Now the main debate around commercial media is whether it can deliver on both a commercial front ie generate profit AND maintain social integrity by producing trustworthy news and information. Many will disagree and state that commercial media is merely a tool for Government propaganda much like the accusations of News Limited being a broadcaster for the Liberal Party. There are however, several means to prevent this from happening including formal state requirements, legal prescription and state oversight. There is also what journo's like to call the 'Ethical wall' which separates the commercial and social aspects of this kind of media.
Something that struck me as quite interesting in this discussion was the talk of the challenges for commercial media and how they are affecting what we watch. For example, the recent loss of advertising revenue for broadcasting media has lead to decreased investment in all commercial areas. This has in turn majorly slowed production of new material and this is why we're constantly seeing re-runs of the same sitcoms on TV. How annoying! We need to be funding the production of new and exciting content, encouraging creativity and freedom of expression, regardless of where the money comes from- whether it's from Governments or advertisers, there is nothing more dangerous than the stifling of progression.
Found this image as I was writing this entry, seemed very appropriate. Source: mrtrueman.tumblr.com
