Podcast Summary
Media landscape changes: Traditional news sources face declining readership and revenue while social media platforms rise, leading to concerns about trust in news, spread of misinformation, and challenges for journalists
The media landscape is undergoing significant changes, with traditional sources of news like regional and national newspapers facing declining readership and revenue, while social media platforms are on the rise. Journalism itself is grappling with these shifts, as the role of gatekeepers and the concept of news as a curated bundle have been dismantled. This has led to concerns about trust in news, the spread of misinformation, and the challenges faced by journalists in making a living. The future of journalism is uncertain, but it's clear that it will continue to evolve in response to technological advances and changing consumer habits. The ongoing debate about the state of journalism and its future was the focus of a special episode of the BBC podcast "When It Hits the Fan," featuring Nick Robinson and David Yellen.
Media evolution and challenges: The need for quality journalism and factual reporting remains crucial amidst the shift in media landscape, with a focus on public service broadcasting, investigative journalism, and fact-checking to hold power accountable.
While the media landscape has changed dramatically with the rise of user-generated content and the decline of traditional broadcasting, the need for quality journalism and factual reporting has never been greater. The speaker, who has spent decades working in journalism and public relations, reflects on the evolution of media and the challenges it faces, including the collapse of trust and the monetization of high-end news for wealthy audiences. However, they remain optimistic, pointing to the continued popularity of mass-market broadcasting and the importance of public service broadcasting in holding power to account. The speaker also emphasizes the need for a cultural shift to celebrate and support investigative journalism and fact-checking. Despite the challenges, the power of media to inform, engage, and influence remains strong.
Impact of Press on Business Reputation: Despite declining circulation and rise of social media, press retains significant power in business world. Specialist newspapers adapt, mid-market struggle with free internet offers, and journalism faces denuding with fewer journalists and more PR professionals.
Despite the decline in traditional newspaper circulation and the rise of social media, the power of the press, particularly in the business world, remains significant. While some newspapers, like the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal, have adapted by focusing on specialist content and a global audience, allowing them to charge high subscription fees, others are struggling. The mid-market newspapers, in particular, have relied on scale and free internet offers, but this model is unstable as they are heavily reliant on Google and social media for traffic. The denuding of journalism, with fewer journalists and more PR professionals, means that journalists are often left regurgitating press releases instead of investigating stories in depth. Overall, while the media landscape has changed, the impact of the press on reputation and public opinion remains strong.
British journalism future: Despite the global expansion of media institutions and challenges to local journalism, high-end UK journalism remains influential and continues to produce excellent content in broadcasting and politics.
The importance of British journalism, particularly in the business world, has diminished as media institutions expand globally. However, the future of high-end journalism, including broadcasting, remains bright. Local journalism, on the other hand, has been decimated, leaving a gap in community coverage. Political journalism continues to be influential and good, despite criticisms of lobby journalism as a closed shop with a focus on exclusive stories over informing the public. Overall, journalism matters more than ever, and there is still excellent journalism being produced in the UK.
Political lobby and media relationship: The obsession of the media with getting a scoop and the government's inability to effectively communicate can lead to inaccurate and inefficient dissemination of information during crucial events, overshadowing real issues
The relationship between the political lobby and the media can lead to an inefficient and potentially inaccurate dissemination of information. This was highlighted during the G20 summit in Pittsburgh in 2009, where the focus on a trivial detail, such as a possible meeting between Gordon Brown and Barack Obama, overshadowed the real issues at hand, like the global financial crisis. The lobby's obsession with getting a scoop and the government's inability to effectively communicate their message can result in false stories spreading and important information being overlooked. This issue has persisted in recent years, with examples like the coverage of the Chequers summit in 2018, which was initially reported as a triumph but later turned out to be a failure. It's essential for the media and the government to work together to ensure that the public receives accurate and timely information.
Brexit negotiations, Chequers meeting: The Chequers meeting, meant to resolve Brexit negotiations, led to Theresa May's downfall and the rise of Boris Johnson, highlighting the importance of accurate journalism and the changing role of newspapers in elections.
