On my way back from the states last weekend I read Phil Cooke’s new book “The Last TV Evangelist” – he had been kind enough to give me a copy when I saw him in Washington DC a few days earlier. Firstly, I would recommend this book to any of you working in the media and very specifically Christian media.
It’s a book looking at the future of Christian media and specifically the visual broadcast media. It’s a good interesting book that certainly makes you think and I hope will challenge the perceptions of many that think we can bury our heads in the sand and pretend the media will continue the way it has for years – trust me it won’t!
There are a number of things in the book that are specifically a challenge to those of us working in this field – however the most fundamental of all changes (I believe) that is coming (perhaps is here already) that Phil points to and I 100% agree with is that we as media people are no longer the ones in control – gone are the days of the massive networks controlling what we watch and when we watch. Basically NOW the viewers (or maybe they are better called consumers) are the ones who are in control. Things like Tivo, SkyPlus etc. were just the start – in the future what the viewer wants to watch and when they want to watch it will be totally in their hands – so those of us who are working in the media need to wake up and realise the future is here and if we don’t change and adapt to it we really won’t be around much longer.
No longer will we be able to produce boring “samey”, tacky, repetitive programmes with gold thrones, manipulative messages and bad hair that people only watch because we tell them its good for them – suddenly they can search and find exactly what they want – and if what we offer is not it then one thing is for sure - they won’t come back.
The book offers no real solutions – but then in the world we are moving into the only real solution is that there are no solutions – the future is what we will make it. There will be as many different solutions as there are case studies the old “one size fits all” days are well and truly gone. The main thing the book leaves you with is that everyone is now a “player” from the kid with their laptop and camcorder to the massive TV ministry – we can all find and have a place BUT our success will be down to finding a way to deliver creative content to the people who want it – that’s a great challenge BUT also a great opportunity.
Traditional media will be here for a while so this is not going to happen overnight, however the growth areas will be with people embracing the future – that could be a whole new generation OR it could be us – IF we can change and adapt and not just do what we’ve always done.
I’m excited – what about you? I recommend you get the book, it’s a good read and one that hopefully will challenge you to examine your calling and embrace your future – whatever that is – just remember the future really will be what you make it.
It’s a book looking at the future of Christian media and specifically the visual broadcast media. It’s a good interesting book that certainly makes you think and I hope will challenge the perceptions of many that think we can bury our heads in the sand and pretend the media will continue the way it has for years – trust me it won’t!
There are a number of things in the book that are specifically a challenge to those of us working in this field – however the most fundamental of all changes (I believe) that is coming (perhaps is here already) that Phil points to and I 100% agree with is that we as media people are no longer the ones in control – gone are the days of the massive networks controlling what we watch and when we watch. Basically NOW the viewers (or maybe they are better called consumers) are the ones who are in control. Things like Tivo, SkyPlus etc. were just the start – in the future what the viewer wants to watch and when they want to watch it will be totally in their hands – so those of us who are working in the media need to wake up and realise the future is here and if we don’t change and adapt to it we really won’t be around much longer.
No longer will we be able to produce boring “samey”, tacky, repetitive programmes with gold thrones, manipulative messages and bad hair that people only watch because we tell them its good for them – suddenly they can search and find exactly what they want – and if what we offer is not it then one thing is for sure - they won’t come back.
The book offers no real solutions – but then in the world we are moving into the only real solution is that there are no solutions – the future is what we will make it. There will be as many different solutions as there are case studies the old “one size fits all” days are well and truly gone. The main thing the book leaves you with is that everyone is now a “player” from the kid with their laptop and camcorder to the massive TV ministry – we can all find and have a place BUT our success will be down to finding a way to deliver creative content to the people who want it – that’s a great challenge BUT also a great opportunity.
Traditional media will be here for a while so this is not going to happen overnight, however the growth areas will be with people embracing the future – that could be a whole new generation OR it could be us – IF we can change and adapt and not just do what we’ve always done.
I’m excited – what about you? I recommend you get the book, it’s a good read and one that hopefully will challenge you to examine your calling and embrace your future – whatever that is – just remember the future really will be what you make it.
No comments:
Post a Comment