Skip to content

Main Navigation

Gigaom Search
  • Menu

  • About Us
  • ResearchExpand
    • Cloud & Infrastructure
    • Data Infrastructure, AI & Analytics
    • Edge & Networking
    • Security & Risk
    • DevOps & Applications
  • Analysts
  • Search
  • Sign in
Become a Client

Stay on Top of Enterprise Technology Trends. Get updates impacting your industry from our GigaOm Research Community

Join the Community!

California Fires: The Tragic & Very Real Web Reality Show

Om Malik Oct 24, 2007 (Jun 8, 2020) -- Blog Post

I am currently reading “Reality Show,” a new book by The Washington Post columnist and TV commentator, Howard Kurtz. The book is about Brian Williams, Katie Couric and Charles Gibson, the evening news show anchors, their gigantic (and sometimes creaky) news machine and of course, their larger-than-life salaries. It is also a reminder of how antiquated old TV news is in the era of NewTeeVee. The news, it seems, so often happens on the Internet. The tragedy unleashed by the Southern California fires is a perfect example.

Having already cut the proverbial chord to old TV, I have followed the tragedy almost entirely on the web, via tools such as Twitter and Google Maps. (Related: Web 2.0 & The California Fires.)

The TV network anchors might be able to bring gravitas and high production values to our screens, but it is user-captured and uploaded videos that put the tragedy (or news) in the right human perspective, shaking the very core of our souls.

I don’t want to dismiss the good work of local television stations, who are doing a remarkable job of streaming the news, as our good friend Andy Plesser points out. I am grateful for their streams. I have many friends down in Southern California, and Internet (and online video) is what is keeping me informed.

As I turn in for the night, I can’t help but wonder how Internet video is becoming a part of our lives. I hope you join me in saying a silent prayer for all those who have been impacted by the fires.

NewTeeVee crew will resume coverage tomorrow.

Media, Video
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Post

Related Research

Group of people watching futuristic GUI.
Jon Collins Apr 13, 2021 -- Blog

The Why of Value Stream Management

If you’re like me and have been around the block in tech more than once, you’ve seen three-letter acronyms come and go.…

Read More
Value Stream Management
network-3396348_1920
Image credit: Pete Linforth
GigaOm Research Apr 12, 2021 -- Blog

Tough Threat Landscape Demands Better Data Protection for Hybrid Cloud

The number of businesses migrating to the cloud is constantly growing. Hybrid cloud is now considered a standard approach by organizations of…

Read More
security-4038043_1920
Image credit: Pete Linforth
Michael Desmond Apr 9, 2021 (Apr 9, 2021) -- Blog

Secure Insight: GigaOm Partners with the CISO Series

Don’t look now, but GigaOm, the analyst firm that enables smart businesses to future-proof their decisions, is forging new partnerships to extend…

Read More
Security & Risk
web-4861612
Image credit: Gerd Altmann
GigaOm Research Apr 9, 2021 -- Blog

The Time is Now for Edge Experimentation

What is an edge platform? In a recent report, GigaOm Radar for Edge Platforms, Analyst Chris Grundemann says the term itself remains…

Read More
futuristic city
Image credit: Jackie Niam
Enrico Signoretti Apr 8, 2021 -- Blog

Data Storage Acceleration

Flash memory is now the standard for storing active data in the data center. NVMe and NVMe over Fiber (NVMe-oF) are on…

Read More
Data Management, Data Storage
Host data and technology
Image credit: z_wei
Michael Desmond Apr 5, 2021 -- Blog

Unstructured Data and the Challenge of Modern Data Management

Data volumes continue to skyrocket and businesses keep working to harness that data for analytics and intelligence, driving innovation and improving business…

Read More
Data Management

Stay on top of emerging trends impacting your industry with updates from our GigaOm Research Community.

Join Research Community
Gigaom
  • About Us
  • Analysts
  • Press Room
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS Feed
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • © GigaOm All Rights Reserved 2021
This website uses cookies; by continuing you are a agreeing to our Privacy Policy Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

This is an necessary category.

Save & Accept