Conflict between packaged and conversational media

Cory Bergman December 6th, 2006

John Battelle makes some great points comparing what he calls “packaged goods media,” which is the product of traditional media, and conversational media, which is content produced, shared and discussed by users. Battelle writes:

While the major media companies are unparalleled when it comes to running companies that live in the Packaged Goods Media world, running major companies in the Conversational Media field require quite a different set of skills, and consideration of radically different economic and business models - models which, to be perfectly frank, conflict directly with the models which support and protect Packaged Goods Media-based companies.

And Battelle wonders this about traditional media execs and conversational media:

Are they going to be empowered to do what they need to do to truly win in their respective markets?

From what I’ve seen to date, the answer is no. This conflict runs deep, and until traditional media companies learn to step away from traditional protectionism/distribution/barriers to entry business models, they’ll get beat by entreprenuers with great, user-driven ideas.