Having missed “GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK” the first time around, I settled onto the cold hard amphitheatre seating at the California Plaza to take in an outdoor screening of the award-winning film, starring George Clooney.
The acting was stellar and the script equally as powerful.
The intense award-winning drama focused on the McCarthy-era witch-hunts and the Senate hearings on the threat of Communism back in the 50’s.
But, there were a number of thought-provoking moments in a Q & A afterwards, as well.
A panel consisting of pundits from KTLA, a writer from salon.com, and a research Professor from the USC Annenberg School for Communication put the provocative question forward,
“Is News Over?”
Maybe the question should have been,
“Is news as we know it, kaput?”
After all, the general consensus was that our staple of news is alive and well - albeit - flourishing in a myriad of intriguing new dynamic places.
One speaker was adamant that,
Of course, the influence of the Internet loggers was discussed thoroughly ad nauseam.
One writer theorized that Internet surfers are essentially “grazers”. (moo)
While the world-wide-web tends to be wildly fragmented, he noted it’s a green pasture for newsies in-between their frantic updates for e-news bites on Kobe and Paris Hilton.
Curiously, when asked who the audience was comprised of at salon.com, the writer simply shrugged and muttered,
“We can only imagine”.
Although he admitted news outlets may be broader in scope - “they’re shallower” - he conceded.
“Internet surfers appear to be assembling their own mosaic.”
All the panelists were in accord with the idea that people seek news at the sources they trust. But, it would appear that they ake a sojourn here and there to sample the enticing flavors across the net, now and then.
There was a lot of discussion about niche news on cable, Internet sites, and the like.
All panelists concluded that the majors were on their last legs in respect to their actual influence on consumers.
For a brief moment there was an intriguing foray into the area of demographics.
The KTLA spokesman noted that the target group at the local news station ranged in ages from 25 to 54.
If you’re 55 or over, he added, you’re out of the loop when it comes to product placement.
After all, he theorized, at that retiring moment you’ve pretty much figured out your likes and dislikes and aren’t likely to roll over.
When Martin Kaplan (Director of Norman Lear Center) asked if baby-boomers in the audience (and upwards in age) would consider new products encountered in a retail outlet, a majority of the hands shot up.
The enthusiastic response appeared to defy the demographic research cited.
At this juncture, another panelist quickly sprang into action and noted - as if to make a concession to that sector - that the over-54 crowd was definitely a focus for financial products!
Ah, money. The power of the true Maestro!
Then the conversation drifted to influence.
One panelist from salon.com argued that the distinction between journalist and blogger was rapidly fading - that from a blogger - of course.
That’s not true, in my humble opinion.
Many astute armchair critics are still keen on legit credentials, especially when they’re inclined to put trust in the messenger.
Without doubt, it was wholeheartedly agreed that the Internet was driving stories.
The mainstream media could not ignore the fact, they implored.
Some plusses?
Most agreed that pervading access to documents and a wider-range of at-your-fingertips research materials was worth the surf over the internet to acquire the data.
In conclusion, it was pretty much agreed upon that the Internet was evolving into a public square where individuals could communicate openly and freely without threat of repercussion or censorship.
When the focus turned to news outlets, I was taken aback when the salon.com writer remarked at the end of the discussion,
“Fox News has a party line. It’s unspoken. But employees at Fox know where it is and don’t cross it.”
A curious comment.
Golly, it seems to be the fashion to put Fox News down and attack their news outlet.
They’re a wild card to many - playing fast and loose with the rules - to others.
This past summer, I penned commentaries at a Fox-sponsored web site.
I don’t recall any post being blocked, or any sinister hand stretching down from the corporate offices above, to throw a monkey wrench into my blog with the aim of barring my viewpoints from the band waves.
I just reported what I encountered on street corners, in cafes, and in chat rooms around the planet.
May the best man (or woman) win in the upcoming election, I say!
Indeed, citizens of this great country should speak out, voice an opinion, and - most of all - vote accordingly.
I pray they’ll be able to do so without a muzzle restricting ‘em.
That’s the American way, after all.
If you want to know what the people are thinking, go into the streets openly, and check their pulses.
Good luck and good night!
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