[MGP-Forum Announce] Is it better to build, not buy, metro news organizat...

[Markkarlin at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/29/2006 9:55:45 AM Central Standard Time,  
steve at coanews.org writes:

"An  ideal media landscape is a diverse, pluralistic one. We know that   
the corporate media system has many limitations, and having this   
system overwhelmingly dominate what we hear, see, and read calls for  a  
rejuvenation of all forms of independent media."   (for-profit  
independent media  included)

Steve





Agreed, and I won't wear out my welcome here on this subject.  But let  me 
add one more thing.  The potential -- and I emphasize only potential --  upside 
of the relative decrease in value of large media companies like the  Tribune 
Company and Clear Channel is that local buyers may indeed come in and  buy the 
company.  Now, that's a danger too, because generally people with  big money 
are Republicans, or so the statistics go. But there are plenty of  Democrats 
and progressives with big money.
 
In Baltimore, a Democratic group of big bucks guys are thinking of making  an 
offer to the Tribune Company for the Baltimore Sun.  Clear Channel may  be 
broken up and sold to separate regional bidders, the same with the Tribune  
Company assets.  This would offer people like Soros and the Silicon Valley  
liberals a chance to buy some bricks and mortars, although I qualify that by  
reiterating what I said in a previous e-mail, investing in the current media  
without a multi-tiered game plan is throwing money down the tubes.   Essentially, 
you are buying a brand identity, which would then need to be  morphed into the 
new media that would encompass different delivery systems and  much more 
reader-community  generation of the news itself.
 
Advertising will continue to be a multi-billion dollar source of news  
funding. The American economy runs on it.  It is now shifting where it is  spent.  
The new media (although ironically BuzzFlash does not accept  advertising on 
BuzzFlash.com and is reader supported, but that can work for  everyone) will 
have to take advantage of this advertising shift, while also  working to 
eliminate objectionable advertising.
 
Mark Karlin
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