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The Big News: Shrinking Reportage (Dinosaur Media Extinction Alert)
Washington Post ^ | March, 13, 2006 | Howard Kurtz

Posted on 03/13/2006 6:48:55 AM PST by abb

An explosion of media outlets means we now have more coverage and carping about every conceivable event than ever before in history.

But we also have less reporting.

Hundreds of cable and radio commentators, and millions of bloggers, can sound off about the news in real time. But the number of old-fashioned fact-gatherers is dwindling, and will almost certainly continue to shrink.

In the Philadelphia area, for instance, the number of newspaper reporters has fallen from 500 to 220 in the last quarter-century. Most of the local television stations have cut back on traditional news coverage. Five AM radio stations used to cover news; now there are two.

These figures are drawn from a new study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism describing what it calls a "seismic transformation" in the media landscape. The good news is that the average consumer can in effect create his own news, picking and choosing from sources he trusts and enjoys rather than being spoon-fed by a handful of big corporations

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: kurtz; msm; newspapers
More wailing, moaning, baying and puking....
1 posted on 03/13/2006 6:48:58 AM PST by abb
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To: abb
These figures are drawn from a new study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism describing what it calls a "seismic transformation" in the media landscape

There they go - not with a bang but a whimper!

2 posted on 03/13/2006 6:52:03 AM PST by i.l.e. (Tagline - this space for sale....)
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To: abb
But they don't NEED fact-gatherers!

The DNC will fax the facts to them and save them the trouble.

3 posted on 03/13/2006 6:55:37 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (E)
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To: abb
More wailing, moaning, baying and puking....

You forgot 'gnashing of teeth'.

4 posted on 03/13/2006 6:58:16 AM PST by BluH2o
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To: abb

I wonder how much "fact gathering" ever got done. The Woodward -Bernstein myth of the "intrepid reporter" may have been mostly that, a myth. In reality reporters are used by various and sundry actors - you want to get your version of the story out - you call your friendly reporter - so it's not wearing out shoe leather pounding the pavement - it's answering the phone.


5 posted on 03/13/2006 7:00:37 AM PST by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten (When Bush says "we mustn't act like clowns," the RATS don their multi-colored wigs and greasepaint.)
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To: abb
Hundreds of cable and radio commentators, and millions of bloggers, can sound off about the news in real time. But the number of old-fashioned fact-gatherers is dwindling,

Howard has his cause and effect backwards. The lack of "old fashioned fact gathering" reporters is the the cause of the explosion of the alternative media.

6 posted on 03/13/2006 7:02:05 AM PST by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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To: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
I agree with you. The mythic version of a reporter is basically a sort of private detective. The brave reporter combs through dusty files. The brave reporter stakes out the suspect's house. The brave reporter cross-examines the bad guy late at night. The brave reporter scoops the competition and tells the world the important news.

In reality, as you said, the brave reporter sits at his desk and waits for the press releases to arrive.

7 posted on 03/13/2006 7:04:44 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (E)
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To: abb
"But the number of old-fashioned fact-gatherers is dwindling, and will almost certainly continue to shrink."

On the contrary, thanks to the Internet, there are now more fact-gatherers than ever. But Kurtz is partially, inadvertently right - the bloggers have arisen because the MSM is not doing its job, and acts according to its own biases rather than the facts.
8 posted on 03/13/2006 7:13:54 AM PST by Steve_Seattle
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To: The_Victor
"Hundreds of cable and radio commentators, and millions of bloggers, can sound off about the news in real time."

Notice the pejorative "sound off," as if it's not really news unless it comes from the NYT or Cronkite.
9 posted on 03/13/2006 7:16:17 AM PST by Steve_Seattle
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To: The_Victor
"old fashioned fact gathering"

There never was 'old fashioned fact gathering'. Prior to newspaper consolidation, there were multiple dailies in each major city. Each had specific political agendas tailored for their respective readership.

As it turns out, the short 20 year period of single newspaper coverage is coming to a close. Combined with the decline of broadcast media (after 40 years of dominance), represents a significant shift we are witenessing/participating each day.

10 posted on 03/13/2006 7:16:48 AM PST by lemura
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To: abb
In the future we may just see two tiers of reporting. There will be people who are actually on the scene - providing the basic facts, like Sky News, and then everyone else on an equal footing. You can read the raw facts or, if you'd like, find an author that adds insight you appreciate. The gatekeepers will be gone. If people don't have network news shows telling them what brand of shirt Amber Frey wore today they will be better off.

Perhaps the RSS Reader will dominate and people will be able to take it with them in an IPOD-like thing or even, heaven forbid, a printout.

11 posted on 03/13/2006 7:42:02 AM PST by Dilbert56
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To: abb
picking and choosing from sources he trusts

Unlike the local rag, The King County Journal, which has almost reached the point where I unsubscribe forever.

12 posted on 03/13/2006 7:48:42 AM PST by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† | Libs: Celebrate MY diversity! | Iran Azadi 2006)
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To: abb
But the number of old-fashioned fact-gatherers is dwindling, and will almost certainly continue to shrink.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

..outstanding fact gathering Mapes...I'll get this on the air immediately.......by the way...who is Lucy Rameriz

13 posted on 03/13/2006 7:57:24 AM PST by Donald Rumsfeld Fan ("fake but accurate": NY Times)
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