Thou shalt have one man crews….
In the Good Book, in the Book of Exodus, the Jews wander in the desert for 40 years before they reach the Promised Land.
They don’t wander for 40 years because they were lost.
How lost can you get in the Sinai, which is half the size of Northern New Jersey? No matter how lost, you ultimately hit the water at some point!
They wandered in the desert for 40 years so that anyone with a memory of slavery in Egypt would die off. Even Moses is not permitted to enter the Promised Land.
New technologies are like the Israelites wandering in the desert.
Their adaptation often requires that those who have a memory of ‘how we did things in the old days’ die off… or at least retire.
The leaders of most media companies today were born in the 1950s. They grew up in a world of television channels and typewriters. They came of age just as computers were entering the workplace. Bill Clinton, the definitive boomer, is said to have sent only 2emails during his time in the White House (the great Internet bubble). I doubt that our current President is capable of doing even that, although he seems to have some passing familiarity with ‘the google’. Maybe.
When today’s 21 year olds are sitting in the White House or running Viacom, the web will be second nature to them, (first nature more likely). They won’t have to think about ‘how to use the web’. That’s all they’ll do. When they run for office, they won’t need a bevy of assistants to set them up on Facebook. They’ll have been there all along.
About 18 months ago, we were invited to a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton. $10,000 later, we got a change to meet Hillary for our 3 mintues. (This is what 10 grand buys you apparently). We told her that the video on her website sucked. We seemed to get her attention for a minute.
“You should be all over Youtube” we said.
“What?” she asked.
“Youtube” we said.
“Never heard of it.” She seemed intrigued. She called over her head of Media and her finance chief. They joined us.
“Youtube’ we said.
The looked blankly.
“Let me write it down” said the head of Media.
“No… its YOU.. not u-tube”
“We’ll have to check it out”
New technologies come along, but it takes time for a new generation that understands that technology to get into power. The old folks have to die off.. or at least go for a walk in the desert.
19 Comments
$ February 24, 2008
To see you trying to claim VJs somehow helped KRON shows how little you know about the real world of business.
Clue number one for you.
A business is supposed to succeed over the long term.
VJs at KRON are not doing that.
rosenblumtv February 23, 2008
Actually, I am in touch with the GM from KRON on a pretty regular basis and the VJ model is the only reason they are still alive and getting ratings, in light of Young’s financial problems. Check out Lostremote today for more info on KRON.
$ February 23, 2008
Last I checked, Rosenblum is not a welcome sight at either KRON or WKRN.
Those two “towns” seem to have figured out what he does and doesn’t know.
New owners will eventually clean up the mess but it’s too late for so many others whose lives and careers have been forever damaged by someone who talks so much but knows so little.
Westlake February 23, 2008
The only difference between a cave painting and the internet is technology. We’ve seen more compelling cell phone video in recent years than 90% of the average news fare. Content is king.
My bona fides? From music major to film technician and online stringer for CNN (way back in the early days when CNN was only found on Compuserv) among others. Currently I supervise the production of much of the multimedia on this site: mlb.com (as well as MiLB.com and the 30 club sites). I’m no Vittorio Storaro but I know my way around.
Michael is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. He’s also a heckuva salesman. He may be making a few assumptions that could be arguable but he’s not wrong about the revolution that’s already happening all around us. But, just like anything else in life, revolution is what you make of it.
And for those of you insisting that he’s a snake oil salesman, I have 2 things: 1) how many snake oil salesmen have you seen come back to the town they allegedly duped to defend themselves? Michael faces his critics; 2) how many snake oil salesmen have you bothered to argue against? Me, I just keep walking and I suspect most of you do, too. If you’re talking, he must have your goat somewhere. Just throwin’ that out there…
pencilgod February 21, 2008
Thats OK Michael I don’t realy blame you for everything in the world thats wrong 🙂
rosenblumtv February 21, 2008
Stephen
Sorry man.
It’s wordpress.
