How Does Local News Survive? Provide More Human Services
The next great disruptor in media has arrived. If you think AI is a game-changer now, just wait.
AI search engines are only going to get more powerful. News publishers that still rely on search as a primary source of traffic and revenue should search for a new strategy. And fast.
Otherwise, they soon will be as relevant as 8-track tapes and DVD rewinders.
AI isn’t the first time a new media technology has shaken up the world.
The printing press revolutionized how people got information. All of a sudden, people could mass produce and replicate information. This led to the creation of the newspaper. That was followed by radio, television, cable TV, and the 24-hour cable news cycle. Then, the internet, social media, and mobile devices came along.
During every period of technological disruption and change, news organizations have had to adapt to stay relevant.
Relevance has always been the key to survival and growth. Today is no different. So how do local news organizations remain relevant and sustainable?
That was the focus of the Local News Impact Consortium workshop I attended at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on May 14–15.
