Pew study show "news" just part of the media landscape; television still beats out Internet as #1 source

The recent media study released by the Pew Internet & American Life Project is getting much attention for the fact that it appears that more and more Americans are getting their news online. But the study really points out an obvious fact: news is a media commodity the same way sit coms and reality shows are: consumption mirrors age and demographics, as well as our "viewing" habits, in general.

The Pew study shows that most Americans still get their news via local and national television, and that like television, certain demographics are heavy users: older Americans, women and African Americans. Also, the older we get, the more interested we are in "news". Even online, young people are less likely to be interested in "news" versus those middle aged.

If Pew were to repeat this study each year I believe the value of the study would grow tremendously. For instance, America appears to be moving towards a partisan styled media, much more like the European model. Is this true? What would the study have said five years ago, or in five years?

But here is what the study says to me: news is "content" -- it is "entertainment". That is, if most people get their news from television, and then from radio and the Internet, with newspapers way down the list, then why is this? Isn't it because news follows the same pattern as other entertainment vehicles. Most white elderly Americans get their news on TV because that is what they are doing during the day. (The Pew study in no covers this area, so consider it speculation.) If the question was asked "where do you get your entertainment, with the same choices listed, the results would not be so different: TV, radio, Internet, in that order -- not so far off from these results.

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BBC reveals restructuring recommendations; cuts to digital content, less foreign TV programming

BBC Director General, Mark Thompson, unveiled proposals that will dramatically refocus the broadcasting and publishing efforts of the UK media giant. The proposals include trimming radio programming, cuts to some online activities, and the possible sale of the BBC print magazines, Top Gear and Radio Times.

The complete report can be found here.

The report reads like an ode to its commercial competitors as it promises to "set new boundaries" to its media ventures, and recommends cutting back on content acquisition such as foreign programming like "Mad Men".

Excerpts from the report:

The digital age should be a golden age for public space. . . . But digital also threatens to disrupt traditional public space. Fragmentation of audiences and consumption is weakening traditional media business models, including their ability to support quality content, from international newsgathering to indigenous drama and comedy. Traditional subsidies that enabled commercially funded broadcasters to make socially and culturally valuable content are failing. When, as a result, a piece of valuable content is lost—consider, for instance, the ending of The South Bank Show—the effects are multiple: audiences lose a precious connection to the arts world; the UK television industry loses an important documentary platform; but at the same time, many artists and cultural institutions lose a significant pathway to the public. Public space is diminished...

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Doing fewer things better means, on this strategy, significant changes to the BBC’s service portfolio:
Focusing the BBC’s website on the five content priorities
• Halving the number of sections on the site and improving its quality by closing lower- performing sites and consolidating the rest
• Spending 25% lesson the site per year by 2013
• Turning the site in to a window on the web by providing at least on external link on every
page and doubling monthly ‘click-throughs’ to external sites

New York Daily News gets in the mobile game; releases mobile apps for iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Mobile

The New York Daily News announced today new mobile applications available for iPhone, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile smartphone users. The iPhone app, developed by Handmark, is available on the iTunes app store (iTunes link).

Handmark recently announced a released app for the London Evening Standard at the Mobile World Congress.

“The Daily News is dedicated to bringing quality content to New Yorkers, and we are focused on expanding and enhancing the way our readers access it,” said Daily News CEO Marc Kramer in a release. “Our new mobile application offers a fast, easy and convenient source for our readers to connect with anytime, anywhere.”

NYT reaches deal to distribute content with Reach Media Group; Times headlines to appear on RMG video screens

Reach Media Group Networks (RMG) and the New York Times have announced a deal to distribute content onto RMG video screens, including news headlines, photos, and videos.

“This platform is a great opportunity to expose our brand to new audiences in a medium that is quickly expanding,” said Murray Gaylord, Vice President of Marketing, NYTimes.com. “We also believe this is an innovative way to extend The Times’s brand to its large audience of business professionals in our key markets.”

The RMG system is IP-based, allowing for location-based advertising. RMG also said that the screens will allow for medium rectangle advertising -- a more web based approach, as opposed to a TV approach as seen in other video advertising vehicles such as PRN or IBN.

RMG is backed by VC firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and DAG Ventures, as well as National CineMedia, the in-theater network.

Reed Business Information exits the construction market in Australia; Reed US sells off its library titles

In an e-mail to advertisers, Reed Business Information announced their exit from the Australian construction market, citing a corporate restructuring decision.

“The decision to exit the construction B2B publishing market was based on the commercial viability of the magazines and websites we have in this sector. The changes we have made will allow us to focus resources and expertise on our other online and offline brands in the manufacturing, engineering and building markets," read the e-mail, according to Mumbrella, an Australian media and marketing web site.

The Australian magazine effected is Construction Contractor, a monthly. The March issue will be the last one produced. Additional moves were announced including a cut in frequency for two other RBI magazines in Australia.

In the U.S., the fate of Construction Equipment and the other construction magazine are in doubt as the company has announced its intent to sell off most of its titles, while retaining Variety and Reed Construction Data.

Update: paidContent.org is reporting this morning that Reed has sold its library titles, Library Journal and School Library Journal. They will update the story as they get more information.

The Big Boys get into a tussle over Europe: Microsoft rats out rival; tells Google to deal with it

Microsoft Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, David Heiner, went after Google late last week for accusing Microsoft of being behind efforts to look into Google's business practices, stating that complaints "usually come from competitors," and making no apology for pointing the finger at Google.

In a blog post, Heiner also went after Google CEO Eric Schmidt, accusing the chief executive of going after Microsoft in the past. "Believe me, I know: I’ve been chief competition counsel at Microsoft since 1994, so I’ve seen plenty of competitor complaints. Novell, when current Google CEO Eric Schmidt was at the helm, was never hesitant about complaining to regulators about Microsoft. Google hasn’t been shy about raising antitrust concerns about Microsoft in the last few years, either," wrote Heiner.

Last week was not a good week for Google. Beside the EU inquiry, Google ran into trouble in Italy. Three of its executives were held liable for damages resulting from the posting of a YouTube video. The three execs were sentenced in absentia to six months, though none face the real possibility of jail time. Google is appealing the ruling.