Why Laura Ling and Euna Lee are the victims of the rush for headlines

There is a good piece in the New York Times reflecting on the jailing of the two Current TV reporters in North Korea.

The blame for the incident is laid firmly at the door of the current state of the media which in an attempt to get that news story first is

increasingly sending journalists to the world’s hot spots, putting a spotlight on news stories in new ways. It is, experts say, another consequence of the fragmented media landscape and the declines in international news coverage by traditional outlets.

adding that

reporters lack the backing of large established news organizations that might have the experience and leverage to deal with foreign governments.

Current's bold experiment coming to an end?

Less than a year after it was launched as the young persons alternative Television service,Current Tv is laying off staff.

60 jobs are to go and a statement from the Company says that

Approximately 60 positions have been eliminated in the company's three U.S. offices, and approximately 30 new positions created Many of those whose positions were eliminated have been placed in the new positions. Current will have approximately 410employees

Perhaps though more importantly the Channel's format of amateur content appears to be in the process of being dropped to be replaced by

the more traditional 30-minute programs that have long dominated television programming across all channels

These changes result from the development of a new, innovative programming strategy built around eight cross-platform channels, including news, comedy, music, and technology, slated to premiere in the first quarter of 2009," the statement detailed. "Current's new programming strategy expands upon its pioneering use of viewer-created content to include additional opportunities for participation, creating a far more viewer-influenced network, and further unifies the company's online and TV platforms by having each Web channel paired with a companion TV show

said the Company's statement

Source-Cnet news