SOUTH DAKOTA STRAIGHT TALK

Sad News – National Broadcasting Company broadcast journalist Tim Russert passed away this afternoon.

Russert was a probing journalist that transcended the talking head. He was the last in the N B C tradition of Lawrence Spivak. As Russert said each Sunday, “If it is Sunday, it must be Meet The Press.” Meet The Press generally stays on issues and above the partisan fray. In recent years Russert added a feature of having candidates from high profile U S Senate campaigns on the program before the general election. The Thune Daschle race in 2004 was one of the first, if not the first.

Tom Brokaw would be the natural replacement for Russert, certainly through the November election. Brokaw left the Nightly News because of the daily demands. Brokaw returning would be in the tradition of David Brinkley return to work in his golden years on This Week (on A B C) and would be good for NBC and certainly for viewers and perhaps (speculating here) for Tom Brokaw.

With so many irresponsible journalists out there Tim Russert will be missed.

Not to far off in our future is the day when we will plug in our information device before we go to bed and when we awake our news will be downloaded and ready for reading, viewing or listening.

We will get our news, blogs, sports scores, markets, weather on a computer, cell phone, mp3 player like device.

I previously posted on how people are getting their information on my inaugural Keloland.com post.

Today the variety of consumer choice is driving the established mainstream media crazy. The day of getting your news on a dead tree at the end of the driveway for practical purposes is coming to an end. Newspaper circulation was reported this week. Daily circulation fell 2.6% and Sunday circulation fell 3.5% in the past year.

For the established mainstream media to survive the bombardment of new media they must have an online component.

Without pandering to my recent blog partner, KELO television, there is another development in our “traditional” media market (that is worthy of comment) – KELOLAND News On Demand.

If you did not see New On Demand on the KELOland.com home page check it out here.

News On Demand is a welcome presentation. It is a mid afternoon web only news update by the KELO news team. The news presentation is unique to the webcast and not a pre hash of the 5, 6, and 10 o’clock programs. KELOland News On Demand is in a broadcast format with brief news and weather updates for those ending their workday or those getting ready to go to work. The format is upbeat and fast paced, packing a lot in 5 or 6 minutes. This development is a natural synergy for melding the Internet with traditional Broadcast Television.

The Mark Millage, Beth Jensen, Jeremy Moser led News team deserve high marks for this development but it still is just a development with room for improvement.

The News gathers are doing their job but more of the gathered content needs to be broadcast more quickly. By way of suggestion - Podcasts as the reporters are filing their stories, more content to local events, more reporting on local personalities, features on local businesses and non profits, and local reaction (man on the street interviews) about important national events are needed on breaking stories.

I would also suggest an increase in your highly paid volunteer bloggers to include coverage of sports and the arts.

Connections between KELO and their patrons need to be strengthened. Building strong brand ties pays dividends with the advertisers – those that provide the income.

It is extremely interesting the new presentation is called On Demand. Because – that is precisely how consumers today want to get their information. On Demand!

Owners of MySiouxFalls.com have suspended operations of their media website. In July when this new Sioux Falls media went live I commented at Another Nail in the Coffin.

MySiouxFalls.com was an inevitable development. Whether it is resurrected, more commercial attempts are going to be made to distribute news over the Internet for profit. Consumers are getting their news and information in different ways than their parents. Television, newspapers, radio, magazines, cannot just rely on the old model. Every media must have an online component. National and local outlets are struggling to find the right formula. I further posted on this in my inaugural post on Keloland.com at Hello KELO.

I applaud Joe Prostrollo and the owners at MySiouxFalls for their attempt to provide a balanced news approach. Unfortunately their business model was not right or it was undercapitalized and thus did not allow the model adequate time to gain viewer ship and thus paying sponsors.

My Criticism – Overall MySiouxFalls did not differentiate itself from existing media. Even though they were solely distributed over the Internet, essentially they were just web television - perhaps because television news production is the background of its management team.

There is opportunity to build viewer ship with niche marketing. There is little media coverage for many interest groups - for example, Sioux Falls Youth Soccer, High School and local College athletics, Sioux Falls Stampede, the South Dakota Symphony, local business coverage, activities of the many non profit organizations in Sioux Falls and the list goes on and on.

People who are interested in these activities thirst for more news coverage that the existing media is not giving them. The Internet media can relatively inexpensively gather and deliver this news and there is financial reward in doing so.

