One media trend needing repair is the trend of instantaneous public shaming. The YouTube viral video media machine is constantly hungry, demanding more and more servings of content.
When is enough enough?
Celebrities melt down, insult innocent people in a stereotypical way and show off their private indiscretions in viral video that spreads around the world: the public eats it up. Or elected politicians make boneheaded and hypocritical decisions, spurring bloggers and other amateur “journalists” to mock them endlessly while attracting a mob mentality that happily add their own comments. Jackass thrill seekers record on digital video their idiot stunts so we can laugh at them.
These are all legit candidates for public shaming.
Some people get dragged in through no fault of their own. And mainstream media often joins in the flogging practice favored by viral video sites and blogs. Sometimes someone has to step in to say “enough is enough”, as this football coach did this past weekend. We need more of this action from the public and less misplaced shaming.
Recently, the Jointblog passed 500,000 total page views to our site – and we are less than 3 years old. It’s hard to believe that our site is older than YouTube.
It surfs the wave between pop culture and business insight, a world of instant fame or shame where old media power is challenged by new media behaviors. There’s never a dull moment.
After working with me for over 15 years, Chris decided to return to his first love — radio — joining Corus Entertainment, a multi-media leader in old and new media, as Program Director of Montreal’s Q92.
Chris has kindly agreed to continue the Jointblog so that we can keep an eye on media trends – big or small – from NBC’s rearguard action against Apple (refusing them content) to YouTube’s unpredictable effect on the upcoming Presidential elections.
And, the most significant trend we’re watching right now is the digital divide – the gap between those who are online (especially with high speed connections) and those who aren’t. America’s lagging behind many developed countries in broadband per capita, including South Korea and Iceland.
The beauty of today’s digital world means Chris and I will maintain our high-speed association with one another — efficiently transitioning us from the Joint connection to a new digital connection.
