Comments on: The sun never sets on the Beeb http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/ by Jeff Jarvis Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:01:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Leon http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-44706 Leon Sun, 07 May 2006 16:46:43 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-44706 As to the BBC's Thomson's part about 'educating' - that's a little worrying. Sounds a bit like "white man's burden". There is room for it but not at the expense of "informing". For 50 years that's what Communist media tried to do by "educating" their public according to the party line rather than providing real information, leaving the listener/viewer to read between the lines. Even with the best of intentions, concentrating on educating will result in a loss of credibility. As to the BBC’s Thomson’s part about ‘educating’ - that’s a little worrying. Sounds a bit like “white man’s burden”. There is room for it but not at the expense of “informing”. For 50 years that’s what Communist media tried to do by “educating” their public according to the party line rather than providing real information, leaving the listener/viewer to read between the lines. Even with the best of intentions, concentrating on educating will result in a loss of credibility.

]]> By: BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » The vision from Europe http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-44678 BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » The vision from Europe Sun, 07 May 2006 14:47:11 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-44678 [...] Continuing a string of visionary statements from European media bosses (see the Guardian’s Alan Rusbridger here, Reuters’ Tom Glocer here and here, the BBC’s Mark Thompson here, and Burda’s Hubert Burda here), now add this interview with Gruner + Jahr boss Bernd Kundrun. It’s in German in the Frankfurter Allegemeine Sonntagszeitung (sadly and ironically not free) and I’ll try to translate and paraphrase the good bits (please do correct me): The journalistic skill in the future wil be the moderation of ‘user-generated content,’ exactly like earlier information and data bases in the internet…. [...] [...] Continuing a string of visionary statements from European media bosses (see the Guardian’s Alan Rusbridger here, Reuters’ Tom Glocer here and here, the BBC’s Mark Thompson here, and Burda’s Hubert Burda here), now add this interview with Gruner + Jahr boss Bernd Kundrun. It’s in German in the Frankfurter Allegemeine Sonntagszeitung (sadly and ironically not free) and I’ll try to translate and paraphrase the good bits (please do correct me): The journalistic skill in the future wil be the moderation of ‘user-generated content,’ exactly like earlier information and data bases in the internet…. [...]

]]> By: BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » We Media http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-43694 BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » We Media Wed, 03 May 2006 10:41:31 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-43694 [...] : Mark Thompson, who gave a visionary speech about BBC 2.0 last week, is on the next panel. He says that he sees a change in the culture of the BBC from anxiety over this future to a realization that this new world creates new means for the BBC to fufill its mission. [...] [...] : Mark Thompson, who gave a visionary speech about BBC 2.0 last week, is on the next panel. He says that he sees a change in the culture of the BBC from anxiety over this future to a realization that this new world creates new means for the BBC to fufill its mission. [...]

]]> By: BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » BBC 2.1 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-43301 BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » BBC 2.1 Mon, 01 May 2006 21:36:12 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-43301 [...] More on the BBC’s bold plans in today’s Media Guardian. Owen Gibson hears BBC head of journalism Mark Byford talk the talk: The shift in distribution should be accompanied by a shift in tone, he argues. “They [the audience] like its accuracy, its authority, its authenticity. They want it to be a bit more modern, a bit more accessible, a bit more courageous and we’ve got to adapt to that as well.” And that shift in mindset should apply to the way in which complaints are treated too, he says. “In the past, people thought that if they admitted a mistake it would make them less authoritative. In fact, the audience feel it makes you more so,” he says, perhaps alluding to Hutton and bringing to mind his unhappy spell as stand-in director general following the departure of Greg Dyke. “You’ve got to understand that over time that’s got to change. Trust is about reliability but it’s also about responsiveness,” he adds. [...] [...] More on the BBC’s bold plans in today’s Media Guardian. Owen Gibson hears BBC head of journalism Mark Byford talk the talk: The shift in distribution should be accompanied by a shift in tone, he argues. “They [the audience] like its accuracy, its authority, its authenticity. They want it to be a bit more modern, a bit more accessible, a bit more courageous and we’ve got to adapt to that as well.” And that shift in mindset should apply to the way in which complaints are treated too, he says. “In the past, people thought that if they admitted a mistake it would make them less authoritative. In fact, the audience feel it makes you more so,” he says, perhaps alluding to Hutton and bringing to mind his unhappy spell as stand-in director general following the departure of Greg Dyke. “You’ve got to understand that over time that’s got to change. Trust is about reliability but it’s also about responsiveness,” he adds. [...]

]]> By: Adam http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42374 Adam Fri, 28 Apr 2006 23:04:50 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42374 From what I've seen from inside the American television industry, no one on this side of the Atlantic is even <em>talking</em> about these things, or aware that major players like the BBC are taking steps toward better use of the internet and new technology. Disney, maybe, now that Bob Iger's in charge, but I'm not totally convinced yet. At the very least, people at the BBC are paying attention to what's going on outside, which is more than I can say for at least one major broadcaster in the US. From what I’ve seen from inside the American television industry, no one on this side of the Atlantic is even talking about these things, or aware that major players like the BBC are taking steps toward better use of the internet and new technology. Disney, maybe, now that Bob Iger’s in charge, but I’m not totally convinced yet. At the very least, people at the BBC are paying attention to what’s going on outside, which is more than I can say for at least one major broadcaster in the US.

