Places to go...

If you're going to work in media/mass comm/PR/entertainment/journalism/online content...whatever you want to call your future work area, you should begin to read about and understand the issues that surround your future career area.

Here are some sites that can link you to news and events about your field. This is not an exhaustive list...these are just a few of the places I go for content.

Browse the websites...or better still, subscribe to their daily or weekly emails.

TVNewsCheck

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/index.php

TVWeek

www.tvweek.com

BroadcastingandCable

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/

Billboard

www.billboard.com

Mediapost

http://www.mediapost.com/

NATPE (National Association of Television Programming Executives)

www.natpe.org AND

NATPE Video Nuze: http://natpe.org/natpe/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=286&Itemid=449

National Association of Broadcasters

www.nab.org

Advertising Age

http://adage.com/

Brand Week

http://www.brandweek.com/bw/index.jsp

Any major newspaper:

The New York Times

www.nytimes.com

The Los Angeles Times

www.latimes.com

The Wall Street Journal

www.wsjonline.com

(Some of the WSJ content is available only to subscribers.)

PC=TV???

The LATimes carries a short article today contrasting Nielsen's report on computer/online television consumption.

Here's the link: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-online-tv9-2009sep09,0,3144574.story

The article title asserts, "the PC is becoming the new TV" as more people watch content online.

The article data appears to be self-reported...people have to remember how often they watch.

What is interesting: nearly 25% of the respondents indicate they watch online TV. And, the sample includes about 10,000 households. The Conference Board is vague as to actual methodology--a real problem when journalists believe the survey results are "facts" instead of responses by a group of survey participants who were selected for participation by a less than transparent means--even if the Conference Board normally gets high marks for what they do.

The two biggest issues for me: the potential end of appointment viewing TV and the possibility that programs may break through network distribution routes to find audiences among online viewers.

Here's the full link for the Conference Board article...it's more interesting than the LATimes article.

http://www.conference-board.org/economics/consumerBarometer.cfm

More than 141 hours per month

You'll hear me talk a lot about the growth of new media distribution outlets....online video and even mobile video viewing. But, television is still king with 141 hours of viewing per person per month! The Nielsen Company's most recent viewership estimate puts online video viewing at an average of only 3 hours and 11 minutes per viewer. How does this compare with you? As you grow older, do you think your viewership habits will change? If so, will you watch more regular TV or do you expect regular TV to change to match the habits of today's 20 - 25 year old viewer?

Read the article here:

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=112844

OR here: http://141hours.notlong.com

Integrated advertising efforts...

It isn't enough to just air music on a radio station anymore. The competition for listeners and advertising dollars had led Clear Channel Radio (the largest group owner of radio stations in the U.S., with more than 800 stations) to launch an effort to sell advertisers a fully integrated media advertising plan.

Click here for the full article: http://www.clickz.com/3634852

In Depressed Radio Ad Market, Clear Channel Innovates with Integrated Approach

By Kate Kaye, ClickZ, Sep 1, 2009

Terrestrial radio hasn't exactly been synonymous with innovation, but industry behemoth Clear Channel could be changing that. When it comes to advertiser offerings, the national radio station network is dedicating significant resources to branching out its integrated media department. The department recently set up a location in New York to complement its original L.A. office, and boasts custom work for brands like Ford and McDonald's.

Radio ad revenues are poised to drop 15 percent in 2009 compared to last year, according to BIA Advisory Services. But Clear Channel appears to be dedicated to leveraging its broad on-air, online, and mobile presence to ensure it remains appealing to national advertisers that are shifting budget allocations away from traditional media.

Fear does not equal persuasion

Imagine being hired to produce a video to incite fear in the viewers? In Wales, the police department wanted a video that would encourage drivers--especially young drivers--not to text while driving. But, a simple "don't do this" message wasn't thought to be enough. And the result? There's doubt that a gruesome video can do enough to change behavior. See for yourself and think of how you could produce a better--more persuasive--message.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/technology/01distracted.html?th&emc=th

Media transitions

We've talked in class about the many media changes underway. These effect not just media businesses but also consumers. Content is more portable than ever--think of MP3 players that store thousands of songs or the Kindle device than can hold hundreds of books. Content is often cheap--or free. Online sites let you watch many of your favorite programs for free, with only limited commercial interruptions. But the technology to consume these free, portable products isn't free and neither is access.

One neat access portal is Apple's iPhone and AT&T's 3G Network. I'm not here to endorse the phone but it provides some neat features. Here's a link to a video review of the phone from David Pogue of The New York Times. Note also that Pogue has other articles and videos with product reviews. And, the NYTimes is working harder than ever to draw eyeballs to their website with new forms of content--all part of the ever changing industry and how consumers consume media.

Lastly, if you're thinking of getting an iPhone, it's expensive for a student's budget. The phone costs about $200, monthly telephone service is around $40 and the required iPhone Internet/data package is another $40 plus taxes! And, the speedy 3G service they advertise is not yet in Florence. Still, technology prices always drop. Think about price drops for laptops, HD TV sets and BlueRay DVD players...

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/06/18/technology/personaltech/1194841040529/the-iphone-3g-s.html?scp=4&sq=david%20pugue&st=cse

Intro to Radio-Television-Film Production

Intro-to-Radio-Television-Film Production is a blog created to promote the exchange of ideas about audio and video production for cable, broadcasting and film distribution. Articles you read, post and comment about should deal with these topics, and this is a wide-open arena—industry and technology developments, job and career matters, new programs, the latest film premiers, program content….I hope you’re beginning to get the picture.

Please refer to your assignment sheet for details on blogging and response format.