On this day in 1980, TV viewers witnessed the debut of a new network—and a new concept. The network was CNN (Cable News Network)-and the concept was that a 24/7 News network could succeed.
The answer to the concept is clear-as the proliferation of dedicated news networks proves that not only ONE-but many could succeed. Perhaps the larger question is: Are we better off? Or even better informed?
The basic problem with a dedicated news network is that there ALWAYS needs to be something ON. At any given time, the network decides what is news, whether it is really news or not. And as such, stories that would never have made it on an edited, 30 minute nightly newscast will now get HOURS of nonstop coverage. Octo-Mom and Joe the Plumber? We would have never heard of these people—and likely would be better off as a result.
Certainly, the ability to flip on the TV and get instant video from around the world on virtually any story is appealing. Somewhere, though, the line is crossed—and we don’t even know where the line begins or ends anymore
The first Iraq war-“Desert Storm”-became the first war that was essentially fought on live TV in 1991. It was “war as entertainment”-as millions of Americans followed the progress of U.S. forces in real time as they sat glued to their sets, making the war part of their nightly viewing.
The early days of CNN underscored that the dearth of real news didn’t stop CNN from filling up the airwaves with…well…what they called news. Below is a CNN clip from 1980 in which Peter Criss (yes, THAT Peter Criss from the rock group Kiss) is interviewed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLVtoWMmYic
Things have improved since then…..or have they? As Fox News says on their 24/7 operation: “you be the judge”
If you’d like my blog in your inbox, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment