Anyone who knows me (or all -3 of you who read my blog without being obligated) have come to realize that I have an incredibly snarky, sometimes dry, sense of humour.  (Leave me alone, I was messaging my friend in Ontario earlier.)  Because of this, my stream of consciousness as I read or watch various things tends to stray from tame to “who in their right mind thinks of that?”*

Reading Kershner’s commentary on the future of mass media was no different.  In fact, I found myself saying, “Well…yeah…” or “…duh.” through a good chunk of the first section.  Of course media has changed.  Facebook happened.  Twitter happened.  T—–** happened.  Those are just in the last, what, ten years!  Things change — it’s a part of life.  (…even when I hate admitting it, ok?  We won’t get into the way my well organized life plan has drastically been torn apart in the last four months.)

Because of this, how can we possibly expect things to stay the same?  I’ll be the first to admit my dismay at the inability to find free publications on the new Newsstand app on iOS 5 for the iPad.  I barely have money for food right now, let alone news.  That’s what the Internet is for.

That’s what the Internet is for.

When I found out that President Obama was going to make an announcement back in April that involved Homeland Security, it wasn’t through the main-steam media.  I had just thrown my campfire-perfume encrusted hoodie onto the floor after getting back to my soft, warm bed after a wet weekend of re-enacting the French and Indian War when my TweetDeck exploded.

Yes, Twitter told me all about it.

My roommates didn’t even know.  We all crowded around the TV to see if we were all going to die and if so, would we at least have time to make sure our last hours on Earth wouldn’t suck?

Obviously we’re all still alive and our lives don’t suck***, but my point is: media changes.  As the technology changes, the way news and current events are broadcast and commentated on changes to fit the need and demand.

We demand information and the Internet supplies it.

Supply and demand.

Regardless, Kershner is also right to say that “traditional newspapers still make money.”  There’s easy ways to make that happen.  Use your website for premium content.  (PG+ from the Post Gazette is a perfect, also frustrating, example.  ((Why must you hide the light-hearted, non-game related Penguins interviews from meeeeeee…)))

While I don’t even want to get into the Kindle vs perfection paper debate, our kind author is also right to say that “every type of mass media has continued to exist after new ones were invented.”  (Borders…come back to me…)  But honestly, think about it:
We still have newspapers.
We still have radio.
We still have TV.
I don’t have a newspaper subscription, so I read their websites.
I have a radio, thank the Lord.  (Even if it is on my iPad.  You’re welcome for the product placement, SHU.)
I have a TV, but I have the lamest cable plan known to mankind****, so I listen to my darling Penguins on my iPad thanks to Mike Lange.

Really, if anyone takes anything out of this chapter, it should be that the “need for journalists will continue.”  Anyone can start a blog.  Anyone can tweet and use a hashtag and hope it’s seen.  We all know how to update a Facebook status.  That’s not what matters.  Can you write?  Can you be reliable and accountable?  Can you be professional?  Can you be held to a standard?  Can you dispense timely, accurate and relevant information to the masses?

Not everyone can do that.  Leave it to the professionals, kids.

—

* I once was able to connect the song “The Candy Man” feature in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” all the way back to RENT…the terrifying part?  It all made sense.  If you actually care as to how I did it, leave a comment.  I don’t want to scare you all with how quickly my brain makes stupid, useless connections.

** Rule #1 of T—–: You don’t talk about T—–.

*** That’s really up for debate.  I personally will have a day like today where…wait.  Today is a terrible example.  Scratch that.  Yesterday I–….No.  Not yesterday, either.  Yesterday was a cry-fest.  I’m sure I’ll think of one…

**** But there’s one single reason it’s all ok: I get CBS which means I get 2 Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS and Survivor.
…I mean…What?  (Also, I only ever have time to watch the first two and THAT barely ever happens.)

…I’m boring you all.  Here’s a picture of a cat.

I’d show you a picture of my cat, but she’s a terrible little brat and doesn’t deserve the attention.