods communication.

Many embedded deep within social media circles take a trendier-than-thou attitude toward mainstream news-gathering organizations, while the major networks and print journalists still struggle to find their social networking niche.

But we are seeing a partnership with this past week’s protests in Iran.

Social Networking provides many voices; Mainstream media lets the voices be heard – loudly. The Iranian government blocks large ‘official’ news-gathering organizations from reporting within the country, but technology has turned the embargo into a sieve; updates and images seep from millions of hand-held mobile devices.

The waves of photos, text messages, microblogs are passed through cable boxes and satellite feeds to the rest of the world – and !viola! – you have social networking partnering with mainstream media.

A new trend, right?  The demise of traditional journalism?

Not. So. Fast.

There is a danger to treating Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and random blogs as your reporting staff:

• Are you getting all sides of the story? User-generated content is more likely to be subjective; a gripe, complaint, praise or promotion. Raw emotion: yes. Complete facts: no. Objective, ethical reporting: you can never be sure.
• Segmented reporting population. Is Grandma on Facebook? Uncle Ed on Twitter? How many 65-year olds are using social media? Right now, we are still in a stage where technology (like youth) is bestowed upon the young. We are not being provided a full cross-section of society through new technology. This will change…wait about 20 years.

There is a place for both.

The individual has an unfiltered voice, able to call ‘foul’ when news goes unreported or misinterpreted.
The general public (should) have an objective, experienced body to filter and promote what is newsworthy…newsworthy to the general public.

The danger is when one group relies completely on the other.

admin Communications 101 communications, Social Media, TV News, Twitter