In ‘saving’ journalism, there’s a tendency to bet the house. It’s time to start thinking about just what we’re trading away. Much has been written about what needs to change to secure journalism business models in the future. But what of the things that shouldn’t? What about a list of non-negotiables, the deal-breakers, the aspects of reporting that should be OFF the table in dealing in a new way of reporting? Let’s start a list…
Video never did kill the radio star, and nor will the internet and digital news kill newspapers. Similarly, despite what the sales department and bean counters will tell you, the recession we almost had is not responsible for the precarious balance sheets at many traditional media organisations. News companies are slicing costs and dicing journalists almost entirely for one reason: vision – or a Blind Pew-like absence of it.
Enough already. I just can’t take it anymore. Whether it’s the precious blogging world, or the desperately precious newspaper sector, I’m sick to death of being told partial ranting is the very essence of quality journalism. Or that aggregating copy produced for newspapers is the future of online media.
Steve Fielding is an incompetent legislator, blinded by personal prejudice and laughably ignorant of some of the very weighty issues he must sit in judgement of. But of course, criticism of the man who puts Family First is never taken as read. It leads to my all-time favourite excuse for political ineptitude – that of elitism. To knock Fielding, the argument goes, is to dismiss the contribution of those not blessed with tremendous intellect or afforded higher education. Merely bullying from the nasty latte-sipping intellectuals who think they’re better than everyone else.
I am loath to support anything Rupert Murdoch says or does. His contribution to journalism as it stands is hardly impressive. But he’s right for questioning Google and its legally-questionable, commercially-shortsighted rip-and-read model of news delivery.
The recession is not killing Big Media in this country, as the sales department will tell you. Nor is the internet and digital media to blame, as the prevailing theory goes. Media companies in Australia are struggling to make a buck through a lack of imagination. Through short-sightedness. Through commercial timidity, certainly. Ultimately, though sheer management incompetence.
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