1. Where did the man on the street go?
Web 2.0 where? We wondered if the exuberance around the democratising power of the all-access-internet we saw mid-decade hasn’t become a bit deflated in the past year or so. Could the man on the online street have been shouted out by the noisier and better resourced?
With a host of new web tools and loads of corporates, newsmakers, brands, politicians and NGO’s joining in the discussions, there is real concern over authenticity of content.
We need the man on the street to speak out to ensure the balance of power remains fair. We need genuine two-way conversations, or this fantastic medium will become another advertising forum with one-sided conversations. Certainly the economic downturn has redirected people’s focus, but we are predicting a comeback of the everyday opinionated. And what a comeback it will be!
2. Will the media make it?
Of course they will, but in what form? They have copped it with both barrels and boy it shows. Barrel one – technological change has seen news content migrate online without a viable commercial model. Second barrel – audiences largely want their news ‘without’ advertising at a time, place and in digital format of their choice. Add in the reduced effectiveness of traditional advertising, which bankrolls most media, and ouch.
Some outfits will no doubt falter, but by the decades end we are likely to be paying for quality news one way or another, and we won’t mind or probably even notice. Check out the New York Times who are on the brink of making it pay and they need to, because let’s face it, delivering real news real well costs a packet.
3. Why are we more interested in the fallen mighty than the mighty issues?
Despite the scary state of the world (think world peace, climate change and economic upheavals), celebrity news will always win the day. The value in seeing the private foibles of the mighty such as our media stars, politicians, business leaders and sports stars played out in public is immense. We think it might have something to do with the fact that it makes people feel better about their own lives, knowing that even the rich and famous don’t get it right all of the time.
To err is human and to recover is clearly seriously divine. Unfortunately the message to the impressionable is that professional success allows for serious personal failures – providing we apologise. All it takes for those in the public eye who have been caught out is to make a heartfelt mea culpa, fall on their sword or better still, check in to rehab, and all is forgiven – eventually. While it might take our mind off the real issues at hand, it prompts real concerns for the impact it might have on younger generations. Do some media not have a responsibility to truly hold these people to account in the people’s court?
4. Is there a journalist in the house?
The principles of the 4th estate are to hold the powerful accountable, to scrutinise and to provide transparent information on behalf of the citizenship so we can all choose how to vote, work, or shop. This scrutiny requires experienced, thoughtful people working in an environment free of hefty commercial imperatives. That’s a big ask given an environment where newsrooms are stretched to their limit, and media owners are screaming for more efficiencies to drive profit they now can no longer raise from advertisers.
But never fear, journalists are a nuggety lot, and while it will take some time, we predict the next decade will see the rise and rise of the individual journalist. Once the true value of their content is understood, and we have a workable way to pay for it, the face of news is set to change for the good. This new breed will be real life crusaders with massive spheres of influence standing clear of news organisations to become brands in their own right, and they will cover the gamut of political viewpoints, single handed.
5. To Blog or not to Blog?
Our final question is an easy one really and the answer is an emphatic yes! While we may be a tiny drop in the Blog Ocean of billions, we are determined to shine in our own way. We hope you keep following us and using your people power to ask the questions and pose new issues.
He didn’t get it then, and he doesn’t get it now. “Then” was when he fronted up to the affected communities, the media, and politicians over the Gulf oil spill disaster; and “he” is former BP chief Tony Hayward.
The Polish administration has to be admired for getting its crisis management plan into action quickly following the tragic crash of the aeroplane carrying that country’s top political, civil and military leaders.
While the media still can’t get quite enough of the story, some quarters have gone quiet on Tiger Woods. 
It is probable that there are very few of us who haven’t gotten grumpy with our bank at some time or other.