It’s really, really tiresome to create and spread the news the old-fashioned
way. Find facts, check facts; conduct interviews, conduct more interviews.
Analyze all that stuff to figure out what it means. Schedule meetings.
Cringe
when the public decides to operationalize their right to free speech by asking
annoying questions.
Fortunately, those cumbersome ways are in the past. As FEMA recently
demonstrated, it’s much more efficient to do it all yourself.
Sure, some people are criticizing the fake news briefing with fake reporters
approach. FEMA Director Paulison tried to explain, saying Deputy Director Johnson, who was fielding questions, "really didn't have an awareness" of
what was taking place and did not recognize staffers asking questions.
Apparently FEMA believes people prefer to think our
emergency preparedness officers are under the influence of mind-altering substances
when sharing information.
But I say it’s a brilliant idea! Not the mind-altering substances. The one-on-none news briefings.
Christine: Welcome to the WauwatosaNOW Bloggerville first virtual press
conference! Ask us anything as long as it’s so easy we’ll be able to answer.
Someone named "Jaime": Are you happy with Tosa’s response so far?
Christine: I am very happy with Tosa’s response so far. I think what you're
really seeing here is the benefit of experience, the benefit of good leadership
and the benefit of good partnership. . . Everything and everyone has been
wonderful!!
Someone named "Morgen": Tom Gaertner, just how much time did you spend at the Tosa
Inn?
Tom: Wonderful: I thought these were supposed to be friendly questions. I’ll
answer your question indirectly: how many people here do you think have tried
to buy Girlfriend a drink?
Jaime: Karen, don’t you think the Internet is wonderful?
Karen: I’ll have to get back to you after I check these last dozen Grey’s
Anatomy sites. But what’s not to like? The Internet’s truly wonderful.
Christine: Randy, how many days until the World Series?
Randy (looking astounded). You need to spend more time watching TV and less
time going to Halloween parties! Hey! Who’s that cute dark-haired chick at the
end of the bar?
* * *
If you like fake press conferences or find fake news anchors and candidates to be truthier than the real ones, you may love the new development scheduled for today: the release of the avatar-hosted News at Seven.
As network news programs continue to struggle, the creators of
one news show are trying a new strategy -- replacing the producer, the editor
and even the news anchor with a computer.
The online show, called "News at Seven," uses an
automated computer program to comb online news outlets for major stories of the
day and to pair them with video and still photos culled from sites like Google
Images and YouTube. The newscast is delivered by an avatar -- a digital
representation of a person.
Just list your interests and the Avata-anchor will spiel off a
custom presentation of information plucked from those reliable sources.
Who knows? Maybe the sportscastatar will even do color for your
kid’s LAN games.
Meanwhile, tell us what you think about Blogger-tars.
