Why Reuters (and every other old media company) Are Dead When It Comes To The Web

“We are deliberately not doing television on the web.” 
Don't get it...

Yesterday, Pat Younge, Chief Creative Officer at The BBC sent me a link to a Neiman Report from the highly respected Neiman Journalism Lab.

It was all about Reuters TV.

Reuters, the global news service is launching a TV Channel for news.

Well, this makes sense.  With the demise of network bureaus around the world, Reuters pretty much provides the content for news in the US and overseas.
The networks are sort of the middleman - the packager.

Reuters could never do this before becasue they didnt have a broadcast network or a cable channel

Now, they don't need one. They have the web.

All very admirable, so far. Until you get to the specifics.

The media company wants to bridge the worlds of tv and online video and make something entirely different. 

That's how Justin Ellis starts the article.  Then, a big quote:

 

“We are deliberately not doing television on the web.”

This comes from Barclay Palmer, Executive Producer for Reuters Television.

Admirable.

So what are you doing?

What they plan to offer on the new channel is a mix of news and analysis on politics, finance, technology and other news from Reuters personalities like Chrystia Freeland, Felix Salmon, and Anthony De Rosa. Along with more interview-driven fare, they’ll also produce shows based around the U.S. presidential election, investigative reporting, and video from journalists in the field. It’s TV-esque — up to a point. There will be people chatting mingled with rich visuals, but the production style will be more casual, with less of a network polish and more of the energy of an upstart, Palmer said.

Barclay... that IS television.

This is why conventional broadcasters just don't get the web and never will.  They've spent their lives in the linear 'we provide you watch' world.

Barclay, look at the biggest success stories on the web.

Does anyone 'watch' Facebook?

Is Facebook a 'watching' experience?

Look at Youtube - people don't 'watch' Youtube - they upload their own stuff to it - 56 Billion(!!) videos and just starting.

Youtube is as participatory as Facebook, except in video.

Don't you get it Barclay? Just 'watching' is over.

You have to make a community. You have to have everyone participate.

So yes, 2 points for the idea of Reuters Television online.

-500 points for the execution.

Sorry.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to watch Amazon.com for an hour or so.