NBC 2.0 a wake up call for TV news

People who work in TV news have been surprisingly resistant to change over the last few years, even with clear signs that technology is drastically changing the business. Today’s announcement by NBCU to slash 750 jobs and redirect much of the savings to digital ventures should be a big wake up call. “Either you drown or you ride the wave,” said NBC News chief Steve Capus about 2.0, which he calls a necessary response to the “tsunami” of change. In a nutshell, TV news staffers need to quickly expand their skill sets and become proactive about contributing content on multiple platforms. They now have to compete with a tech-savvy workforce for these new digital positions. (Recent events have shown that media companies do not automatically shift TV staffers to the web. They lay them off and hire someone else who’s qualified.) And I also believe it’s critical that we redefine the nature of news and expand its boundaries. The WSJ reported this morning that NBC “sees limited growth potential in the news business” and that “most of the initial layoffs will come in the company’s 11 news divisions.” I would challenge the definition of “news” and focus on innovating new products that engage our users through the marriage of information and technology. While it won’t look anything like TV news, it will still inform, educate and enlighten. And journalism will still play an important role.