MSNBC: Countdown with Keith Olbermann Podcast Review

After reviewing MSNBC: Countdown with Keith Olbermann , some formats such as television are placing popular news programming via audio or video Podcasts. Is this an effective strategy to attract younger audiences to the Podcast? Is it new “news” or just regurgitation to a different platform?


Keith Olbermann Pictures


All one has to do is visit a Podcast ranking site such as Podcastalley, and discover that young viewers and listeners are not interested in the typical routine that has been part of the current media platforms for years. The Podcast I reviewed did not make the top 50 of widely listened Podcasts.

The content in this Podcast was the typical humdrum viewers of the program would expect when watching the program on television. I found myself drifting in thought due to the 42 minute length of the program. The presentation of the program by Keith Olbermann and guests sounded like a typical newscast a viewer would expect to see.

In the case of this Podcast version of the program, the Podcast most likely missed attracting younger viewers. The Podcast would have been more effective if content had been modified for younger audiences.

For example, some of the news content talked about the proposed health care reform from an older American’s point of view. To attract the younger audience, the content should have been focused on how proposed health care reform could help or harm younger Americans in the future. These issues are relevant for younger audiences.

The program did have guest speakers, but these guests did not embody the desired audiences the Podcast was intended to reach. From an audience member’s standpoint of view, it is easier to relate with someone who is closer to your own age and has an understanding of concern of shared issues.

The Podcast’s had one minor technical issue. The voices did sound muffled throughout the program at times. This could have been addressed through more time spent at the editing bay.

In final thought, traditional media outlets must realize it is not about just employing new Internet technologies to reach a younger audience. It is about identifying with these audiences.

In my opinion, networks such MSNBC need to disregard traditional conventions and realize what has worked before does not apply in a society where information, technology and audiences intersect creating a true information highway.

Media outlets can either be maps to guide audiences in this electronic information revolution or be bystander while others redefine uses of information.

Reality television or not? (Op-Ed piece)

How much more American reality television programs can viewers endure? Television executives and producers are racing to attract audiences with this expanding genre by appealing to audience’s personal desire for fame and money.

Before examining how executives and producers appeal to audience desires in reality television programming, we must look at some history behind American reality television programming. Where did we first see the emergence of this genre into mainstream cable television?

It all started with seven strangers picked to live in loft have their lives taped and to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real. This introduction was developed by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray in 1992 of MTV’s reality show “Real World.”



The idea was ground-breaking in television programming during this new era of cable television. The goal of Murray and Bunim was to expose audiences to “real” human emotions rather than the traditional scripted program of the networks.

The success of this genre is due to numerous factors including appeal to a specific target audience and shock-conflict value of the episodes. The latter is an important element for any successful reality program.

We all like to relate in some way to each of these individuals. We root for our favorites and have disdain those who are out to harm them. Reality television promises to give us people that we can relate to on some level or another. Or has it?

The popularity of reality programming on MTV developed by Bunim/Murray Productions has crossed over into traditional network television as well as other cable networks.

Today’s reality television programs target audience’s desire for fame and money rather than the “real” human experience. This is evident with programs such as:

The Biggest Loser
The Bachelor
Project Runway
American Idol
Top Chef
Big Brother
America's Got Talent
Survivor
The Next Food Network Star
So You Think You Can Dance

It is this desire for fame and money that television executives and producers use when developing reality programming. So, what would you do for a million dollars or a chance to be famous?



I am now going to speak from personal experience. I had considered being a second season contestant of The Biggest Loser when I was 285lbs. I did not care about the money or the fame that is associated with the program.

I just wanted to loose the weight for my personal health. I had decided to contact one of the first season’s contestants before submitting my video and my personal bio to NBC. I discovered the reality behind The Biggest Loser is it starts the contestants with rapid weight loss program in an unhealthy manner.

He informed me that the producers and executives needed quick results for television viewing audiences. This raised my eyebrow when discussing this with a previous contestant of the reality show.

Also, producers encouraged to show their disappointment and emotions of the weight goals that they did not attain for that specific week. From this discussion, I decided not to proceed in sending my video and personal bio to NBC.

Reality television started as an experiment with seven strangers picked to live in loft to have their lives taped and to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real. It has become a contest of fame and monetary gain.