Web not a primary source of news?
Cory Bergman August 3rd, 2006
An interview with Dr. Michael Dimock, associate director at the Pew Research Center, yields some controversial points. “On a typical day, the percent who only get news on the web and nowhere else is very, very small,” he said. Dimock concludes that the internet, by extension, is still a secondary source of news. While that may be true in today’s stats, I think in five years time it will become the primary source of news. Also, Dimock basically dismisses local TV news and their websites in the local news race — also a myopic statement.
11 Comments Add your own
1. Don | August 4th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Myopic indeed. TV stations have been in the electronic media business for 50-60 years. Newspapers? Less than 10 in most cases.
Experience counts.
What Dimock doesn’t realize is that in most markets (not mine), there are several TV stations, that add up to a larger online share than the newspaper.
The reason newspapers do so well in studies like Media Audit & Pew is because of classified brand awareness — NOT news. Despite the name of the medium (newspaper) — NEWS isn’t generally the strength of the organization when it comes to the online world. Not ALWAYS mind you… but there are a lot of weak newspapers out there propped up by classified content, while TV stations are beating them on all major news & weather measurements.
The way to battle back? TV stations should be in the classifieds game …
2. Jim Wilson | August 4th, 2006 at 12:41 am
What an idiot egghead this Dimwit Dimock is.
Newspapers are boring in print. They are boring online. They are out of TOUCH.
TV stations exist to produce news that people care about — every story is designed to KEEP someone’s interest.
That translates to much more interesting content online.
The only advantage newspapers have in their markets — and the only reason they are ahead — is the sheer VOLUME and AMOUNT of content (particularly sports) that they produce each day and crank out for the web.
Classifieds, as Don said, are also a key.
Audiences are learning that TV station sites are better for breaking news, consumer news and traffic… soon, the gap will narrow…
3. thedetroitchannel | August 4th, 2006 at 6:20 am
“DIMWIT”????
you got a “Dr.” before your name?
you guys are really reaching with that “classifieds” bs.
hey don, how’s that partner site of yours going in boise?
what was the domain name again???
it’s been a couple months since i looked at the used cars for sale.
4. Thom Stockmann | August 4th, 2006 at 6:23 am
I’m sure this researcher maybe correct that the majority of people learn of a news story from another sources. But I would be interested to know where they get the majority of information on that story. Whether it is radio, tv, a friend or a swing by a newsstand which initially informs someone about a news story, I would guess many of them naturally turn to the Web for the detailed reports. I don’t see the problem with being a second source.
Having worked in local TV news (then for a national news organization that took Web reports from locals), I think that the need for additional details and high-quality still images on the Web is really what puts local TV at a disadvantage. Two sentences of text and a video package featuring a consultant-sculpted reporter who speaks in a strange style of speech (peppered with fake amazement, outrage or indignation) is not enough on the Web.
The difference is quality of reporting and writing and not just volume.
Also, TV designers, in general, should not design Web pages. Newspaper sites may be perceived to me “boring” but in general they are more usable and on the Web that is much more important.
5. Don | August 4th, 2006 at 8:57 am
Detroit - It’s called “ZIdaho” — and it’s going better than you could ever imagine.
Thom - I hear what you’re saying on the “two lines of text” stuff, but that is so easy to overcome. We now write about 30% of the stories that our hit our site from scratch for the web. It can be tough with a small staff, but 90% of the time we have more information than the newspaper here on breaking stories. They can’t keep up, because we’ve been in the breaking news business for a long time, and understand how it works. And photos? Video stills can be a powerful thing — especially when you unload them en masse in a photo gallery.
Focus on strengths: breaking news, video, traffic and weather — places print media sites are just plain out of their depth. Get those nailed down, then start attacking classifieds with a “free” product. I can’t say it works everywhere - just sharing our market’s experience.
6. Don | August 4th, 2006 at 8:59 am
And one more thing - I agree with Thom. Boring is better - simple designs work better. These complicated boxy-flashy local TV site designs are a hinderance. Look at Google, ABCNews, MSNBC, CNN — all simple, easy to use sites.
7. chris s | August 4th, 2006 at 9:59 am
Don got it right when talking about going to your strengths. I recently read a book about something totally not associated with the media. From an unexpected chapter came a lightning bolt for me…….it is the mix that makes things happen, not relying on one mega truth. If local tv sites can really make classifieds happen, the print sites are in big trouble…and they know it. Combining the classifieds with breaking news video, live and up to date weather and traffic is the mix that seems best suited to markets where hard news is still king. any comments welcome, but be nice!
8. thedetroitchannel | August 4th, 2006 at 10:45 am
cw: free classifieds are going to generate heaps of $
take a look at the used car classifieds on zidaho and tell me print has anything to worry about.
9. Don | August 4th, 2006 at 11:30 am
Here’s the direct link: http://secure.adpay.com/search.aspx?pid=72384C364F7A3658525365384D666C503351366C48773D3D&catid=OO93&city=Boise
…and we launched less than two months ago. This is the result of agressive promotion and a product the market wanted. We currently have more listings in many categories than the paper does.
10. jg | August 6th, 2006 at 6:21 am
How about passing all the comment back to the statistic-bending Dr. and get his comment?
11. segun | April 13th, 2007 at 3:03 am
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