Jour1111 Lecture 6- Monday 28th August

Previously all our lectures have been based on basics, or journalism skills. Moving on from that, Mondays Lecture was about taking our first step towards learning about Journalism Studies, firstly beginning with week 6’s topic, Commercial Media.

We began with identifying forms of Commercial Media we are prevalently subject to, these are:

• Go!- Television
• Channel 9- Television, Magazines, Free to air, Digital Media, Events
• Channel 10- Television
• Foxtel- Cable Television 
•  Channel 7- Television, Free to Air, Newspapers
• Austar­- Cable Television
• News Limited- Newspaper
• Farefax- Newspaper, Digital Media
• APN- Radio, Regional Newspaper, Outdoor Advertising, Digital Media
• Austereo- Radio (FM)
• Telstra- Phone Company

As opposed to our Public Media forms:

• Sbs - Television
• Abc- Television & Radio

Just by dot pointing the examples of the two forms of media it is obvious how much more dominant Commercial Media is in comparison to Public. (Probably not surprising to most, but important none the less to point out)

The big questions to be asking next, is why does Commercial Media Exist? And the simple answer is MONEY!! Commercial Media is a profit driven production and thrives on its primary customers, the Advertisers (not the Viewers/ Listeners) to spend up in order to get their products on air and advertised. This is where big money is made, rather than money made entirely by honest ratings.

After discussing the several forms of Commercial Media and breaking down specific branches of what some particular forms or companies have to offer, Dr Redman set to answer this question, what is The Form and Function of Commercial Media? Firstly, Commercial Media is always one of these three things 

1.       Subscription- Foxtel

2.       Sponsored – Channel 9 

3.       Subsidised- Government funding

And secondly, Commercial Media Functions under these descriptions

·         Commercial (Obviously) 

       Advertising, Sales

·         Propaganda

·         Social – True Local, Editorial (Opinions)

To guarantee Social Functions in Commercial Media, there is this idea of an “Ethical wall” between, the commercial and social elements Commercial Media comprises of. This is to insure a balance in the system ultimately in cases of corruption, news tainting and so on.

Today we see an increase in new controllers in this form of media, primarily our governments have a huge input in content regulation, this can be through internet censorhip, television culling even banning of particular words/ topics on the radio. This has been known to strike some controversy suggesting that any form of democracy censorship is not a good thing, I tend to agree with this as it potentially paths the way for censorship of many more facets of our life…what happened to freedom of speech?!

We also see state owned and licensed forms of Commercial Media which again could be problematic as it sets to regulate and sift out perhaps rouge or controversial stories that really get our nation talking. 

Ultimately, Commercial Media dumbs down news. It is about people pleasing and keeping peace with providers of big money so in my opinion, in many senses losses credibility. In agreement with John McManus, who summaries that; “Commercial= Corrupt; Lack of Quality; Profit Overrides Social Responsibility”- John McManus, Market Driven Journalism. 1994