The Chequers meeting in 2018, which was meant to resolve Brexit negotiations, led to the downfall of Theresa May's government and the rise of Boris Johnson. This event was described in a Sunday Times article, which included quotes from Johnson and Davis criticizing May's deal. Davis's sudden resignation from the cabinet prompted Johnson to follow suit. The incident highlights the importance of accurate journalism and the potential for misinformation, especially in complex political situations. Moreover, the role of newspapers in elections has changed. While they still have some influence on public opinion, their endorsements may not be as decisive as they once were. Instead, newspapers serve as a barometer of the mood of the electorate and can help identify shifts in public sentiment. Despite criticisms of certain newspapers, it is important to engage with them as they raise issues that may not be addressed in broadcast media. This perspective challenges the notion that one should ignore them entirely. Instead, it is crucial to approach them with a critical and informed mindset.
Media Influence: Modern media functions as organs of opinion, pushing agendas and creating opinions through every word and image. Their power is significant, particularly in the UK and US, and their influence is felt more acutely in the digital age. Fox News is a prime example of this trend, but the future of journalism may lie in personalized news.
Modern newspapers and media outlets function not just as sources of information, but as organs of opinion, pushing agendas and creating opinions through every word and image. Their power is significant, particularly in the UK and the US, and their influence is felt even more acutely in the digital age, where social media and alternative platforms challenge traditional media's dominance. Rupert Murdoch's Fox News is a prime example of this trend, with figures like Tucker Carlson leveraging digital platforms to reach vast audiences and challenge the established order. Despite the challenges, there is a silver lining: the future of journalism may lie in bespoke, personalized news that caters to individual needs and preferences, allowing for a more informed and engaged public.
Media landscape changes: To succeed in the evolving media landscape, news organizations must focus on commercial solutions, direct relationships with audiences, specialization or global reach, and investing in reporting to make it both cool and financially viable, while PR professionals must understand journalism and media perception for effective reputation management.
The future of journalism and PR are interconnected, with commentary and quality content being key. The world of PR will continue to thrive, as understanding journalism and media perception is crucial for reputation management. However, the media landscape is facing significant challenges, particularly the threat of disinformation and the decline of traditional newspapers. To succeed, news organizations must focus on commercial solutions, direct relationships with audiences, specialization or global reach, and investing in reporting to make it both cool and financially viable. The BBC, as an example of public service broadcasting, plays a vital role in providing content that the market may not. Overall, the importance of journalism and its impact on PR cannot be understated, and adapting to the changing media landscape is essential.
Muriel McKay kidnapping, Twitch: The past and present offer intriguing stories, from the high-profile Muriel McKay kidnapping to Amazon's struggling Twitch platform. Each story holds unique perspectives and remind us of the mystery and intrigue that surrounds us.
Both the past and the present hold intriguing stories that capture our attention. In the past, we have the enigma of the Muriel McKay kidnapping, a case that left a family in turmoil and the media in a frenzy. In the present, we have the ongoing struggle of Amazon with their live streaming platform Twitch, a project that has yet to turn a profit. In December 1969, Muriel McKay disappeared from her London home, leading to a high-profile kidnapping case that left her family and the police baffled. Two men, mistakenly targeting Anna Murdoch, had abducted Muriel, leading to a media storm and a nightmare for the McKay family that continues to this day. Fast forward to the present, and we have the story of Twitch, the biggest live streaming platform in the world, owned by Amazon. Reports suggest that Amazon is losing patience with the project, which they purchased for almost $1 billion a decade ago. The Global Story podcast sheds light on these unique perspectives from BBC journalists around the world. Both stories remind us of the intrigue and mystery that can be found in the past and the present. Whether it's a high-profile kidnapping or a struggling business, there's always a story worth telling. So, if you're looking for a new podcast to listen to, consider checking out Intrigue or The Global Story. And don't forget to subscribe to the Today podcast on BBC Sounds.