Charlie Rose gives an enlightening looks into the thought processes of newspaper and print media executives as they confront the uncertainty in the future of their business. At the table are Time cover story writer Walter Isaacson, the Daily News’ Mort Zuckerman and the WSJ’s Robert Thomson. Who ever thought hanging out with four old white guys could be so much fun!

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Lots of live-to-tape variety shows. Girls in short skirts and low tops with big smiles. Guys with glasses holding mics and clipboards. Music acts and comedians with props. Great for the in-laws. Low cost programming that does big numbers.

Sound like some of the programming we’re increasingly seeing on network TV in the states? Get ready for more. A lot more.

Great article by Michael Hirschorn in the Atlantic about the future of broadcast network programming and the inevitable decline in high-production value, scripted, serialized shows.

It’s worth reading the full article, but here’s the short version courtesy of The Business Insider:

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A few months ago my buddy got married. As favors, he gave away t-shirts with his image in the Obamaesque Shepard Fairey design. Awesome.

Last week I bought an Obama T-shirt. It cost way too much. I wore it to a Superbowl party yesterday and three people said they were going to buy one (get yours here).

Today I read that the “Obama Brand Stimulates Big Sales” and that, according to the New York Times, Obama merchandise did over $200 million in sales. In the one month of November!

All this got me thinking about how to use this global celebrity to lift up the economy. (more…)