ABC news in major transformation

Last week Tuesday, Feb. 23. ABC news President David Westin announced "fundamental transformation" of ABC news division, which will cut off several hundred jobs in the news division. He said:

"ABC News has kept its head above water, but sometimes just barely so...Particularly last year, in a down advertising year, it drove home the concern that we were a bit precarious"

The primary goal is to re-design the ABC news in the digital age and re-define how it operates in response to the changing nature of media circumstance.

Can we see this is a death of the big mass media?

Internet Use Could Make You Smarter - Maybe

Internet Use Could Make You Smarter, According to an article on dailytech.com posted February 22, 2010,

The article references a report, based on a study that surveyed almost 900 individuals. How accurate is the study? Just what were the parameters used? Those are just a few of the questions this article brings up.

I'd have to say that in my opinion, it's what you do on the internet, not just being on the internet that may contribute to increasing your smarts, if at all.

The article makes for an interesting read, but so does the comment thread. I found the opinions posted on the article rather entertaining, especially the guy that argues for all of the "real world" experience he's gained as a World of Warcraft Guild Leader.

Korean guys died after 5 days gaming

Five years ago,  Korean guy, 28 years old, died after online computer game for 50 hours without break, BBC reported. It happened again yesterday, Feb. 16, in South Korea. A guy, now 32-year-old- died in the Internet cafe after playing games for five days. An investigation is underway to find out the relation between game addition and the death.

Can we see a causal relation from this accident?

Media credibility hit the new low record

According to the 2009 Pew Research Report, trust in news media has reached a lowest record. 

Pew Research Center conducted the national survey and found that 63 percent of respondents said news reporting is inaccurate and only a small portion of them (29%) said that media in general get the facts straight. It marked the worst record compared with 53% in 2007.

Why could it happen? Why has the rating of media trust gradually declined?

What should the media do to improve their job performance?