Facebook and Twitter have become supplements to a growing Bay Area media, (and other markets) that use them in their pursuit of an audience that has largely moved away from traditional media to get their news.
Truth is, for the most part, it doesn't work.
By and large, most people use Facebook as a sort of cyber community gathering spot, a virtual bar, if you will. They're not especially interested, for example, that there was a revolution in Egypt or that the president's press secretary will leave his post.
Mark Ramsey says it alot better than me, but as I gaze and listen to the various local radio and TV outlets, I'm beginning to fully observe how many of the broadcasters rely upon the sites as a means to try capturing some of their highly-coveted A25-54 demos.
Twitter is more conducive to the current media stream because it's more suited to the so-called "24/7", instantaneous news cycle, while Facebook is more of a cyber gathering spot.
They are independent locations. They have built independent brands, and as such they have their own identity. I've written extensively how, for example, KGO Radio, has begun an overt operation to ingrain Facebook into their news blocks, even mentioning them at the top of the hour ID, "This is KGO, SF, San Jose, Oakland, Facebook."
KGO is not alone; other radio stations are trying to tap into the Facebook arena, and local TV too. KRON even has a "Facebook presenter", (we're not going there, I'm trying to be serious now;) but again, the Facebook forum really doesn't work as a supplement to local news operations.
In fact, one could argue that these sites have made for a more artificial means of acquiring traditional news gathering. Granted, we're hovering in a 2.0 world soon to be 2.5 and 3.0 and so on, but the Facebook/Twitter conduit simply put shouldn't be the impetus behind the operation. Enhancement? Compliment, perhaps, but not the centerpiece.
The audience isn't there and even those that are there are too busy doing their own thing and could care less about what you, Mr. TV/radio/Internet has to offer.
*TIPS: Rich.Lieberman@Gmail.com (All confidentiality assured)