I would also reassess the advertising model. The 10-second video ads on MySiouxFalls are very disruptive. I prefer having visitors to the site register (even if names are not given but other demographic info is) in some fashion and yes leave a cookie so that targeted ads will come on screen when specific readers come on the site. For example Keloland.com does not predominately use the more intrusive video but rather advertisements that let the reader opt into the advertiser’s website or simply let the viewer contact the advertisers.

Other Comments – I did particularly like the Friday business feature, a video, on MySiouxFalls. The best was the approximate 5 minute interview with First Premier Bank leaders, Miles Beacom and Dana Dykhouse telling their side of the story about First Premier’s lending practices. Interestingly ArgusLeader.com is using more video more effectively. Just today they have a very nice, though short, interview with School Superintendent Pan Homan about school attendance.

As regards the Argus Leader organization, they are experimenting and trying. I particularly think several of their associated websites www.BrandonInfo.com, www.siouxfallsmoms.com, and www.pheasantcountry.com are the type of approach successful new media will have to incorporation

The market of course is the final arbiter and so often happens, the road to success in given endeavors is paved with the bones of the explorers and inventors. MySiouxFalls.com was a good effort. I hope they can find a winning formula, if not thanks for trying.

Blogging on Keloland.com! Wow!

As a two-year blogging veteran, it is an honor to be included in KELO’s increased political awareness effort on the WWW. South Dakota Straight Talk has about 3500 unique viewers each month and having exposure to Keloland.com’s 3 million plus hits a month is exciting.

People today are getting their news and information in many different ways. With the advent of Cable News almost 30 years ago the 24-hour news cycle became reality. Within the last 10 years people have been relying more on the Internet as a source of news.

The Movie News has been gone since the 1950s (television took them out). And getting your news at the end of your driveway each morning is fast fading into the sunset. There is great debate about the future of Newspapers but many think that there will not be many left in even 10 years. People under 40 don’t read the paper. To understand the nature and depth of the challenge that traditional media faces from Online Content take a look at the June 11th Harris Poll (black and white and not very read).

The local media companies that survive will be the ones who are the best at gathering the local news and disseminating it in a medium that people want. Media today understands they must have multiple platforms and they must have reach. Survival demands an Online component!

In recognition that people want there news 24/7 and not just at 5, 6, and 10, KELO television is placing increased emphasis on their website. This increased commitment to Keloland.com shows the media understanding of News Director Mark Millage and Web Producer Jeremy Moser.

Jeremy understands the challenge and explains it well when he says “There is no road map” (when talking about the changing way people are getting their news.)

Background on South Dakota Straight Talk – By way of introduction - my biographical information is posted on my blog at About Me. The inaugural post of Straight Talk tells a little about the blog and my opinions and interests. Just as housekeeping – I don’t post on any regular interval but usually 2 or 3 times per week as time permits. Sometimes more frequently when there is breaking news. I blog about half of the time on local, state, and national government and politics and the remainder on the popular culture and items of interest.

While the Keloland blogging is new, my initial plan to include the KELO posts on Straight Talk but not necessarily all of the Straight Talk posts on Keloland.com, however this is a work in progress. To see all my posts including a Sunday feature, Weekly Reader, check out www.sdstraighttalk.com.

My adult life has involved an intense interest in public affairs, politics, and elections and as Dr. Cohen, my pediatrician, often told my Parents, “he is opinionated.” Thank you Jeremy and Mark for letting me contribute and share my opinions.

Sidebar - for further information on newspaper disintegration “The Week” magazine had an article on The Decline of the American Newspaper and Public Broadcasting had a fantastic documentary on “Frontline” (watch Episode 3) (a fascinating program that explains the challenges facing today’s media companies.) If you have the time and want to understand the dynamics, it is a fascinating watch.

Sidebar 2 – Some of my favorite South Dakota Blogs (they are worth a look):

http://www.hoghouseblog.com/ Denise Ross is the best because she does original reporting. Unlike other South Dakota blogs she doesn’t just regurgitate news found elsewhere with commentary. Denise is a former political reporter for The Rapid City Journal who has background in South Dakota government and politics.

http://prairieprogressive.com/ Tim Gebhart is a Sioux Falls attorney (also a former life the political reporter for The Rapid City Journal) who writes about books and music with a smattering of current events and the law.

http://skolvikes.blogspot.com/ Mike Knudson is a local business executive, who writes with great analysis and love of the Minnesota Vikings. Big Mike is the son of Sioux Falls power couple, Councilwoman De and Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson.

