Om Malik is a respected blogger and Web 2.0 analyst with Business 2.0. Mark Evans of the National Post is interviewing him on "The Future of Media." Here are some paraphrased excerpts:

OM: This is a flux point in media.

There is a need for traditional "Brand" media outlets like the New York Times and the National Post.

ME: Traditional media cannot figure out the value proposition.

OM: This is Darwinian - they have to figure it out to survive. Forbes.com is doing well, for example.

ME: Jeff Cole of Annenberg Univ. says that newspapers will be gone.

OM: Each newspaper will have to find its own niche. He'll be happy to see a lot of papers go.... People don't listen to what the market wants.

ME: Three Cs - Credibility , Content, and Cash are the drivers of an effective blog.

OM: There is no difference between the old and new worlds relative to credibility. People read and make judgement calls. They decide if you are the real thing. It is harder to be found now. The world needs the editorial leader right now. Rating services help.... Local blogs like "Gothamist" are growing rapidly. it is a new kind of local news. there is an opportunity here. the economics of doing this are low. (Note: as editor of local news service, http://www.readingtoronto.com, I know that his remarks here are accurate).

Update

Audience: Opinion is important.

OM: With so much info available what becomes important is context - why does it matter to me? You can build a brand around bringing context which is the biggest thing missing in the media right now.

Audience: Ads are the lifeblood of blogs - what is the value proposition for blogging?

OM: Advertising is seriously lagging in the blog space. It is 1.0 approach (...read more...)