This public notice from the FCC is nearly four years old. Though that doesn’t seem like a very long span of time, I think the questions already seem outdated. The Internet and advent of social media have forced rapid and substantial changes within news media and the dissemination of news. Today, the FCC would need to address much different questions.
Question 2: How have changes in the media landscape affected the delivery of critical information in times of natural disasters, extreme weather, or public health emergencies? From where do people get their information in such situations? What, if anything, should the Commission do to ensure that communities receive such often life-saving information widely and quickly?
The biggest change in this area is the start of wireless emergency alerts. These messages are sent via mobile devices to alert individuals about adverse weather, national emergencies, missing children, etc. The FCC seems to have answered this question for now, and I think it did so wisely and effectively.
Question 12: In general, what categories of journalism are most in jeopardy in the digital era? What categories are likely to flourish? Which much is still to be determined as media companies test various business models and payment approaches in the coming years, based on what is known now, are there news and information needs that commercial market mechanisms alone are unlikely to serve adequately?
Business models that still divide journalism into categories are the ones most in jeopardy. No longer can we classify journalists as working in newspapers, magazines, broadcast, and public relations. Because of the Internet, journalists today—and all media companies—must work across all mediums. A media company that fails to conveniently reach people where they are—whether that’s in their cars, on their laptops, surfing the Web, watching TV, or browsing social media—will fail to grab their attention and, therefore, lose their business (page views, click throughs, etc.) and ad revenue.
Question 32: What role will and should user-generated journalism play? In what ways can it improve upon traditional journalism, and in what ways can it not substitute for traditional journalism? How can the quality and effectiveness of citizen journalism be further improved?
The traditional media consumer is now also a media producer, thanks to social media. User-generated journalism—through Twitter and Facebook—has now become the norm. The traditional journalist no longer finds the news. He prioritizes the news. He sifts through the mounds of stories generated by tweets, Facebook posts, and Reddit entries to decide what is actually newsworthy. But this is risky. User-generated journalism is not always accurate. And in a race to be the first to publish a breaking story, many media companies have falsely reported the news. The need for strong fact checking is still apparent.
Despite its risks, user-generated journalism adds depth to stories. Videos recorded on smartphones by non-journalists can now add a new layer to the typical online story. Tweets can add new voices to the story, and social media can allow the stories to be shared by the public. All of this makes the story more relevant to readers. They can now customize how they wish to obtain the news.
Question 34: What might be the role of popular technologies heretofore associated with entertainment or social interaction, such as gaming systems or social media?
Good content is good content, but you have to have eyeballs to read that content. Getting your stories to the masses through new technologies is now essential in news media. As sources for the news have increased through the Internet, so have sources for entertainment. By combining news and entertainment, the news media may find success. Integrating with music streaming apps or video games may be the answer.
Question 38: With regard to mobile devices, what role will mobile communications services and devices play in meeting the news and information needs of communities during the next five to ten years? What is the impact of those trends for consumers, businesses, and policy makers? Should that role be reflected in the Commission’s regulation of the industries involved?
Suggesting that mobile devices may only play a role in news delivery diminishes the far-reaching impact of these devices on our lives. Mobiles devices are now the major delivery mechanism of the news, and this is fueled by the proliferation of smartphones. The weather, restaurant reviews, and movie times are now easily accessed through mobile apps. Now the question is how mobile apps will shape news delivery.
Because a smartphone is more affordable than a laptop, many low-income Americans primarily receive their news through a mobile device, spreading the accessibility of the news and broadening audiences.
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