http://www.jayreding.com/ Jay Reding, I believe is currently a law student at USD and he is a thoughtful conservative that is engaging and writes on legal, political, and international topics with great intellect.

http://brookingsbanter.squarespace.com/ Tim Reed is the Deputy Mayor of Brookings and blogs on happenings in the Brookings community as well on Brookings City business. Tim’s blog is a good example of what many elected public officials should be doing. Effective leadership begins with communication.

http://jasonfolkerts.blogspot.com/index.html Jason Folkerts is a local cartoonist with great wit who not only blogs but is frequently published in Newspapers across South Dakota.

http://dakotawatercooler.blogspot.com/ Greg Belfrage is the conservative talk show host on KELO AM radio. Greg calls them like he sees them.

South Dakota Straight Talk at KELOland.com can be found at http://www.keloland.com/custompages/kelolandblogs/sdstraighttalk/

More less than good news for the pen and pencil press - As reported by the Associated Press, classified advertising is moving from newspapers to the Internet.

Particularly significant is that younger brokers, home sellers and buyers are using the Internet. They are the future.

 Read This

The August issue of WIRED magazine is out today with a must read article “Breaking the News.” It is not available online (there is usually a month delay for the feature articles to be posted), but spend the price of a Frappuccino and get a copy.

If you want a glimpse of what is happening at the Argus Leader and a further look at our changing media do not miss this WIRED article.

The insightful article by Jeff Howe gives a drilled down look at how Gannett Newspapers are dealing with the Internet, declining readership, and falling advertising revenues. Gannett of course is the owner of our own Argus Leader.

The article gives perhaps even another insight as to why the local paper wanted that list of South Dakota state employees. There is a lot of Change going on behind the scenes at Gannett headquarters in McLean, Virginia and at 10th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.

The most spectacular example may be BrandonInfo.com,perhaps a beta version of what we are going to see in South Dakota's largest media market. This Argus sponsored, free website, has a pleasing layout and the local content that cannot be obtained elsewhere is outstanding. Good job Argus Leader. 

The Passion Play that has erupted over the Argus Leader’s reporting and editorializing of Dan Scott’s presentation to a group of visiting Legislators last month has been Sensational.

Essentially the facts are: The Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce invited South Dakota Legislators to be their guests in Sioux Falls for a day and a half or so of briefings about the “Good Things” happening in the Sioux Empire. This included a few tours, a few meals and a few sessions of presentations by various civic leaders.

While it has not been said,  the purpose of the hosting was to explain what is happening in Sioux Falls, why it is good for all of South Dakota, and to promote a better understanding of what is happening in Sioux Falls with the members of the Legislature that represent other areas of the State.

At one of the morning sessions, Dan Scott, President of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation made a presentation detailing the causes and effects of Sioux Falls growth in the past 25 to 30 years. On Saturday June 16th the Argus Leader reported that Scott said in effect that others should help Sioux Falls, but if they chose not to be excited about Sioux Falls the least they could do is get out of the way as we have a City to build. Subsequently the local paper also editorialized that Scott “eroded the City’s image” and (his) “arrogant comments undermined the event”.

For about three weeks not much happened other than rumor and innuendo among Legislators and Civic types, until on Sunday, July 15,Argus Editor again slammed Scott in his parody in response to the letter of explanation that Scott sent to (presumably all) members of the Legislature. The Argus Leader did provide on their website a copy of Scott’s letter. After Editor Randell Beck’s Sunday column ran, radio talk show host, former newsman and blogger, Greg Belfrage joined the cast in this drama. He posted several times (seeDakota Watercooler (Greg’s blog)) about Beck’s column and had Scott on as a guest on his morning show even though apparently little was said about this matter. What Greg did though is obtain and post a copy of Scott’s speech. (A good reporter getting the facts out)

These are the facts but Beck did not let go. In his July 22 column he responded that it is his job to “raise a stink sometimes and to challenge us to think about ourselves” although he did say “It was never my intention to attack Dan Scott.” (perhaps close to an apology). Beck did have a few choice words for Belfrage when he called Belfrage’s show a “feeding frenzy.”

The Scuttlebutt – I have heard and read on the blogosphere that the Argus’ rile comes from Scott’s opening remark where he either makes a joke or ridicules the Daily paper. It is rumored that the Publisher was in the audience and he got up and stormed out, thus causing the coverage and editorializing of Scott. I have heard there were only two Legislators present at Scott’s speech and they did not even think Scott’s remarks were derogatory. The solons that came to Sioux Falls were perhaps more interested in socializing and politicking with their comrades than going to meetings. I heard the dinners were well attended. Discussion has also been circulating that Scott has made these types of remarks before jabbing the paper and stating that we have a City to build.

Because Readers finally have the facts they can judge for themselves and come to their own conclusions about this affair.

A Few Observations – Dan Scott was a Sioux Falls small businessman who became a Development Rep and business recruiter for the South Dakota Department of State Development. Dan worked in Pierre for a number of years and helped businesses locate statewide. He understands South Dakota and the relationships among its communities. Dan Scott left the State Development Office and went to work for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation with Dave Stenseth in the mid 1980s. Scott later worked with Roger Hainje who died in the tragic plane crash of the Governor’s plane in 1993. Scott later became the leader of the Sioux Falls development efforts.

Dan Scott is aggressive and his attitude and remarks are no less so. His aggressive attitude is why he has been a successful and effective leader in Sioux Falls’ development.

Scott should have tried to unscrew the negative perception of these events immediately after the first Editorial in June.

What took Scott so long to respond? Certainly getting the speech “out there” help make  his case. Why did he wait? Did he think there was no need to respond?

In most news stories there is a villain, a victim, and a hero. The reporter is always the hero. The Argus tried to make Scott the Villain but in this case Scott has become the Victim.

The blood has been spilt now is the time to move on. We have a City and State to Build.

The Paper will ALWAYS have the last word. As Benjamin Franklin reportedly said, “You can’t argue with people who buy ink by the barrel.”

MySiouxFalls.com is up and running on the Internet. There is another news source today for news about Sioux Falls and South Dakota. It has an attractive format and is very appealing. I was greeted with an engaging presentation of the news starting off the tonight’s pending execution, when I drilled down into other portals on the site (being as non technical as I am) this seems to be a beta version as there were many features that remain with glitches. The very brief video ads do work however.

The presentation will get far better and could become particularly interesting depending on MySF.com’s niche news reporting and interactivity with its users.

This Internet presentation is inevitable. The ultimate winner of who wins the advertising dollars is which media (I believe on multiple platforms) are the best news hunter and gatherer.

I wish MySiouxFalls.com good luck. Competition makes things better.

From the brief information available, MySiouxFalls.com is owned by Sioux Empire News LLC. Joe Prostrollo of Sioux Falls is apparently associated with Sioux Empire News. Local bloggers and the Daily Planet recently reported that Mr. Prostrollo is also listed as “registrant” of several Mike Rounds for Senate Internet domains. What the connection between the news service and the political activity remains to be seen and without more informaiton it is way too early to jump to any conclusions.

In any event, the times are indeed a changing and only the fleetest of foot will survive.

Another Nail In the Coffin of the Daily Newspaper

EBAY, the Internet’s Largest online shopping and website, has launched Kijiji, a Free website of classified advertising.

Wikipedia defines Kijiji best as follows: Kijiji (Swahili for village) is a centralized network of online urban communities for posting local classified advertisements.

Kijiji’s initial forary into the US will be in 200 Communities. Sioux Falls is included. Interestingly, San Jose and San Francisco are not Kijiji communities, Yet. San Jose is home to EBAY and San Fransico is home to Craigslist. Craigslist is the originator of online classified ads and is 25% owned by EBAY. EBAY for about 2 years has been operating Kijiji or similar classified advertising sites in over 25 countries including Japan, China, India, Australia, England and Russia.

Kijiji’s presence in the United States is a major event and will have far reaching effect on the Media, especially Daily newspapers.

Classified Advertising is the Cash Cow for newspapers. Considering the penetration of the Internet and the fact that the service is free to the users – Kijiji is hitting the newspapers right on their bottom line. Expect Kijiji to grow like topsy.

Straight Talk Commentary – Observers of the Political Scene usually have a variety of sources when watching current events and divining the political future.

One of Former US Senator Phil Gramm’s political weather vanes was Dickie Flatt (see Gramm’s Wikipedia entry), a printer and small businessman from Mexia, Texas. Gramm often referred to Dickie as one of his sources in what was happening in the ”real world” - Outside the District of Columbia beltway.

There are several weather vanes I watch and listen to carefully for indications of what the “non-politicians” are thinking. One of my real world sources, you could also refer to as “Dick the Printer”. He asked me a couple of weeks ago, “Yvonne Hawkins a writer with the Sioux Falls Business newspaper, who is she and what do you know about her?” The reason for Dick’s question is that one of the members of his coffee / breakfast group had asked if it were permissible for her to join them one morning.

