Looking to the future for journalism
Yesterday it was announced the LA Times is to cut 250, the majority of these are editorial positions.
Today, AFP reported that the newspaper’s editor, Russ Stanton said the cuts reflected the paradox of the Internet revolution.
AFP reported that the Stanton memo said:
Thanks to the Internet, we have more readers for our great journalism than at any time in our history. But also thanks to the Internet, our advertisers have more choices, and we have less money.
Read the full story here
I have just read this blog written by Rob about VNRs and the thing that struck me is how shortsighted TV stations are being.
I’m sure these ad packages are bringing in a lot of money, but what about their long-term affect on viewers?
This type of advertising, which is not flagged, violates the trust a news programme might have with its viewer.
With ads being crafted to look like any other news package the responsibility is on the station to alert the viewer to the distinction.
Not only does it violate the trust the viewer has in the programme, it also on some level insults their intelligence.
Selling and broadcasting this type of advertising has even greater effects in the long run.
If we lose the viewer’s trust they will stop turning
On news programmes and find another sources.
The ratings numbers will go down and the advertising revenue will decline too.
In that scenario no one wins – not even the advertiser.
News organisations need to safeguard the viewer’s trust and not squander it for short term gain.
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