TIME magazine reports on the Glenn Beck phenomenon. Here is the Letter to the Editor I submitted:
You suggest there is little hope for raising the bar of media content quality since fanning the flames of conservatives' and liberals' fears is such a profitable business model.
However, you also point out that the standard for profitability has changed dramatically: Beck & Olbermann ratings "would have gotten a talk-show host canceled in the late 1980s."
With the threshold for profitability success lowered, certainly the opportunities are there. These shows attract less than 1% of the population. What about the rest of us who are silenced by the intimidating ranting and raving going on.
If the media would quit competing for Beck and Olbermann's tiny audience segments, they may hear opportunity knocking.
However, you also point out that the standard for profitability has changed dramatically: Beck & Olbermann ratings "would have gotten a talk-show host canceled in the late 1980s."
With the threshold for profitability success lowered, certainly the opportunities are there. These shows attract less than 1% of the population. What about the rest of us who are silenced by the intimidating ranting and raving going on.
If the media would quit competing for Beck and Olbermann's tiny audience segments, they may hear opportunity knocking.
