SEARCHING FOR YOUTH

March 2002
		How are media organizations changing the formats of their news to appeal to a younger audience? CNN Headline News anchor Robin Meade and Carl Gottlieb of the Project for Excellence in Journalism respond to your questions.

Forum introduction Will the increasing speed of news delivery diminish communication? How are young people responding to news? How can news organizations keep from watering down their content? Will the push for a younger audience spark more media convergence? What can news organizations do to better appeal to young people?     Online Special: Media Watch March 1, 2002: News organizations' attempts to woo younger viewers. May 10, 1999: Worries about violence in the media and their effects on youth.

William Cornwell of Fredericksburg, VA asks: In general, I have nothing against flashy graphics and other innovations as long as they are in service of presenting or explaining the news. I want hard news, and I want thoughtful coverage. Anything that advances that goal is good. Most young people barely follow the news, but there are some of us young folks whose first interest is in content, not format. How have other young people seemed to respond to more flashy news presentation?   Carl Gottlieb responds: I don't believe there are conclusive studies on the topic. The flashy graphics don't necessarily mean content suffers as long as they work in support of the information or content presented. I have seen instances where graphics help to illustrate a story and make it more understandable, such as the reporting of Robert Krulwich [of ABC News] and others. I must admit that too much in the way of flying graphics can take away from understanding as well. Some people blame the "MTVization" of news on the issue you describe. Others believe that constantly moving images on the screen keep people focused.   Robin Meade responds: I've had a positive response from viewers, especially young viewers. I think that the Headline News team works very hard to ensure that everything on the screen provides some sort of service for our viewer and adds to the experience of watching the news and getting information. I see our news team trying to make the news interesting on a number of levels ... and that begins with content and thoughtful, accurate coverage. I think Headline News offers solid news content and an interesting visual presentation.

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