When 'new media' is used to refer to an e-stream from vox populi, it gets old fast and often misses the mark. Just like having one pundit from the left battle it out with one pundit from the right is predictable, reading real-time comments on broadcast news is gets boring because it is so often predictable. What comes off the top of most heads in response to a substantive news story is often intellectually impoverished, especially when it's limited to 140 characters.

New media can extend the reach of old media, especially as old media contracts and there are fewer journalists on the ground. When commenters and other digital citizens are adding relevant content – like, say, when they are sending in pictures and av feeds of protests following an election in a country with few independent journalists – that does add value. When commenters are just applying partisan politics or predictable opinions to the news of the day – meh, not so exciting.

One thing that might be worth thinking through further is how to find good sources of investigative work if the networks and newspapers can't afford to do as much as they used to do. There are universities full of paid researchers out there – maybe having a closer relationship to the academy would help break from the older stock of pundits to fresh faces and novel perspectives. The trick is that it's easy to go to the same academics again and again resulting in viewer fatigue with the same talking heads popping up every week. But using new people all the time runs the risk of airing folks who aren't comfortable in front of the camera or quick on their feet. No easy answers here, either.

Full disclosure: I am an academic-in-training so that could be why I think it's interesting to see what academics have to say. I also watch all my tv over the internet – but I am fine with a fairly standard broadcast format.

Natalie, the fact that you are asking fully contextualized questions of your internet audience is, in itself, a good use of new media.

Today News is entertainment. That is what sells ads and attracts eyeballs. Enough said.

I enjoy breaking news feeds and live video. I like discussions with groups like the CBS groups over live stream during the election with Katie Couric.

High Quality HD Video. I have the connection speed I get disappointed when it is not available.

I like video podcast with special guest and regular citizens who can be counted on to be reasonably responsible (not overly swearing)

I use Twitter Search to see what news is Breaking, trending topics. Maybe a show discussing Trending Topics, You could call your show Trending Topics

Natali you will do a great job just like you did with Loaded. I look forward to seeing you on CBS news. BOL (Best Of Luck)

Sincerely
Jimmie

I never had a great interest in Twitter, but gave in recently to see what the craic was. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but it seems like I get headline news with links to stories, and then the same headline with a link to the same story every 10 seconds or so. There are too many sources disseminating “news” by simply aggregating the work of others.

This seems to fly in the face of what I thought was the Twitter-effect – multi-way sharing of opinions and real-time updates of events/situations.

That's where I would aim for in a new newscast to set myself apart from 'old media' – multiple contributors, and real-time question and answer sessions between experts and the man on the street.

How impromptu could you make the show?

Could you follow the days hottest topics then line up people to share opinions (video, Tweets, email, phone, whatever) live on the show?

'Could you take burning questions at the top of the show and answer them or find expert commentators by the end?

Would this garner a faithful following of both information seekers and contributors?

Mix in some 'traditional' reporting on current affairs or pre-prepared reports and I think even I might be tempted away from Ultimate Dancing with the Idol on Ice!

Been a fan of your show on CNET for awhile now. In answer to your query about “old media vs. “new Media” I can clearly tell you that as a viewer I am simply that. I cannot change the news, I cannot engage the news that is being fed to me. I can choose to get my news from a source or variety of sources I like. I like all the new technology that is out. I will not necessarily use it, but I like people to keep innovating and thinking of new ideas. I would like my news to be “news”. Just like it used to be, non-biased and up to me to figure out what I think, rather than being told how I should feel. I think “news” as entertainment in the 24hr game has taken away serious journalism and keeps people on constant edge. It can be overwhelming to just listen to the news. Breaking news should be something serious, something to be made aware of. It should not be so and so celebrity is in or out of rehab. It should not be an over zealous fear inciting report on a killer flu that with common sense you will likely not get or be affected by. I have rambled on too much. Hope this helps on some level. Keep up the great work on BOL and your other shows.
Later,
JOe