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.

Kirk Voelcker of Las Vegas, Nevada asks: The "search for youth" has yielded a boon for at least one non-youth. I appreciate the multitasking mosaic approach to news. Through "crawls," the descendants of the Wall Street broad tape, I can stay appraised of other matters even if I don't care about the main-screen story. I think the youth market will force television and print to merge with the interactive capacities of the Web to create a more responsive news program. Would you agree? And if so, what kinds of changes do you think that evolution will bring?   Carl Gottlieb responds: I think what we're seeing on the "multitasked" screens is the beginning of the media's attempt to come to terms with convergence. Eventually there will be one screen, or imagine a holographic image, in your home or office where you can watch TV, listen to the radio or music, get the news you're interested in, order almost any consumer item you want...wait a minute. Isn't that what you have on your desk right now? As the "pipelines" that carry data into and out of computers expand -- and they already are with innovations like cable modems and DSL -- you will be able to access more information. I think we'll see more interactive aspects of information technology develop as well as better access to live video from almost anywhere. People will be able to better choose the information they find relevant. This is something that worries more traditional journalists who are used to serving as "gatekeepers" of information. Journalism is and must be an organic pursuit. It must be free to evolve with technology and the will of the people. This is frightening to some and liberating to others. Personally, I find it exhilarating. I think the model of who is a journalist is changing to be more inclusive. That's a good thing if the basics of responsible journalism are practiced. Proper sourcing, proportionality, relevance and the truth are still the goal.   Robin Meade responds: A fascinating idea, surely! Already I can see the interactive capabilities of the Web at work on Headline News. For example, during our morning show, viewers are asked their opinion on an issue or subject in the news, and they can reply on CNN.com’s "quick vote." I think we’ll see more and more interactive elements in all news programs as more and more viewers have Web access in the same room or office that their televisions are in and as they become more and more comfortable with the format.

The NewsHour Media Unit, including this site, is funded by grants from: