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MTV News: Glimpsing the Future of News Magazines
When 60 Minutes premiered in 1968, its reliance on narrative structure and
willingness to experiment with visuals and reporter roles represented a departure from
traditional news formats. Since then, the ever-popular program has been joined by such
tweaked copycats as Dateline, 48 Hours, and 20/20. Today’s widespread recognition of
news magazines as a credible source of journalism indicates that this once novel format
of news has itself become tradition. Where then might one turn to explore the next
frontier, the future of television news magazines? The programs developed by the MTV
News department and shown on the MTV network are a logical starting point, since its
audience consists of the future news magazine viewers, a generation that watches less
straight anchored news than older cohorts and previous youth generations. By contrasting
MTV news programs with the model of 60 Minutes, a pattern emerges of programming
that considers characteristics of our youth in designing shows to best serve their needs
and desires.
MTV’s news programs share many characteristics, though certain conventions
are utilized in one show and not another. A sampling of programs was observed and
collectively compared to 60 Minutes, including two documentary series, True Life and
Criminal, two special reports, and one docudrama. News briefings throughout the day
were also evaluated for style, and to ascertain how MTV News functions as a cohesive
whole. The programs examined were first aired or re-aired between October and
December 2001. Multiple episodes of the series were viewed to ensure the typicality of
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Convention