Opportunity for New Media or New Government?

October 30, 2008 by Jonathan Movroydis | Filed Under News media 

As newspapers, cable, and network news are downsizing their coverage of international issues, Michael Yon is being supported by Pajamas Media to report from the War Zone in Afghanistan. Yon call this a moment of opportunity for the new media to take the lead:

The New York Times employs courageous and outstanding reporters who are providing excellent coverage from Afghanistan — and I hope that isn’t curtailed. There are stories that the Times, with its editors, researchers, and backup staff, can report and publicize in a way that alternative sources simply cannot match. Nevertheless, one consequence of this media downturn is that yet more market share will be left on the table for alternative media outlets. To be able to take advantage of this opportunity, alternative journalists have to meet the financial challenge and figure out how to provide news about critical events in Iraq, Afghanistan, and whatever comes next that people won’t get elsewhere.

This translates into a moment of opportunity for alternative sources — but only if it turns out that readers value alternative sources and are willing to keep them afloat during these stormy times. Pajamas Media is an example of an alternative source that is making an impact. PJM reaches millions of people and they sent a video camera to me in Afghanistan. Please stand by for videos of our folks and Afghans telling you directly what they think. Perhaps PJM will host us live from Afghanistan from time to time, and then you can ask soldiers and Afghans what they think and get a live, completely unedited answer.

But before the legendary news giants take that hard fall, can they get their own corporate bail-out by an activist administration? Ostensibly, would a fairness doctrine include a subsidy for left-wing news? After all, as Sen. Obama stumps, those out-dated free market principles haven’t really worked out as of late.

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