For Monday, March 23: Blog Chapter 8 (Radio) and Chapter 19 (Mass Media Law)

Chapter 8:

In reading chapter eight I found it interesting to learn that even as mainstream radio’s audiences are shrinking with the onset of new media like MP3 players where you can determine your own commercial-free playlist, the text says that the public radio audience is growing. Public radio has a growing and loyal audience for news and public affairs which historically mainstream radio has veered away from. One argument the text makes in support of why audiences have decreased over the years is that radio station owners made a decision early on to veer away from “promoting citizen participation in the life of the community and public affairs that it was all but forgotten”.

My question is what shift will radio need to make to regain its audiences in order to be competitive with other 21st century media like MP3 players and satellite radio? Could we possibly see more grassroots/local radio stations like college radio stations filling the void for providing local news and a focus on community events?

One “fact” from this chapter to remember would be the radio conglomerate, Clear Channel comprises of 1,200 plus stations with up to 8 stations in certain markets.

Chapter 19:

An interesting observation from this chapter is when they were discussing Google’s latest venture of digitizing entire collections of five major libraries they state that whatever comes of this project it is apparent that “mass media companies are less in control of the technology that is reshaping the world than are companies and individuals who specialize in the research and creative thinking that brings about technical revolution”. I found that observation by the author of the text to be profound in that one would think that media companies are filled with creative individuals whose main job is to come up with innovative ideas to further position their company and/or products to be at the forefront of technology within the industry. For whatever reason it seems as though that’s not always the case.

My question is why aren’t media companies more creative and innovative when it comes to new product development within an industry which appears to be changing so quickly? Why are so many media companies unable to adapt to new technology that in many cases is being created by individuals to counteract the current system?

An interesting “fact” from this chapter is that “copyright” has been in existence since the beginning of the Republic as it was written into the Constitution by our founders. The text goes on to say that in 1790 when Congress first convened the second law to be passed was for copyright as they were trying to encourage creativity.

A Recent Radio Experience:

Lately I enjoy the times when I am alone in my car even if it’s only for 5 minutes to listen to VPR on my drive to work. As I don’t have many opportunities to listen to news on the radio these days since my commute to Burlington includes dropping the kids off at daycare at least my 5 year old has acquired an eclectic taste in music which he prefers to listen to and it doesn’t include nursery rhymes. There are many shows I enjoy listening to on NPR specifically Fresh Air, All Things Considered and Marketplace. These days when Kai Risdall does the numbers it’s often quite depressing. When I have to drive any distance in my car and I find I’ve forgotten cds or my MP3 player, I must admit that I end up scanning the fm dial and there aren’t many stations which come in on Interstate 89 between Burlington and southern NH. So I think if there are any aspiring disc jockeys in our class it seems as though now is the time and radio in Northern New England needs you.