Comments on: Too hip for words http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/06/21/too-hip-for-words/ by Jeff Jarvis Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:40:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Zen http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/06/21/too-hip-for-words/#comment-101252 Zen Wed, 02 Aug 2006 07:28:01 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=1673#comment-101252 Hi, I think you're missing the real issue, which is that CNN's trying to figure out how to stay a relevant news source as -- now -- 31 percent of Americans surveyed go online to get their info. It's not just having a website, but what the website has. Also, CNN's trying to reach a younger crowd, which not only gets most of it's news online -- 70 percent, I think -- but recognizes new CNN personalities like <a href="http://www.sportsbusinesssims.com/2005.nfl.draft.brianna.keilor.mtvu.ktvu.antrel.rolle.htm" rel="nofollow"> Brianna Keilar </a> who was with MTV-U, which went right into college campuses. Hi,
I think you’re missing the real issue, which is that CNN’s trying to figure out how to stay a relevant news source as — now — 31 percent of Americans surveyed go online to get their info. It’s not just having a website, but what the website has. Also, CNN’s trying to reach a younger crowd, which not only gets most of it’s news online — 70 percent, I think — but recognizes new CNN personalities like Brianna Keilar who was with MTV-U, which went right into college campuses.

]]> By: Helzerman’s Odd Bits » Blog Archive » links for 2006-06-22 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/06/21/too-hip-for-words/#comment-75648 Helzerman’s Odd Bits » Blog Archive » links for 2006-06-22 Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:25:29 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=1673#comment-75648 [...] BuzzMachine » Too hip for words CNN is trying to be hip. Take from a guy with a gray beard: There’s nothing more pathetically cringeworthy than an old fart trying to be with it. (Just ask for my son’s reaction when I play hiphop in the car.) (tags: Media, CNN, Buzz) [...] [...] BuzzMachine » Too hip for words CNN is trying to be hip. Take from a guy with a gray beard: There’s nothing more pathetically cringeworthy than an old fart trying to be with it. (Just ask for my son’s reaction when I play hiphop in the car.) (tags: Media, CNN, Buzz) [...]

]]> By: Aaron M http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/06/21/too-hip-for-words/#comment-75260 Aaron M Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:12:53 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=1673#comment-75260 I don't have a problem with "The Grist" in and of itself; electrons are free, after all, so if CNN wants to throw together a few cheap podcasts and toss them up on their website, more power to them. It's the two big underlying issues behind the creation of "The Grist" that I find pathetic. First, CNN has made it quite clear that this sort of podcast is part of their master plan to reach a much younger demographic. It's not going to work, for obvious reasons: This sort of "wild and wacky" video isn't anything that isn't already available in five zillion other places, and more importantly, it just isn't very good. Slapping a CNN bug on crap doesn't make it any less crap. What 18-year-old is going to go out of his way to visit CNN.com to grab this? There are ways to reach out to younger potential viewers, but this isn't one of them. Second, "The Grist" and the other five new video podcasts CNN has launched all show that the CNN newsroom culture is <b>completely</b> devoid of people who have any original ideas. Every single one of these new minishows is derivative, nothing more than the umpteenth iteration of the same old same old. (In this case, I shouldn't be singling out CNN, of course; no cable news channel has come up with a single original concept in years.) CNN and MSNBC desperately need to hire some producers who are willing to take some big chances, and then they need to actually allow the chances to be taken. (Not that Fox will be able to stay static forever, but at least their model works, for now.) I don’t have a problem with “The Grist” in and of itself; electrons are free, after all, so if CNN wants to throw together a few cheap podcasts and toss them up on their website, more power to them. It’s the two big underlying issues behind the creation of “The Grist” that I find pathetic.

First, CNN has made it quite clear that this sort of podcast is part of their master plan to reach a much younger demographic. It’s not going to work, for obvious reasons: This sort of “wild and wacky” video isn’t anything that isn’t already available in five zillion other places, and more importantly, it just isn’t very good. Slapping a CNN bug on crap doesn’t make it any less crap. What 18-year-old is going to go out of his way to visit CNN.com to grab this? There are ways to reach out to younger potential viewers, but this isn’t one of them.

Second, “The Grist” and the other five new video podcasts CNN has launched all show that the CNN newsroom culture is completely devoid of people who have any original ideas. Every single one of these new minishows is derivative, nothing more than the umpteenth iteration of the same old same old. (In this case, I shouldn’t be singling out CNN, of course; no cable news channel has come up with a single original concept in years.) CNN and MSNBC desperately need to hire some producers who are willing to take some big chances, and then they need to actually allow the chances to be taken. (Not that Fox will be able to stay static forever, but at least their model works, for now.)

]]> By: Jim Parker http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/06/21/too-hip-for-words/#comment-75167 Jim Parker Wed, 21 Jun 2006 14:59:33 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/?p=1673#comment-75167 I always enjoy your blog. I'd say your idea is more than hip. It's what people want. Why wouldn't a network want to get every bit of value out of every single bit of content? I always enjoy your blog. I’d say your idea is more than hip. It’s what people want. Why wouldn’t a network want to get every bit of value out of every single bit of content?

]]>