“Dick the Printer’s” non-formalized morning group consists of various men and women, many who are or have been active in the Sioux Falls community. Some had been in elected office, some in the professions, some in education, some in non-profits, some in business. Generally they are all over age 50 and have been successful. They are Democrats, Republicans and even an Independent. In fact the member who made the inquiry about the SF Business Journal’s Editor had held an important position in one of Stephanie Herseth’s previous campaigns.

Sidebar – From time to time when I am running my traps and ask “Dick the Printer” what he knows or what is going on. He often tells me (in his own unique way, jokingly of course) – “I don’t know anything, I get my news from the Argus Leader.”

The story "reported in the Sioux Falls Business Journal" that follows notes Ms. Hawkins recently did join the group one morning. Her take about what people want in Sioux Falls is generally correct. What is more important is- since the Journal’s owner is the “Argus Leader” this Editorial may indicate that the ownership has decided to become more proactive in promoting Sioux Falls.

In a follow-up conversation with Dick today, he said the group did fill Ms. Hawkins ears about their dislike of negativity of the Argus and their collective dislike of their change of format.

I posted previously that the Argus would help Sioux Falls and do themselves some good by becoming more of a Promoter of the City. Also as indicated in a previous post, the Daily Paper does appear lately to be more positive about what Sioux Falls might become without divisiveness and the naysayers.

Ms. Hawkins Editorial is another indication that the Argus is at least thinking about becoming a force for good.

Since its inception, the “Sioux Falls Business Journal” has reported about the booming Sioux Falls business scene in a positive manner and has promoted Sioux Falls and South Dakota. Ms Hawkins weekly Editorials are well reasoned and articulate. She has even weighed in on issues such as having a new Events Center in Sioux Falls.

For the record Yvonne Hawkins like Jodi Schwan, former Kelo reporter and now Mayor Munson’s Chief of Staff) are both graduates of the prestigious Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Reader’s Want Media On Community Side

BY: Yvonne D Hawkins

Sioux Falls Business Journal

July 3, 2007

I sat in on a coffee shop conversation one recent morning simply to catch a glimpse of what folks are talking about these days. Sitting around a table sipping coffee and having breakfast were a group of people from a mixed bag of backgrounds – a few business leaders, a government official or two as well as others. The common thread among them was that each had arrived to offer an opinion about, well, something.

When I joined the conversation, the topic often centered around the state of local journalism – particularly the variety that emanates from the Argus Leader Media building.

The Sioux Falls Business Journal seemed to fly under the radar of most of the harshest feedback, though that’s likely because the journal’s mission is to view the world through the lens of the business community.

However, there were other moments during the conversation that made me feel as if I were, shall I say, strongly encouraged to pay particular attention.

And so I did.

As I sat there, sometimes asking questions, sometimes just listening, it seemed as if through the layers of critique and insight an interesting theme began unfolding.

What these engaged residents seemed to be conveying is that people in this growing city on the prairie deeply care about their community. They care about its history and where the city is going from here. They care about what avenues the city will take to achieve its goals.
And nothing upsets them more than when they feel the city suffers harm from local media.

At first I thought the depth of commitment to protecting Sioux Falls was largely an outgrowth of the positions that some in the group held in the community. After all, this was a rather plugged-in crowd, some of whom were part of the local establishment.

But later I thought about conversations I often have with a friend who could be affectionately characterized as disestablished. She’s a 60-something-year-old who lives off disability income. And nearly every week, she calls and peppers me with questions about various building projects going up or especially news stories about the community at large.

Her theme sometimes is a little different from the one floated at the coffee shop. She’s at times uncertain whether Sioux Falls is growing in the right direction. On several occasions, she has threatened to move to Parker if she thinks Sioux Falls is going to jump too far off track. But her desire for something good to unfold in this area is apparent.

And she certainly holds me and others in the local media responsible for being part of the equation for something good to happen.

That’s a tall order, but my friend as well as those in the coffee shop crew are right. Local journalists should function as allies in charting a solid course for Sioux Falls.

Some of that role, as we journalists love to tout, involves fulfilling a watchdog commitment to examining business and governmental affairs.

Still our role equally involves continued commitment to getting facts straight, understanding the history of the community and reporting the information people need to help make decisions that impact their lives.

To be sure, the coffee shop crew will expect no less.