Video iPod & Cross-promotion

I read about David's video iPod in TV Guide. Thank you, David, for supplying more details than that specialty mag provided.

I believe this emerging technology illustrates that many an industry is destined to change in the wake of technological advances. For example, as David mentioned, ABC has already prepared a number of its series for distribution on the video iPod. In this case, early adopters stand to make a monetary killing.

It is hard to tell where these sorts of marriages will go. In one case, the ABC drama "Grey's Anatomy" cross-promotes musical artists featured on the program on iPod and their network website. One may concede that people who visit the website have reasonable access to internet commerce. In this fashion, an otherwise unknown artist can get national exposure and instant country-wide sales. This does even consider the profits that iPod and ABC may make from this one (relatively small and likely short-lived) business relationship. (ABC will soon move on to the next relationship, one can only assume.)

Why is this important to journalism? Because this is what ordinary Americans are doing with their access to technology. They watch TV and share music and like to see stars.

Perhaps journalism should look to these areas -- the visual, the pop culture arena -- to find ways to finance the newsrooms of the future.