In the coming days you will hopefully see more posts like this one.  I recently sent out a questionnaire to various people I find to be interesting, intelligent and curious about media.  

These questions were regarding the future of media in the year 2020.  As the answers come in they will be posted here so whenvever you see a blog title “Media in 2020 Q/A” that is what it’s all about.  

If you would like to participate shoot me an email and I will be in touch.

Here is the first one. Thanks Cara!

Cara Carriveau is a multi-media talent. Besides being the midday host on 101.9 fm The MIX in Chicago (one of my old stations),  Cara hosts two podcasts, provides blog content to a local TV station, interviews artists for “The Chicago Music Guide” and does various voiceovers such as the voice at Rosemont Theatre that welcomes you inside! 

Q: Do you feel that the way media is experienced by consumers will be totally unrecognizable in 2020 or do we just like to think the future holds secret advances that may or may not come about?  In other words, do you think there will be any real changes in media consumption in the next 11 years or just variations on a theme already utilized?  Will something jump out to us that we aren’t even thinking about yet? 

A:  A big change will be internet accessibility in moving vehicles.  Automobiles and all forms of mass transit will have it.  Advertisers will sponsor broadcasts on commuter trains, boats  &  planes and have a captive audience.  I can’t imagine people still going to stores like Blockbuster to rent movies.  It will all be digitally downloadable, even more convenient and affordable than it is today.  I’m sure there will be something new and incredible developed that I can’t even imagine.  Cell phones will surely be even more common and able to perform a wider variety of functions.

Q:  What does the newspaper of 2020 look like?

A:  There will be no such term as “newspaper” by then.  Because of the internet and environmental concerns newspapers will have gone the same way as the “8-track”.  I imagine by 2020 there will be light & affordable portable devices that most people will have with them on trains, etc, to read instead of an ink & paper newspaper.  I also imagine wifi access will widely accessible and free (likely paid by advertisers who will somehow get their logo and/or recorded message on everyone’s PDAs).

Q:  Will media be accessible in more places than today?  If so, where and how?

A:  Yes!  The internet will be standard in automobiles and all forms of mass transit.  It will also be standard in cell phones and common in several rooms of everyone’s home.  Café’s and other business will likely offer free wifi to keep customers, who will be accustomed to 24/7 internet access, happy.

Q:   In what ways will the Internet have changed in 2020?    Are laptops necessary?  Is WiFi an old technology?  What replaced it? 

A:  If I knew the answer then I’d develop the new technology myself & rake in the $!  I do think laptops will be necessary.

Q:  Can you imagine any new departments created at PR/Advertising/Marketing firms due to the changes in media delivery and consumption in the year 2020?  If so, what?

A:  If the internet is standard in all forms of transportation then there’s a whole new era of advertising and PR.  Especially in cars, where folks can’t necessarily look at an ad but they can hear…and even smell…it.  Maybe there’s a way for ads to become more interactive and more specifically hit a certain target.  For example: Macy’s buys ad time on a commuter train and I am exposed to an ad for womens clothes while the man behind me is exposed to an ad for mens cologne. 

Q:   Finally, if you could have one thing come about in the year 2020, media or otherwise, what would it be?

 A:  I’d like to see more advertiser-sponsorships enabling free access/enjoyment by the consumer.  Folks are sick of being nickeled & dimed to pay for wifi and internet access only to be besieged with all kinds of advertising (in emails, on blogs & websites, etc).