Wadah Khanfar of Al Jazeera speaks during the session, “Leaders Forum | Media and the Connected Society, Part 2” Photo by Photo by Paul Hackett – Reuters.
Nik Gowing of the BBC led this discussion about how the Internet is changing traditional business models of big media and the global society as a whole. Panelists included Akwe Amosu (OSI), Timothy Balding (WAN), Wadah Khanfar (Al Jazeera), Nikesh Arora (Google), Mark Thompson (BBC). Here’s the round-up.
– Big media needs to adapt the way it thinks about journalism; should it be top down or bottom up? Thompson thinks the traditional broadcaster idea of news organizations dictating to the audience is over.
– the Internet is like a global WalMart; it has changed the economics of the media game, as so far as business models go, and news organizations have been slow to adapt.
– The local of yesterday is global today because of the Internet. It has also brought about the unbundling of media; people don’t just use one source anymore. They don’t read the international page of their local paper; they turn to international online sources.
– Newspaper companies may have been slow to make the digital transition, but today they have some of the most read websites on the Internet, they have developed the most popular mobile services and they produce some of the most popular blogs.
– Editorial boards will be led just as much by viewers and readers as they are by employees.
– Big media needs to divert resources to focusing on the voices that aren’t already voiced; interview the politician or businessman but get down to the grassroots and talk to the real people that are being affected by their decisions.
– The media in developing countries performs a heroic task often against economic, political and technical odds. But not only do we need to empower the media in these countries but also the people.
– Conferences such as these are patronizing – why is it that large corporate media needs to tell the people what they think?
-It’s not up to anyone in this room to determine the proper role of media in developing countries. Strong local voices in developing countries will drive growth – there’s a tremendous need to hear those voices and help them develop within those nation.
– When it comes down to it, mainstream media and bloggers must remain relevant to stay in business.
– News companies are competing for shrinking audiences; most people are looking for entertainment which is also proliferating online.
– Big media can’t be gatekeepers – to what extent do we still bring enough to the party that people want to use? The demand is out there for traditional kinds of content, but there’s much more change to come.
TAG: wemedia
The [Net] … has changed the economics of the media game
Again; Net media does not need a business model. Bloggers (vid-loggers, posters, journalists, podcasters, whatever) do it for love first. For those with a reputation, there will be an audience. For those with an audience there will be advertising. It will be a beauty contest of the mind – those who look good will make money, if they want.
Big media needs to adapt
Big Media will survive if they protect their names by reporting straight and reporting many points of view. It is pretty clear that many will find this too hard. Too bad.
The unbundling of media; people don’t just use one source anymore
Wake up and smell the coffee! People have never just used one source of news media – but they were still suspicious of the oligopoly. Now they know where to look for independent views. In addition, RSS means I can read 20 on-the-spot, expert, views in 5 minutes – beat that for accuracy, depth, breadth, relevance, quality… Address that, or die.
Newspaper companies … have developed the most popular mobile services and they produce some of the most popular blogs
Whoopee for them. Do they make money out of them? I bet I can find bigger bloggers than any UK-Newspaper branded site. They still have a lot to learn.
Editorial boards are not needed by free journalists who connect and resonate. Want to be a free journalist? Blog.
Big Media needs to divert resources to focusing on the voices that aren’t already voiced [presumably ‘voiced’ means heard]Big Media isn’t needed to make voices heard, but that doesn’t mean that organisations such as Reuters and the BBC couldn’t make a significant contribution – and some very positive PR – by helping those left behind by the Nets rapid advance.
The media in developing countries performs a heroic task
Bloggers in developing countries perform a heroic task:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9075-2032242,00.html
Get a clue: Blogging is journalism
Conferences such as these are patronizing [sic]
That’s a bit too hard. There are a lot of clueless journalists, coumnists, editors, publishers, advertisers, and politicians out there. Give them a break.
It’s not up to anyone in this room to determine the proper role of media in developing countries
Conferences are like publishing on the Net. The audience feed back – and sometimes (horror of horrors) they’re not nice!
When it comes down to it, mainstream media and bloggers must remain relevant to stay in business
True.
News companies are competing for shrinking audiences; most people are looking for entertainment which is also proliferating online
Somebody is confused – and it’s not me. Bloggers come in all shapes and sizes, but those who blog fact know the difference between news and entertainment.
Big media can’t be gatekeepers
Damn, they noticed.
The demand is out there for traditional [sic] kinds of content, but there’s much more change to come
Repeat after me: Change happens, get over it.