]]> By: Mike http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42365 Mike Fri, 28 Apr 2006 21:54:01 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42365 Typical BBC: long-winded, content-lacking, self-reverential tripe served up with a gloss of culture, and we're expected to pay for it then thank them Typical BBC: long-winded, content-lacking, self-reverential tripe served up with a gloss of culture, and we’re expected to pay for it then thank them

]]> By: Searching, Searching, Searching » Random Stuff http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42357 Searching, Searching, Searching » Random Stuff Fri, 28 Apr 2006 21:28:56 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42357 [...] From Jeff Jarvis:  “Are the days of America’s leadership in media over? You tell me.” Read his post here. [...] [...] From Jeff Jarvis:  “Are the days of America’s leadership in media over? You tell me.” Read his post here. [...]

]]> By: BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » The BCC as a new network http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42308 BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » The BCC as a new network Fri, 28 Apr 2006 19:08:57 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42308 [...] In followup discussions and interviews about the BBC’s bold plans to reinvent itself, the one question I keep getting asked that I didn’t address in my post is: [...] [...] In followup discussions and interviews about the BBC’s bold plans to reinvent itself, the one question I keep getting asked that I didn’t address in my post is: [...]

]]> By: H.A. Page http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42244 H.A. Page Fri, 28 Apr 2006 11:50:35 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42244 Kirk -- funny association with the ants. You are right. No boundaries anymore geographically. What will this do for nationalism? The BBC is ahead of the U.S., except the little Santa Fe New Mexican has been trying to get it right for quite some time. Maybe because their online leadership didn't come from print backgrounds. Very chaotic and messy. Dan Gillmor's Hearst Lecture at Columbia last night was very upbeat about how it will shake out. Glad his new foundation will be seriously studying these issues. It will help all the MSM media. Cheers! Kirk — funny association with the ants. You are right. No boundaries anymore geographically. What will this do for nationalism? The BBC is ahead of the U.S., except the little Santa Fe New Mexican has been trying to get it right for quite some time. Maybe because their online leadership didn’t come from print backgrounds. Very chaotic and messy.

Dan Gillmor’s Hearst Lecture at Columbia last night was very upbeat about how it will shake out. Glad his new foundation will be seriously studying these issues. It will help all the MSM media.
Cheers!

]]> By: Rick http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42046 Rick Thu, 27 Apr 2006 20:36:18 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-42046 US is so 20th century ... the only leadership it can retain now is in killing-machines -- we're still the best at making those. Oh we also lead in energy consumption per capita. Politically, economically, socially - our day has past. US is so 20th century … the only leadership it can retain now is in killing-machines — we’re still the best at making those. Oh we also lead in energy consumption per capita. Politically, economically, socially - our day has past.

]]> By: Jackie Danicki » Another pleasant ASI blogging event http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41929 Jackie Danicki » Another pleasant ASI blogging event Thu, 27 Apr 2006 11:51:22 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41929 [...] Amazingly, he didn’t. But he also didn’t say much that struck me as being of note, either. (Like the dork I am, I was the only one in the audience sitting there with a pen and notepad, poised to write down anything particularly erudite or stupid that was said.) All in all, a bit waffly. But I’m immersed in blogging and analysis of social media on a daily basis - it is how I bring home the bacon - so I would never have expected any of Finkelstein’s words to strike me like a lightning bolt of clarity and originality. All in all, the entire conversation struck me as very three years ago - and 2003 is exactly where much of the UK is in terms of blogging awareness and understanding, contrary to Jeff Jarvis’s impression from the other side of the pond. So the quality level of the discussion was about where I’d have expected it to be. (A speaker such as the Guardian’s Simon Waldman would have provided a much more advanced set of points, but Finkelstein is a longtime friend of the ASI and so was a natural choice for the event.) [...] [...] Amazingly, he didn’t. But he also didn’t say much that struck me as being of note, either. (Like the dork I am, I was the only one in the audience sitting there with a pen and notepad, poised to write down anything particularly erudite or stupid that was said.) All in all, a bit waffly. But I’m immersed in blogging and analysis of social media on a daily basis - it is how I bring home the bacon - so I would never have expected any of Finkelstein’s words to strike me like a lightning bolt of clarity and originality. All in all, the entire conversation struck me as very three years ago - and 2003 is exactly where much of the UK is in terms of blogging awareness and understanding, contrary to Jeff Jarvis’s impression from the other side of the pond. So the quality level of the discussion was about where I’d have expected it to be. (A speaker such as the Guardian’s Simon Waldman would have provided a much more advanced set of points, but Finkelstein is a longtime friend of the ASI and so was a natural choice for the event.) [...]

