Probably a few years later than they should have, the existing media -- TV, radio and print -- are starting to respond better to the new ways that people are receiving news. What's changed? For the first time, the media (or at least some of the media) is starting to see the opportunity of this new world, and not just the threat.
For example, this NYT story about ABC news has this quote:
Executives at the broadcast networks know they have opportunities online that they do not have on television — namely, to take chances by testing new forms of news delivery and new types of storytelling. They are also mindful that making their content relevant online is a good way to attract the younger audiences who are less likely to tune in to the evening news on television.
That's right -- take chances, test new delivery, reach new audiences. And then:
ABC News’s main network competitors, CBS and NBC, are for the moment mainly using the Web to repackage their regular nightly news shows. “CBS Evening News With Katie Couric” is streamed live on CBSNews.com at 6:30 p.m. NBC takes a different approach, posting the full half-hour “NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams” each night after 10 p.m. rather than live.
I continue to believe that great content, regardless of delivery method, will win out. It will attract viewers and readers, then advertisers will follow. But it has to be great content or it will fail, regardless of how it is delivered. Last Sunday I watched (via DVR) 60 Minutes do a piece on Bruce Springsteen. I'd been listening to some old and new Springsteen via Rhapsody (the "live in dublin" music is amazing and is a great soundtrack to "The Worst Hard Times," a truly depressing book I'm reading as part of a book/scotch club, but I digress). ANYWAY, the interview was just awful, with reporter Scott Pelley doing his best "i'm a cool rocker reporter" impersonation and asking a series of not very good questions, and turning what could've been a great piece into something much less. Regardless of how it's presented, the content is not great.
Great content, great stories, great insight -- that is what people are looking for. It hasn't changed. The delivery channels may be evolving, but as ABC is learning, new delivery means more opportunity, not less.