As we enter the age of streaming services, TikTok influencers and 30-second attention spans, traditional TV news shows are losing the fight for relevance.
Afterall, who’s got time for a full panel discussion about an issue when a single TikTok can explain it with music and subtitles in under a minute.
And yet, for 16 years, Channel 10’s The Project stood as a rare exception, with a news and entertainment current affairs panel show format mixing daily headlines with commentary, interviews and humour.
Remembering those times when you were trying to find something light-hearted yet informative, filling that precious gap of news with a side of neighbourhood (or national) gossip.
It felt like The Project managed to strike the right balance between the serious and the silly, the moral and the meme-able.
But was canned – replaced by a news program that has failed to cut through with audiences.
So too was another panel show, the ABC’s Q&A which bowed out earlier this year after 18 years on air.
Two very different programs, one shared cause of death – a decline in viewership for personality driven news programs.
ABC’s decision to axe Q&A was reportedly part of a strategy shift, one that favours “high-value journalism” delivered via social-led platforms.
The logic? Audiences are changing, so formats must follow.
But the counterargument is that shows like The Project and Q&A were created to suit digital evolution. Both shows thrived on conversation and thought-provoking moments. They reacted to the moment, following hot topics – such as the royal wedding, and were at the centre of controversy, such as the time Clive Palmer appeared on Q&A in 2010 and stated on the program: “Chinese shoot their people.”
Both could have easily been adapted both to meet today’s social media focus. Think Live Q&A 24/7, Waleed streaming from a rural town in Australia, Instagram reels with content on trending debates.
The alternate decision has been made to axe personality-driven television. Some may say it is a great loss for Australia.
Was Q&A perfect? not always. Was it predictable and boring? Probably. But did it expose us to different thinking and unheard insights on topics? Sure.
Was The Project perfect? no. Was it cringey? Absolutely. But did it try to make news human and dare I say fun? Yes – and that’s worth mourning.
Rest in peace personality driven news program on broadcast.
You deserved a better ending than being quietly removed from the programming schedule like a cancelled dentist appointment.
