What is the primary way you access local news and information?

[Mark Giardina]

Results from a Democrat & Chronicle Poll. Not good news for radio

A print newspaper 14%


Television 15%


Radio 3%


Desktop or laptop PC 58%


Smartphone 3%


Tablet 3%


Other 2%

 

[w9wi]

Results from a Democrat & Chronicle Poll. Not good news for radio

A print newspaper 14%


Television 15%


Radio 3%


Desktop or laptop PC 58%


Smartphone 3%


Tablet 3%


Other 2%

I would suggest, that when someone gets their news from sources 4/5/6 (PC/smartphone/tablet), they're probably usually going to a site operated by sources 1/2/3. (print/TV/radio) In other words, the numbers for "traditional" media are not quite as bad as they appear, since "traditional" media operate the most popular "new" media sites.

That said, I'm betting most of that 64% from sources 4/5/6 is coming from TV sites.

 

[TheBigA]

I would suggest, that when someone gets their news from sources 4/5/6 (PC/smartphone/tablet), they're probably usually going to a site operated by sources 1/2/3. (print/TV/radio)

I agree. In my own case, I haven't bought a print newspaper in ten years. Maybe more. But quite often that's where I get my local news. Except it's via the website. I hardly watch TV news, but their websites a on my favorites tab.

The advantage of getting news from the PC is you don't have to wait. It's on demand. I want to know the answer now, not at the convenience of the radio station. If they say "Weather on the 8s," and it's two past, I don't want to wait 6 minutes for a forecast.

By the way, my desktop is getting about as much use as a table radio these days. Which is next to none. And from what I'm reading, I'm not unusual.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

58% PC? WOW!
Someone should put together a website for Buffalo that looks like a radio!
It could tell people to click on each spot on the dial to stream their favorite Buffalo and area radio listening choices. ;D

 

[SirRoxalot]

Considering how much radio is investing in news these days, I'd say that's about right. Buffalo has three major groups, and one news department, which is a shadow of what it once was, living off the reputation of giants. Let's call it what it is - talk radio with a little news, generally "borrowed" from other sources.

NPR has largely assumed the mantle of "news gathering" in radio, and both the staff sizes and opportunities to present their material are limited by the "All NPR, All the Time" mentality of many public broadcasters.

 

[Mark Giardina]

Considering how much radio is investing in news these days, I'd say that's about right. Buffalo has three major groups, and one news department, which is a shadow of what it once was, living off the reputation of giants. Let's call it what it is - talk radio with a little news, generally "borrowed" from other sources.

NPR has largely assumed the mantle of "news gathering" in radio, and both the staff sizes and opportunities to present their material are limited by the "All NPR, All the Time" mentality of many public broadcasters.

People are amazed at the amount of national programming NPR affiliates offer versus local news.
When I use to tell people that our morning and afternoon newsbreaks consisted of between two to three minutes every half hour, they were shocked.
As for commercial stations and local news; well I will let others voice their opinions on that topic.
I can tell you from personal experience that when I first started working in radio news back in the 1970s there were a hell of a lot more radio stations with their own news departments than there is today.

 

[TheBigA]

I can tell you from personal experience that when I first started working in radio news back in the 1970s there were a hell of a lot more radio stations with their own news departments than there is today.

Then again, it was required. A lot more employees had FCC licenses then too.

Also, from a consumer POV, it doesn't matter how many news departments there are. Just that there's one they can count on. Same thing with newspapers. How many dailies did they have in Buffalo 75 years ago vs. now?

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Having competition makes you better, plain and simple.

I get my news from one of the local TV websites in my city. That way I get local news and they always seem to have the stories on their site first! A shout out to WCNC.com !!

 

[TheBigA]

Having competition makes you better, plain and simple.

Maybe....lately what we see is having competition just makes you competitive, which often makes the news coverage sloppy in an effort to be the first with a story. I'd like to think reporters have the internal motivation to do better, regardless of the competition. Being a reporter is kind of like golf. You're not trying to beat the other players, but beat the golf course. With news, the goal is to tell the story better for the reader. Not beat the competition. If you tell the story the best, you'll beat the competition.

 

[SirRoxalot]

If you're going to find people with that talent and motivation, they're not going to work for the relative pittance that radio offers.

 

[TheBigA]

If you're going to find people with that talent and motivation, they're not going to work for the relative pittance that radio offers.

I think is you ask any REAL broadcaster, they'll tell you that money was never a motivation. Most would gladly do it for free. Especially those currently on the beach.

 

[SirRoxalot]

A lot of people love radio. They still have to pay the bills. And they have this odd sense that it's not fair for some people to make millions off the work of a lot of people who are being taken advantage of. That's why so few young people are getting into the business, and so many guys have decided while on the beach to move on to other professions. Like most other things in life, you get what you pay for. If you don't invest in talent, you ain't gonna get it.

