Ken Kurson is someone who has worked in a series of different industries in different capacities. Whether in politics as a consultant, or whether in media with a longtime stint at The New York Observer as its editor in chief, Kurson has been a sought after and talented practitioner for companies in an array of different industries. But he’s always rightfully focused on certain business tools that have excelled and succeeded beyond the expectations of certain business executives.
We often hear about the need for there to be reforms in various industries in the spirit of adjusting to the changes in the times; and to conforming to what some would argue is the need for adaptation. The hypothetical scenarios that have been drawn up concerning the impact of the proliferation of the blogosphere; and the democratization of the traditional media model are a legitimate subject of discussion for any educated and well-informed observers of the future of the media industry.
Ken Kurson has expressed his own thoughts on the matter in a series of different ways. How is our media model in the future going to look; and to what extent can we control and manage that futuristic situation and circumstances associated with it . These are all questions that are legitimate for one to ask; and even encouraged in the interest of learning and dedicating time to changing and redefining the system.
The reality of the situation is that as more citizens get access to platforms – be it a product of the digital media development or the outgrowth of continued rise in popularity of social media platforms and the companies associated with them, there will be more of a need to manage this. The changes that are happening are occurring rapidly. They are providing for the ability for more and more people to latch onto the prospect of further rapid development of this space, in favor of the public interest.
Arguments made about the ways that the democratization of the media structure due to the development of the blogosphere and social media platforms are having positive effects on the situation, are very cogent and logical. There is now no longer a need to be employed by a major cable news television network; or any news channel for that matter on the broadcast side, to be able to broadcast one’s own reporting to the general public.
Instead, Youtube can be used to create content in a condensed fashion that sheds light on whatever the citizen’s journalism might be on whatever subject they are reporting on. And then that same citizen can use Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and whatever other media platforms he or she wishes in order to aggressively promote that piece of broadcast journalism. No longer is there a need for a bright-lit television or broadcast studio. Now with the tools and devices of the contemporary age, there is an increased amount of momentum that exists revolving around this possibility.
And it’s in no way limited to journalism done using broadcast techniques. If somebody wishes to share their own reporting through other media, they now have the ability to do that as well. If there is an item that they’d like to broadcast via digital properties, they can pitch established publications in a freelance capacity; or they can even seek to publish themselves using a myriad of blogging platforms that they can easily access and have at their disposal. This type of democratization of the technological media sphere would have been unheard of even five or three years ago. And many human rights activists have been quick to point out the inherent advantages this especially affords their positive work – since they no longer have to rely on the media outlets that are established to get their groundbreaking reporting and valuable information out to the general public. Instead, it is able to get out there in a systematic and consistent fashion. But a fashion that is nonetheless strategic and nimble in its approach.
Ken Kurson created Book and Film Globe as a reflection of these dramatic developments in the digital, social and traditional media spheres. These changes are not going to dissipate anytime soon. And certainly, not in the foreseeable future. Instead, they are here to stay; and are certainly slated to be durable and long lasting. There’s no telling what the future holds for these various platforms and for the ways that media continues to be consumed differently. The economic and business models of the media industry have changed on their heads. That’s happened for good.
