Archive for December 29th, 2006
The American networks’ mere whisper of the execution of Saddam Hussein is exactly the reason why we need better access to international news channels. Even our news channels, giving this story the time it deserves, are stuck quoting Arab news sources. We, as news consumers, should demand the ability to get news as it is reported from around the world. I would much rather be watching al-Jazeera right now than skipping through channels to see who is quoting it.
Screengrab of stream from al-Jazeera English, only available online with subscription.
December 29th, 2006
CNN was first to report the execution of Saddam Hussein, with reporter Aneesh Raman breaking the news from Baghdad at 10:07 p.m. EST. Raman quoted Arab news services, which had the story first. Fox News and MSNBC also relied on the reports from the Arab channels. While I was flipping around channels, TV Newser Brian Stelter caught the quick NBC News special report at 10:14, making NBC the first net to break in. CBS News followed at 10:19, with a report hosted by Katie Couric. While ABC News was third among the nets, it had the longest coverage, with Elizabeth Vargas changing gears while hosting 20/20 to devote the rest of the hour (which had been about celebrity culture). Over at TV Newser, Stelter quotes an ABC News source as defending the decision to hold off on the announcement (ABC was last, breaking in at 10:25 pm): “While ABC was last to get on the air with a report on Saddam’s execution, we were FIRST to air official independent confirmation” from the U.S., an ABC insider says. “Seconds before the special report took to the air, Jonathan Karl had just gotten off the phone with a senior U.S. official who confirmed what all the others were hanging on unconfirmed Arab media reports. This was a deliberate decision made by wise managers in New York.” There is a legitimate point here - and I’m interested in what the LR Faithful think about the choice. The media gets criticized when it reports stories too quickly, without attribution. The nets reported this story well after the cable channels. So, were the nets practicing better journalism?
December 29th, 2006
“Is there something ghoulish about this?” Larry King asked CNN’s Aneesh Rahman who is standing in Baghdad waiting for the execution of Saddam Hussein. Yes, of course. But this isn’t just prurient interest - it’s a major international story, obviously. The cable news nets are in “fill” mode, waiting for the execution which is reportedly going to happen any minute now.
December 29th, 2006
There are some interesting ones in Wired’s annual list of predictions for ‘07:
DVRs get BitTorrent baked in, bringing internet video to the living room.
20 percent of all new laptops sold will be MacBooks.
A major newspaper gives up printing on paper to publish exclusively online.
HD-DVD is the clear winner over Blu-ray in the DVD format wars.
Digg holds out for a big payday but ends up like Friendster.
The New York Times opens its archives from behind the paid firewall.
December 29th, 2006
Waaaaay back in August, we asked everyone for ideas for a Lost Remote T-shirt. Now I’m finally getting around to opening it up for a vote. Click here to vote for your favorite titles (you can vote for more than one), and the winning title will make it on a Lost Remote T-shirt. If you happened to have suggested the title back in August, you get a free shirt. Also, you can suggest another title in the survey, if you like, for the next T-shirt vote.
December 29th, 2006
MSNBC is patting itself on the back with a new campaign that’s dominating ad positions on media sites like TVWeek and TVNewser. It shows quotes like, “MSNBC’s ratings are on a roll” (from the SF Chronicle) and ends with the exclamation, “Everybody’s talking about MSNBC.” Good for morale and generating some advertiser interest, I imagine.
December 29th, 2006
A fascinating point from Rex over at Fimoculous:
We tend to think of websites on a scale similar to that of tv networks — large, permanent, liquid. But what if a better comparison were sitcoms — small, ephemeral, risky. Due to media hype, MySpace is perceived on a scale next to Fox (as AOL was to Timer-Warner), but maybe it should be considered more like Lost (which turns Yahoo into The Simpson’s). And before this freaks you out, think about how we might use this to our advantage.
December 29th, 2006
With the distinct possibility of Saddam Hussein’s execution appearing on Iraq TV, the broadcast and cable news networks are figuring out what they’ll do with the video. “We’re very aware that we’re coming into people’s living rooms and that there could be children watching,” CBS News senior VP Linda Mason said. While the nets will likely not show the actual execution, what should news sites do? Post a slide show of screen grabs with a warning? The video? Or is that best left to Drudge? Adds Rob in comments, “I served in two wars where he was leading the other team and believe me I want him dead but, however evil he is, to televise his death up close and personal, would make us appear to be gloating over his downfall and demise and make us no better than he is.”
December 29th, 2006
That’s right, Saddam Hussein’s Hangman with the tagline, “A traditional game of hangman with a sick twist: you actually want to hang the man.” Says Game Show Network’s John Roberts, “If we are the network for games, we should be the website for games.”
December 29th, 2006
Last week two of three of Revver’s co-founders stepped down, and now Guba CEO Thomas McInerney is moving on. “The billion-dollar opportunity has kind of passed,” McInerney said, referring to YouTube. “Guba is at a crossroads, and we’re deciding whether to look for funding or to sell. I think we’re inclined to sell.” Guba has been around way before YouTube, since 1997, and McInerney said it has turned a profit.
December 29th, 2006
