Where we get our news

-
A just-released report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project and the Project for Excellence in Journalism has some good news for Howard, Maggie and their colleagues at WLBT-TV, a Jackson, Mississippi television station. The local television station is still the number one source for Americans. The rest of the story – actually the main story – is that we news consumers are utilizing multiple formats, and that the Internet has moved ahead of radio and newspapers as news sources.

In this writer’s younger days it was network news and the local newspaper. These sources were supplemented by magazines. Today it’s the Internet, tv news, radio, newspapers, etc. Although the sources have changed, what is really new is the instant feedback from readers to news stories. Instead of waiting until tomorrow to discuss the news with a co-worker I can read multiple reader reactions posts on the news source’s Web site.

Some other findings from the study:

  • Portable: 33% of cell phone owners now access news on their cell phones.
  • Personalized: 28% of internet users have customized their home page to include news from sources and on topics that particularly interest them.
  • Participatory: 37% of internet users have contributed to the creation of news, commented about it, or disseminated it via postings on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.

Oh, one other thing that has changed. You can now click on these three words, and go directly to the report that I am referring to.

OH, again. Watch out, Howard and Maggie. The Internet is moving up fast.

Popular posts from this blog

The Two Most Admirable Qualities in a Leader

-
The Two Most Admirable Qualities in a Leader When asked what they look for and admire in a leader and in a colleague, people put honesty at #1 . But the second-highest requirement of a leader — that he or she be forward-looking — wasn’t applied to colleagues. 72% of respondents wanted leaders to be forward-looking, but only 27% looked for that trait in a colleague. SOURCE: “To Lead, Create a Shared Vision” in Harvard Business Review , January 2009
Read more

PUBLIC SPEAKING FOR PEOPLE WHO DON’T DO PUBLIC SPEAKING

-
September 2015 You’re sitting at your desk one day, basking in the glory of your company being named one of the “Best Places to Work in Mississippi” by the Mississippi Business Journal. Your pride is still swelling as the phone rings. The caller identifies himself and asks if you would be willing to come to his civic club in two weeks and tell how your company achieved such an honor. Your heart races all of a sudden because you have never made a speech to a civic club or any public group for that matter. The mere thought of it causes a brief panic. What would you do? The first thing to do quickly consider your alternatives. You could say no, but that would not shed a favorable light on you and your company. You could say that you are busy and that you would be able to come at a later date. That would give you time to rehearse and learn more about public speaking. You could send someone else in the company, but your company is small and there is no one else. Besides, it was your p
Read more

Your town's name may be a big asset.

-
Image
What’s in a name? A lot if your town’s name is Sturgis. (photo courtesy Steve Corbitt) During the weekend of August 15-16, 2009 thousands of motorcyclists (bikers) descended on towns named Sturgis. The Grandaddy of course is Sturgis, South Dakota where bikers congragate for a full week of activities. Statistics are not in yet for this year, but in 2008 there 400,000 in attendance, 66 marriage licenses issued, $10.45 million in taxable sales, $418,932 South Dakota sales taxes collected, $217,213 Sturgis city sales taxes collected and 543 tons of garbage hauled. The event has grown so big that other towns in the U.S. named Sturgis have been having there own biker festivals during the same weekend. More… In Sturgis, Mississippi over 850 bikers pre-registered for the event, and many more showed up without being pre-registered. Sturgis Mayor Walter Turner said the event is great for the city and the bikers and families are welcome. In advance of the even city crews perfor
Read more