About that NEW 5th TV Network

Now-- the to rest of the story. My original reason for posting tonight was the formation of the New CW, a network that comes from the merger of the Warner Bros. Network (the WB) and the United Paramount Network (UPN).

The good news for me is that "Gilmore Girls" is STILL going to be there on the CW.

But, it will be interesting to see how the various affiliates work out the programming in the new network.

With urban or black-oriented shows on UPN, we have to wonder how much of that programming will be found on the new merged network.

In my search for information about this latest change, I went to the Viacom website, which no longer includes info. about UPN. As a broadcast network, UPN is part of the new CBS Corporation, which split from Viacom last year.

I'm looking forward to talking about this in my upcoming Media Management course in May.

That's why I love following media organizations. They're always changing.

Stay tuned.

Changes at BET

For someone who is as keenly interested in media companies, the management of those properties, and diversity as I am, this has been an exciting week of change.

As it has been nearly a month since I posted some thought in the blogosphere, I was planning on saying my two cents about the merger of UPN and the WB.

But, when I went to the Viacom site, I learned that Bob Johnson, who helped start Black Entertainment Television stepped down as Chairman of the cable network, which is now owned by Viacom.

I think that speaks volumes about what Johnson thinks about the cable network that he started-- that at one point was a water cooler for black Americans and for young black communications students like me-- once a place to which we could aspire to work.

BET Headquarters was located in NE Washington, DC just a short drive from the Howard University campus, minutes from Slowe Hall, my dorm during the sophomore year (that would have 1989-1990).

Since Viacom took over the network, we've seen the news and information programming dwindle on BET. I can't remember the last time I watched it.

At one time, they were running re-runs of Soul Food, the drama from SHOWTIME. I never sprung for the premium cable channels. So, if it were not for BET, I wouldn't have been able to see this drama that was a spin-off from the movie.

Oh well-- I guess that's the best I can say about the new BET. I suppose it will be fun to see what Bob Johnson and his Charlotte Bobcats can do. I frequently visit Charlotte (a regular stop-off point on my trek between Alabama and Richmond, Va.) and maybe I'll see Bob at a Bobcats game.

Talking Scholastic Journalism in Florida

The annual pilgrimage to St. Petersburg, FL. is about over and much has been learned during this two-day meeting of scholastic journalism researchers, teachers and workshop coordinators.

During tonight's wrap-up dinner, I learned that this was the highest attendance ever for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Scholastic Journalism Division Midwinter Meeting.

Today we talked about new concerns about plagiarism, yearbook trends and new technology trends.

It's always nice to visit, meet, talk here at the Poynter Institute. Our hotel on the Tampa Bay -- is also nice.

More details later.