I stepped aside so the man who had been peering over my shoulder, at the petrol station counter, could get at the newspapers. I needn't have bothered. "Same old s**t" he said, paid for his petrol and walked away without buying a paper. I was tempted to ask him, was it just the continual reporting on the murder trial in Feilding that we've had foisted on us every day this week by the media. Or was he expressing disdain for what the collective media serves up as news. Whatever it is, he literally wasn't buying it.
But it does appear that the long-term existence of newspapers, in their current form, is more the question these days rather than what they report. This is obviously important too. In New Zealand the move to tabloid format has already started. Some people love the smaller size and others, used to coping with a larger paper, will hate it.
There is also the view that tabloid format leads to tabloid-like content. Like all things, given time we adapt to change. But being smaller in size does mean content will be reduced. This will be unfortunate. I don't want my news to be so brief that I'm only getting someone's slimmed down version. I know good investigative journalism is dying, that's what old school journalists tell me, so the slimline reporting required will suit the new crop of reporters.
Those who don't get out and attempt to develop relationships and who rely mostly on everything arriving on their desks. PR consultants tell me they provide as much detail as they can in their media releases and that they are often used verbatim. But its technology and its impact, that is driving change in the newspaper industry. Most industries really. It is influencing not only how we get our news but what that news looks like and is made up of.
I have a friend who says she is now fearful she will be left behind in the social media space. I don't know why as she is pretty computer/technology savvy as it is. She said she is getting overwhelmed by social media in all its guises. I always thought technology should be the servant and not the other way around. Silly me.
I now sit at meetings with half those present using their iPads and Netpads. They're using them, as others do their meeting papers, and following proceedings. I'm sure they're on the internet and sending and answering emails too. This suits some people but I can't read lots of information on a screen for very long and I tend to lose focus if I'm reading when others are talking. But each to their own. I do know it's no fun getting back to the office after half a day out and having 50 plus emails to catch up on.
But there is nothing like the "kanohi ki te kanohi" face-to-face approach when communicating. Each week I travel and speak to various groups and organisations. They don't ask me to send a script or report. They want me to front. To come and talk about something they need to have explained or are interested in knowing more about. They want me to keep it simple and relevant. I always take these opportunities as I meet so many people from various backgrounds. If you want to know what's happening, going on or what people are concerned about there is no substitute for making a personal appearance. Technology will hopefully leave that area alone.