McCormick Tribune Foundation Scholars luncheon, April 7, 2006
Owen Youngman, VP/Development, Chicago Tribune
Two years ago, The Medill Magazine asked me to opine on the state of media in the year 2021. Now, the most confusing thing about the request was the choice of year: 17 years in the future is quite an untraditional time frame for such a crystal-ball exercise. I mean, let’s say the goal was to pick a prime number – 5 would have gotten us to 2009 (the 40th anniversary of the ARPANET), and 7 would have put us in 2011 (the 20th anniversary of the World Wide Web). But 17? Also, a smaller number may have led to better answers.
On the other hand, as I often observe about the strategic planning business, by 2021 no one will probably be interested in holding me accountable for being either right or wrong. Instead we’ll all be celebrating my 50th anniversary at the Tribune.
Anyway, reviewing my 2004 answers from the perspective of today, I do think they are reasonable jumping-off points for a vision of media in 2010, my assigned topic for today and a date that really is just around the corner. Here is a selection of questions, answers, and updates. Remember: Your mileage may vary. (more…)