]]> By: james http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41771 james Wed, 26 Apr 2006 19:31:32 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41771 Here's a <a href="http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/profiles/?profiles/apple_fcs_profile-bbc_h640" rel="nofollow">cool story</a> about BBC's video production focus- (it's a plug for Final Cut Pro, but shows they're into producing video not just for TV anymore) Here’s a cool story about BBC’s video production focus-
(it’s a plug for Final Cut Pro, but shows they’re into producing video not just for TV anymore)

]]> By: Kirk http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41746 Kirk Wed, 26 Apr 2006 16:55:48 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41746 If small <i>is</i> the new big does the fact that they're tiny relative to millions of bloggers mean they're small enough? I don't think so. A bunch of crazed Amazonian Bullet ants can eat a dead elephant or a live mouse. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me to define leadership in terms of geography any more. I work with people from Europe every day on an open source project and I rarely give their location much thought though I can't figure out why they go to bed so early over there :D If small is the new big does the fact that they’re tiny relative to millions of bloggers mean they’re small enough? I don’t think so. A bunch of crazed Amazonian Bullet ants can eat a dead elephant or a live mouse.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to define leadership in terms of geography any more. I work with people from Europe every day on an open source project and I rarely give their location much thought though I can’t figure out why they go to bed so early over there :D

]]> By: Strive Notes » The Beautiful Beeb 2.0 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41729 Strive Notes » The Beautiful Beeb 2.0 Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:43:28 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41729 [...] The news is dividing opinion around the blogosphere with many applauding the announcement while others are less enthusiastic.  Jeff Jarvis says, ”in a word: Wow.”  Mark Wallace asks, “Can they compete with what’s already out there?” Blogging 4business states, “As the Beeb has learned, the viewers are in charge.”  Drew B says, “How cool will this be?” [...] [...] The news is dividing opinion around the blogosphere with many applauding the announcement while others are less enthusiastic.  Jeff Jarvis says, ”in a word: Wow.”  Mark Wallace asks, “Can they compete with what’s already out there?” Blogging 4business states, “As the Beeb has learned, the viewers are in charge.”  Drew B says, “How cool will this be?” [...]

]]> By: Jackie Danicki http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41716 Jackie Danicki Wed, 26 Apr 2006 13:59:43 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41716 If the BBC was doing this with money other than that acquired by threatening people like me with jail time if we don't pay their way, I would be a lot more excited about this. The fact that they want to do interesting things doesn't mean it's excusable for them to shake down the public for their funding. If the BBC was doing this with money other than that acquired by threatening people like me with jail time if we don’t pay their way, I would be a lot more excited about this. The fact that they want to do interesting things doesn’t mean it’s excusable for them to shake down the public for their funding.

]]> By: Robert Feinman http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41714 Robert Feinman Wed, 26 Apr 2006 13:53:26 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41714 Big, old, institutions never "get it". They try to respond to change, but they are mired in their own history. So they pickup some of the current buzz to appear hip. Does anyone remember TQM or business process re-engineering? All the innovations in media over the past several decades have come from independent, mostly young, innovators. This started with the web itself and now has spread to various add ons like RSS and Podcasting. What the big news media have is a news gathering organization. I listen to the BBC frequently, and no matter what the story, or how remote the location, they have some on the scene. This is the unique value that they have to offer. Interacting with their audience will improve things, but they shouldn't lose sight of what their true strengths are. Big, old, institutions never “get it”. They try to respond to change, but they are mired in their own history. So they pickup some of the current buzz to appear hip.

Does anyone remember TQM or business process re-engineering?

All the innovations in media over the past several decades have come from independent, mostly young, innovators. This started with the web itself and now has spread to various add ons like RSS and Podcasting.

What the big news media have is a news gathering organization. I listen to the BBC frequently, and no matter what the story, or how remote the location, they have some on the scene. This is the unique value that they have to offer.

Interacting with their audience will improve things, but they shouldn’t lose sight of what their true strengths are.

]]> By: Jason O http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41707 Jason O Wed, 26 Apr 2006 13:15:28 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/04/26/the-sun-never-sets-on-the-beeb/#comment-41707 If the American media is willing to adapt to change instead of complaining about it, I think they could lead once again. All I see is a lack of credibility in the public's eyes. Even among my more left-leaning friends, the media will always manage to find an angle even they find detestable. For instance, the media's constant uninformed coverage on the "evils" of video gaming has struck a sour note with many. The American media seems determined to do everything they can to alienate their audience. The BBC's new attitude seems to be that they want to do everything they can to embrace their audience. The difference in attitude couldn't be more vast. If the American media is willing to adapt to change instead of complaining about it, I think they could lead once again.

All I see is a lack of credibility in the public’s eyes. Even among my more left-leaning friends, the media will always manage to find an angle even they find detestable. For instance, the media’s constant uninformed coverage on the “evils” of video gaming has struck a sour note with many.

The American media seems determined to do everything they can to alienate their audience. The BBC’s new attitude seems to be that they want to do everything they can to embrace their audience. The difference in attitude couldn’t be more vast.

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