It is no secret that the entire mainstream media news industry is in decline. The institution is most often considered biased and liberal, or, polarized hard right. CBS News’ 60 Minutes recently covered this problem as presented in the video above.
60 Minutes called it an attack on our democracy.
However, bias is not the main reason local T.V. and local print is in decline. The reason local news is in decline, we believe, has much more to do with:
- The way technology changed where locals get informed.
- The manner in which local municipalities now get their primary messages out.
- The way political candidates can work around the press to speak directly with constituents.
- Industry websites including: Google Search, Cars.com, Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Amazon, online shopping, etc…
Each of these work in a combined way to eliminate billions in mainstream news ad dollars. These interruptive revenue generators are bankrupting the news industry by cutting off its advertising opportunities.
Interruptive changes will continue to affect what we know and the sources by which we get information.
Americans have always been able to adapt to these changes in the past and we can trust locals to navigate them, as we all move into this next era.
However, government officials are increasingly more concerned about matters they once were silent on. The focus on what Governments want to cover is concerning. Less emphasis is placed on storm-water, infrastructure, policing, and other roles that governments have traditionally been responsible for.
More and more, government leaders are sounding off on tabloid-like concerns.
EXAMPLE – Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune – Mustang Week vs Corvette Week
In times long past, the Sun News or local TV would be covering such events. Today, the mayor has her own broadcasting channel on Facebook and can speak out personally on scheduled tourist events.
AS TO CRIME
The City of Myrtle Beach has its own Public Information Officer and Asst. Public Information Officer with their own city branded Broadcasting Channels, including Twitter, that can report the city’s narrative on issues including:
- CRIME
- POLICING
- POLITICS
- DEVELOPMENT
- TOURISM
- LOCAL EVENTS
- INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS (rarely highlighted)
- FLOODING
- BEACH BACTERIA CONCERNS (which are seldom mentioned)
The city, in short, can message through its own broadcasting network circumventing local TV and print news entirely.
AND LOCAL CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE?
Through GEO Fencing, local candidates for office can work entirely around local debates, local news coverage, and local media events. GEO Fencing is a much more controlled way to get a candidate’s message to targeted voters.
GEO FENCING creates a virtual geographic boundary around (an area) by means of GPS or RFID technology, enabling software to trigger a text when a mobile device enters or leaves the area. If you live in a politician’s district, he or she has their own news texting network to get their preferred targeted message to you.
The days of the old, televised campaign stump events are as in the past as Franklin Roosevelt.
CAN YOU TRUST THE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICIANS TO GIVE YOU HONEST REPORTING?
Horry County residents consume their news today largely by cell phone. High profile politicians have (at times) told us not to trust mainstream news. It is biased.
On the right, conservative rail against CNN, MSNBC, and such. On the left, politicians make similar claims about Fox News, News Max, etc.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN JOURNALISM FAILS ABROAD?
What happens in suspect nations, as journalism fails? Typically journalists get killed, imprisoned or abducted.
What happens in America with the demise of investigative journalism?
Local mayors, state representatives, school boards, city councilmen, developers, family court judges, state bureaucrats, colluded businesses, private/public “tax funded” partnerships [example Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce], state owned utilities, appointed local boards, state senators, and county councilmen will be able to do many things without any sunlight.
This is a technology driven, interruptive problem. It is a problem that MyrtleBeachSC News does not have an answer for.
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Without charging our viewers for what we provide, we are simply trying to do our small part here in Horry County.