The Future of the Media.

How does one get informed about the news?

How many people have enough time to read a newspaper front to back every morning?

How many people have enough time to sit down and watch the 6 o’clock news every day?

By the time you’ve found out about a headline how long has it been since this was the main topic of discussion?

 Does it take you days to find out about something?

 Let’s use one example of headline news, are you just finding out about this topic now? If not, how long ago did you know about this?



Hazing.

In early September, a MJHL hockey team took part in a few "rookie initiation" events that were taken too far.

These said events eventually became a form of hazing because they were no longer done in "good fun" but in a more spiteful and humiliating way.

One victim of these events is only 15 years old. When his parents found out about the happenings they immediately took action.

Now back probably ten years ago, the most attention from the media this would have gotten would be front page of the town's newspaper, as well as MAYBE the news in nearby cities, and probably only a one-time appearance.

 Let’s fast forward to the present.

 This serious situation has gotten LOADS of media attention.

 I was out for wings the other night at Pony Corral and there was a 3 minute segment about it on TSN!

Seriously, TSN - that is HUGE. Everyone in the sports community watches TSN.

 It has made our Winnipeg Free Press front page for the last two days.

 It's on the MJHL website.

 It's on the CBC news website.

 Other blogs. - http://mikestackhouse.blogspot.com/2011/10/neepawa-natives-investigated-for-hazing.html

THE GLOBE AND MAIL!


 It's all over Facebook. Whether it’s statuses or even pictures of the newspaper articles.

 I've seen it on Twitter among some of my friends that used to play in the MJHL.

 This situation is being put on blast because the MJHL wants everyone to know what happened and that they are not taking it very lightly.

Everyone remembers the late hit Jesse Enns made at the end of last season. He got a 40 game suspension. Basically ended his MJ career.


The league has handed out an even HARSHER penalty to the Neepawa Natives because of this hazing incident. No, the players didn't get 40 games each, but a $5000 fine isn't easy money to come up with.

 With the victim's family speaking out against hazing, they hope other victims will feel that they can speak out too.

The media outlets these days are absolutely beneficial in terms of getting important messages out. The fact that news is so accessible with just the click of a button on your computer or smart phone is the real deal. I can't predict what the future holds, but it can only get better for media outlets. That's a guarantee.