Media Monday: CBS News’ Big Shift & Minor Harris Beefs
Aug 5, 2024
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Norah O'Donnell, a veteran CBS News anchor, discusses her departure and its implications for the future of evening news. Joined by Jon Kelly, they explore the changing landscape of journalism, including the challenge of engaging younger audiences. The conversation takes a turn towards Vice President Kamala Harris's strained media relations and the need for her to connect more with journalists as the election approaches. Humorously, they debate the merits of including three-on-three basketball in the Olympics, highlighting the evolving nature of media.
Norah O'Donnell's departure from CBS highlights the media industry's shift towards cost-effective formats to adapt to declining viewership.
Kamala Harris's limited press interaction raises concerns about transparency, reflecting modern campaigns' evolving communication strategies with voters.
Deep dives
The Evolving Landscape of Evening News
Nora O'Donnell's decision to step down from the anchor chair at CBS Evening News reflects significant changes in the broadcasting industry. As traditional media struggle with declining viewership and profitability, networks are opting for flexible formats, such as rotating anchors, to maintain relevance while cutting costs. This shift illustrates a broader trend where evening news retains a loyal but aging audience, presenting challenges for attracting younger viewers. The changes at CBS highlight the need for networks to adapt operationally in response to a shrinking media landscape, reminiscent of earlier disruptions in different sectors.
Kamala Harris and Media Relations
Kamala Harris's limited engagement with the press as the Democratic nominee raises concerns among journalists regarding transparency and accessibility. While the absence of daily press interactions might protect her from gaffes, it also risks creating a perception of detachment in an environment where political communication has shifted significantly. This situation underscores a repeated trend in modern campaigns where direct communication paths to voters have evolved, allowing candidates to bypass traditional media channels. As the election approaches, maintaining a balanced relationship with the press will be crucial for Harris, particularly to foster goodwill and mitigate any potential narratives that could spiral out of control.
The Future of Media Talent
The media industry's trajectory suggests a decreasing number of marquee personalities as costs are driven down and production becomes more streamlined. This trend parallels changes seen in other sectors, like sports media, where high-paid talent is often replaced by less costly alternatives lacking the same star power. The increasing commodification of media content highlights the difficulty for aspiring journalists to attain star status, with the smaller platforms now producing the next generation of media figures. As a result, the landscape appears set to favor broader operational efficiencies over individual brand recognition, which may alter the character and competitive edge of traditional news programming.
Jon Kelly joins Peter to discuss the unsurprising news that Norah O’Donnell is abdicating her anchor chair and what that means for the industry. Then they weigh in on some press pool gripes about Kamala Harris.