NJ Media Is Dead. Long Live NJ Media.

Thanks for that. (4.00 / 1)

It's a good reminder. And a reason to stay in the game.

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Wed Jun 29, 2011 at 14:08:08 PM UTC

NJN News is dead. New Jersey news is dead (4.00 / 1)

The NJN nightly news was the flagship of the network.  It provided quality, in-depth news reporting.  It is dead.  To be replaced by Rafael Pi Lightweight interviewing a bunch of talking heads.  That's not a news show based on news reporting.  It is higher class fluff.

All the pollyanishism in the world won't change the fact that there will no longer be a nightly news show reporting on New Jersey news.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Wed Jun 29, 2011 at 15:06:35 PM UTC

FWIW (0.00 / 0)

I'd bet that the number of households with PS3s, Wiis, Xboxes, Apple TVs, TIVO, Netflix, etc. eclipses the number of households with a regular NJN viewer. My point is that with a little creativity (and someone to pay for it, tho media production costs have plummeted w/rise of digital content) it's easy to get into people's living rooms. Maybe not yet as easy as just flipping on the TV and changing the channel, but it will be sooner than later. I wouldn't call it pollyana or suggest that whatever the powers that be do to "replace" the programming will be worthwhile. I think that its an opportunity for new methods, avenues, voices. No sads.

"We do not consider patriotism desirable if it contradicts civilized behavior." - Friedrich Durrenmatt

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by: KendalJames @ Wed Jun 29, 2011 at 15:23:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Kendal, The Positive Spin Is Appreciated.... (4.00 / 1)

...but the fact is that Christie achieved his goal.   To dim the light shed on his activities.

It's not as if the status quo was some kind of radical sharp toothed aggressive news gathering operation....but even basic competence and occasional excellence was too threatening for Chiristie.

What we'll get now from TV will be pablum cubed.   Adubato's recent performance in his interview/call in with Christie left him with a stinky brown nose.....and it'll only get worse.

Christie has gotten, and continues to get, away with the political equivalent of murder....and no one has yet to puncture this bully's bullshit....with the rare exception of Loretta Weinberg on occasion.

And don't think that the Democratic machines aren't also thrilled to have the lights dimmed.

You are correct, now it's up to "us" to create new media........there is no other option.....so yes, let's make lemonade out of this sewage.

The people, united, can never be defeated.....ahhh, but getting us united is quite a challenge!   :-)

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by: Nick Lento @ Wed Jun 29, 2011 at 15:53:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!" (0.00 / 0)

but it is getting chilly in here.

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by: Nowlan @ Wed Jun 29, 2011 at 17:00:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There is only one TV (4.00 / 1)

There's nothing like having a regular slot on a number on the TV dial.  And its impact goes beyond just the number of viewers, but who those viewers are, and whether other media follows the stories it reports.  In short, credibility.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Wed Jun 29, 2011 at 19:40:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

TV's have a dial? (0.00 / 0)

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

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by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Thu Jun 30, 2011 at 15:06:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You're younger than I am (0.00 / 0)

I gather.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Thu Jun 30, 2011 at 15:17:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh... (0.00 / 0)

I was around for the dial...and pre remote contol...

Just joking with you...

The funnier one is the cell phone... I tell my kids that before say 1995 nobody really had a cell phone and they are legitimately confused as to how on earth the world functioned...

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

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by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Thu Jun 30, 2011 at 16:47:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Business vs Public Institution (4.00 / 1)

I'm an NJN staffer who didn't work on News but some of other stuff for NJ citizens that has been completely overlooked ... documentaries and educational/informational programs about NJ's culture, history, environment, people, etc.  One of the reasons NJN had so many people is that NJN was a public institution providing a high level of original production, more than most local PBS stations, as well as doing the job that few PBS locals take on ... the daily Newscast, complete with field reporting.  Thus, because NJ is such a screwed-up media landscape in the PRIVATE marketplace, NJN was a public institution (non-profit) that was exceeding the normal requirements of a PBS local station.  It was an anomaly, but in a good way; other states have 4,5 or even 8 PBS local stations, and few of those stations produce their own local shows -- NONE produce News.  So NJ was lucky in that way, as long as people believed that a state government could step in and create a valued public institution to provide service where the marketplace would not.  
That battle for NJN as a viable public institution, like a local library, or a state museum, the State Archives, or the State Police, ... funded by Government and Governor and tax money but valid because it is needed ... died last year.  NJN was never "in the TV business."  It was a public institution performing its service via the broadcast medium; it, by law, couldn't sell commercials or make a profit.  
Now the Governor has a private video crew, probably, shooting and editing and posting personal media clips.  Is that taxpayer funded?  Is that serving all citizens, of all parties?  Is it Government in the tv business?  You tell me...  Should we disallow the "State of NJ web site or Homepage" with the Gov's happy photo on it, because it is Government in the Internet Business?  Is it okay for Government to be the gambling business (casino development, lottery?)  In the tourism/entertainment business (271 million for the "new" Xanadu?)  
Every new Governor hands out 1,000's of new jobs and appointments, to people who "owe their job" to Gov, directly or through another go-between who got them the appointment.  Why are NJN employees smeared as Soviet-era lackeys ... but all those others are able to be paid by the Governor and considered worthy public servants?  
In response to the original post ... yes the media environment is changing, but if each and every penny of public funding is taken away, many many less glamorous and certainly less profitable channels of information that depend on a few scant dollars of seed money will all go away, never to return.  

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by: robosz @ Wed Jun 29, 2011 at 17:30:10 PM UTC

robosz (0.00 / 0)

I don't think the post was intended to minimize the loss of public television, and New Jersey-centered coverage. We've been all over this, covering it blow-by-blow with the sense of loss - and fury at the shadow dealing behind it - that it demands.

My interpretation of KendalJames' post was that it was intended as a look forward. Because at this point, we'd better figure out some workable alternatives for understanding what's ahead of us, because work is surely ahead of us. And so is opportunity.

My 2 cents.  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Thu Jun 30, 2011 at 16:03:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]