If you read a newspaper either online or turning the pages, invariably stories about the media will be in the newspaper. Similar to all organizations, there is a bias towards one sector or another, the news is bias towards the media business – it is their jobs. This is the reason it is good to read the magazines that are focused on your industry or the industry you work in.

When CNN started it was the age of regional broadcasting and CNN was part of Turner Communications which launched super stations on cable TV. Then the broadcasting world became easier to do and today we have podcasts, that allow people to do their own thing. It is good for the consumer, but how does a broadcaster adapt to the changing way people consume media news?

In an article by Benjamin Mullin of the New York Times News Service, Mark Thompson, CNN’s CEO says CNN must abide by the words of Ted Turner – give people news when and where they want it. Mr. Thompson says if we do not follow the audiences to the new platforms with real conviction and scale, our future prospects will not be good.

Mr. Thompson was previously the CEO at the New York Times and director general at the BBC, and for the past year and half. At one time most households in the US had cable TV, but changes have many people no longer relying on cable TV. They do many things including receiving news on the smartphone and streaming services. The solution for CNN is do the same thing.

CNN is expanding the number of data scientists and product engineers and will release a new subscription product later this year. The $70 million venture will be funded by parent company Warner Bros Discovery.

One of the priorities has been vertical videos which can be easily viewed on smartphones. CNN plans to release 50 to 100 videos a day. One of the keys to releasing videos is fact checking the information, and ensure it is up to legal standards. CNN has a new unit called CNN Fact Check that works closely with editors and producers.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, most people consume the news, and it is important as investors to read good information because you may make decisions on the information. Ideally many of your investments you can take your time with because the critical information includes are they profitable? and can they pay your dividend? If the answer is yes, then you can wait till the next earnings season before making decisions. Consume the news and to verify opinions, but make financial decisions based on facts.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.