Chris Licht Has a Few Ideas About the Future of Media

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As a media enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of news and entertainment over the past few decades, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation when it comes to Chris Licht‘s next move. With his extensive background in the industry and knack for navigating the ever-changing landscape of media, he seems poised to make a significant impact wherever he lands.

Chris Licht has had nothing but time since leaving CNN nearly a year and a half ago.

On Tuesday, the seasoned news and media leader mentioned that he has been engaged in consulting work, attending approximately 275 meetings, instructing a course at Syracuse University on the evolution of media, spending quality time with his family, and pursuing his pilot’s license. However, there’s an underlying sense that he is eager to rejoin the media industry, although the specific details are yet to be determined.

Regardless of my next move, I aim for it not to be a step backwards but rather something progressive. It’s uncertain where things are heading, but many are striving to meet the huge demand for content consumption, whether in entertainment or news. They’re finding innovative ways to do this outside the traditional system. In time, some of these innovations may either merge with the existing system or surpass it. There are numerous intelligent minds working on shaping the future of the business.

Although Licht expresses optimism towards the news and information sector in general, he also admitted that the present state is challenging and it’s expected that the cable news industry may persist in its downward trend.

Licht stated that every media executive is aware of the existing issue and is currently addressing it. He emphasized that over the past six months, there’s been a noticeable decline in public trust towards traditional media. His point being: Can traditional media adapt to regain people’s trust, reconnect with them, and become important once more in their daily lives?

“You can’t exist in a low trust society, which is where we are right now. And I think it’s important to delineate between two things,” he continued. “There is trusted sources of information, and then there’s trusted opinion. And I think those two worlds need to be very separate. And I think part of the problem is they’ve kind of commingled. And you know, media organizations will try very hard to say, no, no, this is our news gathering and this is our opinion. But in the world, people don’t have distinction.”

He noted that earlier, there was just one collection of information, leading to thirty different debates. Now, however, we have thirty separate bodies of information, and over a thousand discussions surrounding them each. This situation requires change, or else we risk facing serious problems in our society.

Indeed, Licht posits that as the boundaries between opinions and facts grow more blurred, facts might eventually be considered valuable entities on their own.

Licht proposed an idea: “Maybe we’ll eventually have a service like Bloomberg Terminal, but for facts instead?” He suggested that such a service would be essential for professionals across various fields, including finance and government, as they need accurate information. This service could potentially become a widely used product. If you are someone who can translate these facts into understandable terms for your community, then that is the key to achieving success, he implied.

He pointed out that if Trump were to be re-elected as president, the need for such a product might grow even greater. However, he emphasized that these matters transcend beyond just a Trump presidency.

Instead, he offers “unasked-for, perhaps even irritating suggestions: take swings at the pitches that come your way.

He acknowledged there would be contentious matters, but he and his team are well-versed in stirring up situations often referred to as ‘sensationalized anger.’ He went on to say, ‘If everything is always at the maximum level of intensity and everything is outrageous, then it becomes easier to sneak past certain things that truly deserve such a response.’

Regarding the future of cable news, Licht thinks it’ll persist in some shape or form; however, the specifics of how it reaches households are yet to be determined.

As a dedicated follower of this industry, I can’t help but draw a parallel with the demise of radio. Just like radio, I believe cable subscriptions are headed for a steep decline due to escalating subscription fees. This is why we’re witnessing cost-cutting measures.

When asked about potential changes at CNN if he were to take over now, Licht responded, “Oh yes, that’s a matter I discuss with my therapist.

In all sincerity, I’ve spent an extensive period not fretting over my circumstances. However, I can’t help but wonder if there were different ways I could have managed those situations, especially the aspects within my control. You see, I walked away from a remarkable job with Stephen Colbert, and I had no intention of returning to news. Yet, I made that decision because it felt like a calling, and as a journalist at heart, it’s disheartening that things didn’t turn out as planned.

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2024-11-13 01:56