I know its not perfect… but it is free…
pencilgod February 21, 2008
Cliff due to the user unfriendly way this site is set up I find myself unintentionally responding to posts that were “waiting moderation†so I couldn’t see them. That confusion aside I take exception to this:
“Pencilgod – again I defer to adolescent ramblings from those like yourself – which is now established behavior from those who spinelessly hide for fear of being found out at how mediocre their work truly isâ€
How am I hiding? Anyone with half a brain here knows my real name. I’ve posted loads of my work. Please feel free to critique it in any way. You have called us childish, spineless fine. It is a robust debate but for goodness sake all you do is lick Michael’s backside and call us names. Have you got any more than that? Please tell me there is more to you than that…
Michael for a guy who goes on about new tech this blog site interface sucks. Can you do something about it?
Lenslinger February 21, 2008
Cliff,
I don’t expect to change your mind, but since slamming you is so fun, I’ll gladly pile on. Your enthusiasm for Micheal’s every utterance is laughable, so please don’t stop. One thing, though: recently you accused us TV newsers of never posting our stuff. Untrue, mt stories are posted on my station website every day. Here’s one now, http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/InsideFox/Detail?contentId=5830830&version=4&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=5.7.1
It’s one of those trite fitness pieces, assigned as as afterthought. Though I got paid for it, I shot, wrote and edited it on my own time – as my bosses weren’t about to let me out of the daily grind for such a feature. Still, it turned out okay. Now, I know you’re gonna dismiss it as broadcast pablum, inert shovelware that hardly qualifies as on-line video. That’s cool, but when you can do what I and countless others have been doing for y-e-a-r-s, I’ll give you a listen. Until then, please help yourself to a hot steaming mug of shutthefuckup.
And no, I don’t expect that to happen either.
$ February 21, 2008
Hey Cliff?
Just what is your real full time job anyway?
It sure isn’t being a VJ!
What is it?
Are you too embarrassed to tell those of us who actually do having paying jobs shooting and editing video for broadcast and the internet?
Ellen February 20, 2008
After reading this article,I want to go out to see the movie with my boy firend.
Goodbye and Good Luck.
pencilgod February 20, 2008
Cliff did you notice that the stuff she showed was shot by a cameraman/producer with a reporter? You know the traditional model? Not a VJ in sight. She is talking about VJ’s and dribbles on about cinema verita and but actually shows two man stuff, why would that be Cliff?
She even says at the end that the training they do doesn’t get the staff up to the level of the stuff she showed. If you ever want to actually work as a VJ Cliff you need to listen to what people say and not to what you want them so sound like they are saying.
Look at her body language. She is defensive as hell. If she was proud of the VJ product why not show some of that?
Cliff Etzel February 20, 2008
Pencilgod – again I defer to adolescent ramblings from those like yourself – which is now established behavior from those who spinelessly hide for fear of being found out at how mediocre their work truly is.
If that’s all you have to say – I pity the clients getting conned into hiring you to shoot for them.
Newspaper video shooters are doing more in a shorter period of time both in quantity and quality – and doing it for less cost to their employers so get use to it. The days of padded invoices are already becoming a thing of the past.
Your lame attempt at a comeback was just that – lame.
pencilgod February 20, 2008
Cliff sharpen up!
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/441024/sharpen_up/
Cliff Etzel February 20, 2008
Looks like embedding video isn’t an option when responding so here’s the link to my previous post:
VON Web Video Journalism
Cliff Etzel February 20, 2008
The clear examples presented in this video show just how antiquated traditional broadcast truly is and how newspapers and web video production refutes any detractors present.
rosenblumtv February 20, 2008
I would guess that I am at least your age if not older, but it is good to hear the voice of youth and inexperience from you.
$ February 20, 2008
Ah the short sighted views of youth.
Just remember, by the time you get to the age of some of us, the generation behind you will be trying to make the same uninformed claims about subjects they know nothing about either.
Your days of understanding technology as you see it are more fleeting than you know.
We’re all walking in the desert now. The difference is some of us actually know how to survive and make it while others keep pontificating but never actually achieving anything. All talk with no results that matter.
Cliff and Rosenblum are experts at being unable to walk the talk. Evidence this has nothing to do with generations. It has all to do with those who can and those who can’t.
Nino February 19, 2008
Cliff, for real man, where did you learn to kiss ass like this, you’re really good man, is it a natural gift or you went to school.
Cliff Etzel February 19, 2008
Nothing more need be said on these points.