Blogs Come to Network Evening TV News

CBS Evening News is taking consumer-generated media to the airwaves.

In yet another example of how the worlds of consumer-generated media and traditional media are melding, CBS is explicitly out to change the "voice of God" style typical of network news shows by incorporating opinions from "average" people. They have debuted a new segment called "Free Speech" which, according to a story on MSNBC, will:

• Feature "average" people
• Be a short opinion piece
• Cover everything from the day's hot news story to personal bugaboos
• Feature "distinctive voices"

Last night's segment featured Morgan Spurlock, the author of "Supersize Me" -- admittedly not Joe Average, but not one of the typical media pundits, commentators or consultants who usually show up on the networks. His 1 minute 35-second segment adamantly rejects what he calls the "smackdown hype" of the current media environment in the personal, idiosyncratic, colorful stlye that is the meat-and-potatoes of a good blog, and a far cry from the typical big media company op-ed.

Sounds a lot like the characterstics of a blog to me. In fact, CBS would do well to recruit from blogs for future segments. I'm available anytime....

CBS Evening News Katie Couric Television Evening News Consumer-generated media