Here is my third report about the Vocus “State of the Media 2010” webinar (http://tinyurl.com/ybglakz) and accompanying white paper. (http://www.vocus.com/state-of-the-media/index.asp).
This report focuses on television. I have already reported on print (newspapers and magazines) and will report on radio next.
In 2009, 100 stations were affected by bankruptcies. These were mainly Chapter 11 reorganizations, brought about because of the stations’ parent organizations, such as the Tribune Company (parent of the Chicago Tribune), whose bankruptcy affected 23 stations.
Reporters are increasingly becoming one-man bands, researching the story, shooting video, even being on air. “The result is sloppier broadcasts.”
Increasingly TV stations are sharing resources and news footage.
Stations are moving away from local-news-based formats to lighter formats. There is less room in the newscast for softer stories. Some stations have cut newscasts, filling the empty slots with syndicated programming; talk shows or infomercials.
You can find more articles about the media and PR at my website: www.CommunicationsPlus.net/PRArticles.html
Hi Kay, thanks for taking the time to read through the Vocus Media Research Team’s report and posting on this topic. Thanks for contributing to the conversation.
As a seasoned PR veteran, what does all this data mean to you? Would be very interested in your thoughts.
I’m not a devoted TV watcher. In fact, you could accurately refer to my tube as a DVD playback machine. And I date from the era where FCC Chairman Newton Minow referred to TV as a “great wasteland.”
Still, this is not heartening news. TV is not all bad, but it doesn’t need to be further lightened up. There’s probably some corporate-speak vebiage to describe all this. Hmm. Perhaps “programming that’s more closely aligned with audience profiles and preferences”?