PAGING HOMER: IS there a media blackout...what say your sources??

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Inquiring minds want to know... Far fewer media reports these days?

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), January 05, 2000

Answers

I can't tell you. My repeated requests for interviews with important people in the media business have not been returned.

-- frank beamer (jiie@ext.com), January 05, 2000.

The media prints what the people want to read. People do not want to hear about Y2K anymore. In the minds of the whole, it's turned into a joke (on us?)

-- voynik (voynik@aol.com), January 05, 2000.

Roland,

I haven't heard or read anything to that effect. I am sure companies are going to be mum if they are having problems for liability reasons.

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), January 05, 2000.


Ahem,

Well, Roland, I know a bit about this.

All eyes are on the stock market today.

For example, there's this story:

"With U.S.markets looking OK, SEC reduces Y2K watch

WASHINGTON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - As the U.S. securities markets hummed along with no major Y2K setbacks, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday it was scaling back its Year 2000 monitoring."

As far as most reporters are concerned, "Y2k" is literally "old news," UNLESS something HUGE happens that is directly attributed to Y2k.

Will we continue to see stories like this one that follows? Yes, but, IMHO, from here on out--it's going to be the stock market, the presidential race and the changing political focus in Russia.

Just my two cents! Worth what you paid for it!

Here's that story, by the way:

Mali Rail System Is Victim of Y2K

.c The Associated Press

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) - The computer system used to track goods transported on Mali's railway system has been disrupted by Y2K, officials in the West African country said Wednesday.

The glitch was discovered on the line between Mali's capital, Bamako, and Senegal's capital, Dakar, railway director Mikoro Gassama said.

Railway officials have resorted to manual record-keeping while they try to fix the problem. No train delays or cancellations were reported as a result.

Mali's telephone, electricity and water services were not affected by the bug. The airport and banks were also working normally."

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), January 05, 2000.


Roland, have you forgotten the face of your father? The lobstrosities are about!!!

-- Blaine the Train (Blaine@wastelands.net), January 05, 2000.


If there is currently a degradation of the "system" underway at entities such as large auto manufacturers, defense contractors, government entitlement programs, etc. that erode or kill the way these entities operate then that will be a wake up call for the media. These kinds of problems are too large to contain and affect too many people or other partner entities.

FM is right.

Unless at the end of this week payroll systems lock up, over or underpay or don't pay at all, etc. the issue is dead for the moment. Unless people are affected then there will be now major news interest.

If, by the end of the month, month end processing goes without a hitch then the issue will simply die altogether until sometime in February around the leap year.

There is also this to consider. If problems occur at an entity owned and operated by the same interests who own the media outlet, how much do you think that media outlet will be willing to invest in coverage? Would you put your own dirty laundry out for everyone else to see?

How far off am I? Input is very appreciated.

Mike

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-- Mike Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), January 05, 2000.


In other words voynick, nothing's changed.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), January 05, 2000.

The media are losing interest in Y2K and terrorism very quickly. Unless something major happens which can be definitely linked to Y2K, don't expect any serious Y2K reporting.

If Y2K is going to cause a recession, it will happen regardless of what the media reports. If a recession starts 3 or 4 months from now, it may really be difficult to determine what caused it.

-- Dave (dannco@hotmail.com), January 05, 2000.


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