Television news is a cash cow. Relatively inexpensive to produce, highly qualitative audience, generally DVR proof. The challenge for networks and stations is maintaining relevancy.
Network affiliated TV stations are at highest risk. Time relevancy is killing newspapers (v. internet) and it threatens stations as well. Late news (10P or 11P) sports and weather is old by the time it airs. Local interest stories break most often during daytime hours and are more timely at 5P or 6P. National stories have already been over analyzed by the cable networks.
Cable network news is losing its edge in two important ways. The 24-hour news cycle is not really 24 hours. AC360 airs live on CNN at 10P and repeats itself at 11P, followed by a Larry King repeat at 12M. Secondarily, TV news divisions are entertainment divisions first. To say the news programs are more about the personalities than the news is a vast understatement. News bias through personal and political agendas becomes transparent very quickly (Glenn Beck).
Truth seekers can still get the facts more quickly and accurately on niche TV news programs and via other media. Network and TV station "news" is losing its relevancy but it sure is entertaining. Catch Maddow last night?
I find it interesting that an article about bias in news displays it's own bias. I'm curious to know why you only used Glen Beck as an example. I actually liked the article and was agreeing with you up to that point. It's not that you took a poke at Beck, frankly to a certain degree I agree with you, it's that as a journalist you threw impartiality out the window with that comment. you showed your own bias. To be truely impartial you would have given examples of media bias on both the left and right. You actually didn't need to use any examples at all, but I guess you were shooting for irony in your piece.
Posted by: Dave | April 08, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Thanks for your comment Dave. If my piece came across as biased to you then I'll admit I didn't do my job well. My poke at Beck was indeed meant to be ironic because right now both his relevancy and cult of personality are very high. I didn't point out his personal bias because I didn't have to. My Maddow comment was intended to cast her in the same light as Beck as a means to achieve balance.
Posted by: TvMissionary | April 08, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Yes, you're right. My apologies for not catching that the first time around. Regardless, thanks for the peice, you bring to light great points and I'm glad you're writing about them. Keep doing the great work!
Posted by: Dave | April 08, 2009 at 04:51 PM