Sorry Tegna.... But This Scares the Hell Out of Me (Patreon)

Tegna's VP of News Ellen Crooke did an interview and some of her answers are downright scary as to where this industry is headed. 

Crooke talked to Michael Depp about how Tegna is changing the way they cover news. No longer are they letting seasoned Journalists decide how the news is covered. They have handed the reigns over to the kids. 

It talking to Depp, Crooke said:

"We have a simple mission: to create more exciting, shareable content. We’re seeing success on YouTube, but also on television, Facebook and over the top. And that is because we are putting our innovators — our next generation of journalists — in charge of the transformation.

We’re bringing in innovators from around the company — not department heads or leaders. They’re people who are passionate about changing what local news has become. They’re next-generation journalists, and we bring them [in] every few months. They come up with hundreds of ideas over a three-day period, we let them vote on the top 10 and then we support those pilots with funding and time."

It seems it is less about the news and more about getting people to watch "shareable content." The department heads are no longer in charge of directing the coverage, it is kids calling the shots. 

As for Anchors in TV News, Crooke says that are dead and gone:

"I would say that word “anchor” is really becoming out of date. We like to think of them as influencers. They’re smart, quick on their feet, able to have a point of view. They’re not just people who sit behind a desk and read a prompter. That day is forever gone."

So, the idea is no longer to report the news fairly? You want your anchor....errrrr... influencer to give their point of view? If this way of thinking doesn't scare the crap out of "real" Journalists, it should. 

Then Crooke adds this:

"If you take a look at the success we’re having at WUSA [Washingon] in the morning, the host [Reese Waters] has a background in standup comedy. He is witty and smart and able to take the day’s news and give you a fresh perspective. We like to think of them as not just newscasts anymore, but as live events."

So kids, forget J-School, in fact forget school altogether. Just head down to open mic night at the local comedy club and you to could be the next Tegna Anchor giving the news. 

Oops....I mean influencer. 

God help us!