Radio is surviving on a lot of talented people working their asses off because they're trying to hang on until retirement, and often for less money than they were making ten years ago. That talent pool is drying up, and there's precious little young talent in the industry. Several corporate radio companies have pretty much told people that there won't be much in the way of local talent in the foreseeable future. A lot of young people who do have an interest are following the indie music model, and skipping the boring, repetitive, restrictive, underpaid structure of corporate radio and going right to the Internet. Sooner or later, a group of them will get together and create something really interesting for those who want more than Pandora or iHeart radio.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

I find having an iPad invaluable for breaking news. As such, The Buffalo News website one of the best sources of information in WNY. It has a pay-wall, so I subscribe to the hard copy. Constantly updated, I have found The News website to be more current than the sites of the big three Buffalo television stations.

Over the last 18 months, The News site has evolved to the extent where there are more video features and interviews. This is especially appealing to those having smart phones or tablets, who may want to follow The News' writers and beat reporters. Nationally, McClatchy News is a go-to site for my needs. As to radio station sites, my choice is NPR and WBFO. The website of Buffalo's commercial news talk station is not on my daily radar.

For aural information and stimulation, NPR/WBFO is my sole radio choice. That said, my news-talk radio TSL has decreased. This could be due to 'summer listening syndrome.' In this case, I may be a typical listener because I've gravitated to music stations and personal entertainment devices.

As to a topic touched on the WASB/WRSB thread; I'm sure financial news on the radio will have some devoted followers, but this is an area where smart phones and tablets offer greater immediacy. The content is 'selectable' and tailored to the needs of the consumer. If I want to check Cox, SBGI, CMLS or ETM; or look into a sector rally or sell off, the information is immediately at hand.

Here's a worthwhile article from a journalist that should stimulate thought and response: http://crosscut.com/2013/06/11/media/114802/journalist-confronts-reader-apathy/?utm_source=HP+Crisis+Comm+%26+Media+Rel+E-Newsletter+June+15%2c+2013&utm_campaign=E-Newsletter+6/15/13&utm_medium=email

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Having competition makes you better, plain and simple.

Maybe....lately what we see is having competition just makes you competitive, which often makes the news coverage sloppy in an effort to be the first with a story. I'd like to think reporters have the internal motivation to do better, regardless of the competition. Being a reporter is kind of like golf. You're not trying to beat the other players, but beat the golf course. With news, the goal is to tell the story better for the reader. Not beat the competition. If you tell the story the best, you'll beat the competition.

Agreed it has to be factual but it should be reported quickly too otherwise it's history and not new(s).

 

[TheBigA]

That's why so few young people are getting into the business, and so many guys have decided while on the beach to move on to other professions. Like most other things in life, you get what you pay for. If you don't invest in talent, you ain't gonna get it.

BS. There's a glut of talent wanting to work in radio. Hundreds of qualified applicants for every job. Thousands of young people every year graduate from colleges and many of them get jobs in radio. Some of them replace older boomers who didn't invest in themselves and didn't learn new technologies, and found themselves obsolete.

There is no such thing as a job for life, regardless of the field. Teachers, doctors, and other professionals are finding that if they don't learn and grow, they too could be out of a job. Same with radio. Former on air folks are free to start their own online stations. But few know how to do it.

 

[FredLeonard]

People may get their news from websites (via PC, tablet or smartphone) but the news comes from newspapers. I'd like to see actual figures but the leading news sites overall are newspaper sites. So even with an electronic device, people still get news from newspapers. Even if some go to a TV site, most of their news comes from the AP, which comes from a member newspaper. What's sad is no matter how you slice it, radio is not a factor.

 

[TheBigA]

What's sad is no matter how you slice it, radio is not a factor.

Depends. In Washington DC, arguably the news capital of the world, the #1 local news site is wtop.com, a radio site. They are also the #1 radio station in town.

 

[FredLeonard]

What's sad is no matter how you slice it, radio is not a factor.

Depends. In Washington DC, arguably the news capital of the world, the #1 local news site is wtop.com, a radio site. They are also the #1 radio station in town.

I just checked the WTOP site. Most local stories - and almost all of the rest - come from the AP. Most AP stories come from member newspapers.

 

[TheBigA]

I just checked the WTOP site. Most local stories - and almost all of the rest - come from the AP. Most AP stories come from member newspapers.

The point is that local people choose a radio site for their news. Regardless of their actual source.

 

[FredLeonard]

I just checked the WTOP site. Most local stories - and almost all of the rest - come from the AP. Most AP stories come from member newspapers.

The point is that local people choose a radio site for their news. Regardless of their actual source.

The point is without newspapers gathering news, there's no news gathering and therefore no real news. All radio and TV have left are press releases and staged events (news conferences, photo ops, ceremonies).