Notes and a variety of thoughts from yours truly on the eve of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association’s (NCTA) “The Cable Show” Convention as it begins in Los Angeles tomorrow through Friday.

*The Cable Executives Are Coming! If you’re noticing more signage about cable TV shows this week around town – don’t fear that your rates will soon be rising…For it’s all being purposely done by those “said” networks to show off their wares before their competitors who are in town for the national convention – The Cable Show starts tomorrow. If each network was like a peacock – it’s their way of showing off their feathers to impress others.

A Public Affairs Program to Help Fight Against Hunger - The Sportsman Channel

*Year Round Attention – There are some cool things happening in conjunction with the NCTA. For instance, The Sportsman Channel is busing a load full of cable conventioneers to the Union Rescue Mission tomorrow afternoon to feed the homeless through a special event called Hunt. Fish. Feed. I was hoping to attend, but I had a conflict in my schedule. Then tomorrow night a group of cable executives are organizing a fund-raising event in honor of Will Flannery, a wonderful cable executive and family man who passed away suddenly last year at the age of 38. They are raising money to help his family – its an incredible gesture and I applaud those who are behind it – this is how cable makes a difference.

*Money Men - Well cable has “Mad Men” and it also has “Money Men.” Kudos to LA Times Reporter Meg James for her story today based on the results of a Los Angeles Times survey that listed compensation packages doled out to C-level media and entertainment executives. The figures these heads of entertainment corporations received was eye-opening and it also was perfectly timed to make an impact as the cable convention begins this week in LA. A majority of the men making these incredible salaries will be here in town, earning their money.

I have included a chart that the LA TIMES featured with the story for you to see for yourself the obscene sums of money these men, not women, earned last year.

If I get a chance I’d like to ask Meg James, a fantastic TV business reporter, if she could follow up this story with another article on this subject for I am curious about two things – (1) How much money did these suits devote to charity last year? And (2) how many people were laid off from their respective corporations last year?

I mean, not to point fingers at Greg Maffei, the CEO of Liberty Media – but he brought home $87 million last year. What in the world can you do with $87 million!!!! My hope is that he is using it to re-invest it back into America by either – giving it back to his company so they can keep employees, handling some back to our U.S. Government so it can cancel a small portion of its national debt, donating some to those less fortunate like earthquake survivors in Haiti or Mexico or doing something other than buying more homes or cars. That is my wish for all of them and to be fair-I know most of these men are generous with their contributions. My favorite wish would be that would give it all back to their companies to keep employees on their jobs!!!!!!!!!!! They can make a huge difference in the world and I hope that they follow in Bill Gates’ footsteps in this area – his Foundation with is wife Melinda is amazing. What huge opportunities these “money men” have and so many worthy causes to choose from. I wish I had that dilemma, don’t you? What would you do with $87 mill?

Chart: Compensation for media executives

So that’s it for today…I’ve got to pack up all my stuff and get ready for the convention tomorrow. I’ll be getting my credentials in the afternoon and start reporting as soon as I can. I’ve got a lot of people to say hi to first though at the NCTA – I am so looking forward to seeing all my colleagues again and learning about the future of cable.

Stay tuned.

All My Best,

Cindy

LET’S KEEP JOURNALISTS HIRED AND STOP THE PRACTICE

OF REPLACING THEM WITH FREELANCE BLOGGERS

Would Watergate ever been uncovered without reporters on the case? On April 30, 1973, with the Watergate scandal growing, Carl Bernstein, second from left, and Bob Woodward discussed the next day's coverage with Katharine Graham, publisher of The Washington Post; Benjamin C. Bradlee, executive editor, right; and Howard Simons, managing editor.

Did you happen to catch this story in last Thursday’s LA Times by Tech Writer Alex Pham. If not, you can read it here.

I don’t like using this word…but I need to for I hate this story for several reasons, but mostly, because I support the journalism profession and its hiring of skilled, trained reporters to present the news in publications. I do not support the practice of hiring people like me to write features on a daily basis for established news organizations, thus replacing reporters.

Mind you, please note that I do not hold anything against Demand Media nor USA Today for crafting such a deal-it is a groundbreaking agreement. But, what gets my goat is the practice of using freelancers to write for a news publication, thus causing the elimination of positions for staff reporters/writers.

The article pointed out that they will use an ‘army’ of 7,000 freelancers to produce content that is of the highest “search interest” of Internet users. Basically, Demand Media has aggregating software that can tell its bevy of content producers what topic is trending the highest at any second of the day. After they know what’s of high interest, they assign a freelancer the task of producing a video or writing a post about that topic – and pay them a lousy 20 bucks. Can you imagine…for a mere $20 you too can have a byline in USA Today. This practice makes me want to puke.

Shame on you USA Today for selling out. You’ve now muddied your waters – you are going for the quick buck and ruining your journalistic/ethical integrity by doing so.

I know I may be a bit harsh in my opinion. But, someone has to speak out. I do understand today’s economy and how hard it is for newspapers to stay afloat. I know that those still on staff at USA Today have had to take unpaid furloughs. I know times are tough. And I know that Demand Studios is not providing hard news, but fluffy features for the Travel section. I know that USA Today executives just want more people to click on their site and stay there for as long as possible. I get it. I get that the pub is desperate for money.

First its the Travel Section, the what's next? The Front Page?

But, this practice smacks of the same sad principle that TV fell into when they invested in reality programming. Reality shows are among the cheapest to produce and sadly, those more sensational, usually get high ratings. Some cable networks rely solely on this practice. They only air outrageous reality shows and thus call themselves a network – but are they? The audience is well aware of what’s going on. And USA Today, the audience will be well aware of your new Travel Section. We know when people are not being transparent. We’re pretty savvy web surfers now and we can smell out a rat.

The saddest thing to me is that I know that the other publications like The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Times – are keeping an eye on this experiment. And sure enough, once the numbers are worked out – they might jump on this bandwagon too if this practice proves profitable.

When that day happens, I will no longer subscribe to a newspaper. If I want to learn about “great travel tips” I’ll find it on my own. For I don’t want to read the work of any freelancer like me in a top newspaper. I deserve to write a blog, but I do not deserve to ever consider myself a true newspaper journalist. I am not qualified. I know my place and I wish others would respect and honor the work of true journalists/reporters as well, especially its own profession.

That’s my two cents on the matter. What is your opinion? Do tell.

Cindy

Cindy Ronzoni

A blog about digital media, PR and other such things

Tag Archives: Los Angeles Times