Struggling to survive in the new media news world

There is a fascinating article on Salon this morning. Mainstream Media Meltdown by Robert McChesney. He talks about how old media is struggling to survive and how new media is trying to figure out how to grow up. How do you do that when new media does not have the resources old media has? How do you do that when there is absolutely a dire need for it? Think about all the articles you read here on Wounded Times. Other than the articles I write addressing veterans and their families, the over 18,000 posts here are linked back to, you guessed it, news sites.

I have an ethical code to live by and since 2007 I have kept that code of ethics. I don't trust blogs even though I have this one. I don't trust them if they cannot link their claims to sources, so most of the time they are not worth reading. You shouldn't trust this one either. Read what I write and then look at the links. Read what is there and if there are links on that, track it back to the source to make sure you are reading the right information.

I am just like very other person in this world and we have to remember "journalists" are people too. No matter what you read know they have their own personal ideas that come out. When they research something, they have their own thoughts so unless the story leads them to something they didn't know, they will not really change their minds.

I have an agenda. To end the mind-boggling-head-pounding-twisted ignorance of the American people because reporters have failed to do their jobs. Usually my wrath is directed toward the big boys, like national news stations and publications. Most of the news you read here comes from small town stations and papers and to tell you the truth, they do a better job of telling the stories that matter to us.

While this article was about many things, this part jumped out at me and slapped me in the face.

There is probably no better evidence that journalism is a public good than the fact that none of America’s financial geniuses can figure out how to make money off it.

When I was in college for Digital Media at Valencia one of my professors Matt Messenger, (who happened to be at least one of my professors every semester) was talking to the class about our future. He said "Obviously you're moving to New York or California because that's where the jobs are" and then he looked right at me "You, you we just need to find a way for you to make money." I am busy to the point of post-retirement. (Ever notice how people get more busy after they retire?) He knew the content of my blog, book and videos are all about veterans and their families. Since Florida has the 3rd largest veterans population in the country, he knew there would be plenty of news for me to cover right here so when he saw the content from around the country, it blew him away.

But how do I make money doing it? The charities sponsoring the over 40 events I filmed last year didn't have extra money to pay for the videos I put up on YouTube. The 14 hour days I put in on this blog and helping families 7 days a week depends on donations but after begging over and over again, last year I made a total of under $3,000 in donations but it cost me a lot more than that, so no, I couldn't even break even. My family tries to get me out of feeling depressed about not working! Not working? Yes because while I do work I don't get paid!

This "news multi media" site is important because it covers things we care about but the big boys don't. Readers are pretty loyal but even they don't find enough value in it to support it. So if you have any ideas on how to do what even more popular sites can't figure out how to do, clue me in. If I don't tell you what is going on, who will?