It wasn't long after television came about that people were swearing radio would be a thing of the past. But, alas, our need to keep our eyes focused on the road, our work or be entertained outdoors continues to make this medium useful. In fact, it's getting technological upgrades now that we are broadcasting from satellites.
People marvel at how technology seems to bring the world together. As technology continues with text messaging cell phones, Internet capable handheld computers and Wi-fi locations springing up all over, our connectivity to another human is less and less defined by physical presence. It's this lack of geographical binding that has the mass audience depleting dependably over time.
I would be willing to bet a cable modem that the amount of time in morning news blocks dedicated to traffic and weather reports has increased dramatically as otherwise tight fisted station owners dole out cash for fancier weather forecast radar and helicopters specking the sky for a live look at traffic. Even journalists consider the importance of the mass audience less important according to this Poynter Online - Reaching a Mass Audience Continues to Decline.
It is far fetched to claim that television will decline to a weather and traffic monitoring system because of the value of live video and commentary. Television has this ability to alert you of unexpected news in a way that is difficult to replace with thousands of specialized Web sites. The credibility of the journalists on television for national and emergent news is unique compared to the sharing of ideas that can stand or fall on their own.
The audience uses the Web, while television has to engage the audience. The doer switches seats from one medium to the next, and that changes the level of jargon, credibility and reliability the audience expects. Web sites are now springing up trying to further credibility of other Web sites as we speak.
Look at this Web site put together by librarians who look out for reliable sites: http://lii.org/. It would seem odd to come across a television station with programming designed to confirm that CNN or MSNBC has reliable news. This Penn State article seems to indicate that mass media, such as television, aren't really meant to do more than grab interest from the audience. Penn State Television, therefore, may become the general funnel that helps people get to their specific area of interest quickly. Already, stations are telling people to go to its Web site for more information. In this way, stations have a chance to become the credible gateway for the Web medium.
The importance of live news declines in the face of people who want more information about what they find interesting and less information about things they aren't interested in. Where its importance is unequivocal is live coverage of events like 9-11, or watching the women's soccer team win the gold. The craft of commentary and film is unique, just like the radio in the car on the way to work, it won't fade away anytime soon.
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