My Story

Public Media

I couldn't think of an original title for the subject of Public Media, because, frankly, I don't know much about it. Apparently ABC and SBS are the main contenders in the game.

Public media presents its news style as:

• serious
• broadsheet - not tabloid
• importance over interest
• considered

Public Media is often perceived as:

• boring
• out of touch
• poorly presented

As mentioned in my previous post, I have more interest within commercial media. So, I will admit I do hold the same perception of public media. However, I was surprised when I saw the values public media holds. There was one main value which stood out to me

encouraging competion = good programming, not good numbers

I believe this is the most important value a station should have. It seems these days many commercial channels only worry about how many viewers they can attract: if one reality TV show works, why not bring along another 4 from America? This is not good programming, it is not original, and it is not going to work forever.

Although I don't associate much with public media, I do appreciate the extra work they have to put into their stations. The Australian Government funds commercial media, but disencourage public media. Yes, they do have their reasons, but this is a democratic country and we have freedom of speech, right? Therefore every angle of presenting (within reason, of course) should be appreciated.

The lack of funds causes the ABC to charge documentaries for segments from their channel. When I first heard the ABC charged $75 a SECOND, I was completely shocked. However, I then realised this is how they gain any money to then fund more television.

I will probably never follow public media, though I'm really happy I now have an understanding of how the two types of media work. Just because I'm not a fan of the entertainment, I definitely respect the hard yards they put in without the free ride of handouts.

Money Money Money

Wow, week 6 was definitely the most notes I'd ever taken down for JOUR1111.

I never thought there was so much detail between different television networks, and how damn rich the people are who own SO MUCH.

The main focus of this week's lecture, to me, was Commercial Media. I guess I'd always thought this covered all television networks, but now as we delve deep into it I'm realising whenever I watch ABC3 (yes, I am 18...) there are no actual paid commercials.

Commercial Media is channels 7, 9, 10 and all their digital channels inbetween. You realise how much advertising is involved in television when you buy the box set of a series and the usual hour long show is only 40 minutes without advertising. It is, afterall, the advertisers who pay to keep these show running.

Basically, the more popular a show, the more money is paid for an ad slot. I remember hearing ridiculous figures companies would pay for televised time during the Superbowl, and wondering if paying that amount of money would really pay off.

Admittedly, I do fall under the category of people who mainly follow Commercial Media. I am part of the group Network Ten focussed on the gain viewers: I used to be a dedicated follower of Big Brother and Australian Idol. And, just like I am following the ratings, I now find most of the television I watch is on Channel 7. I'm not entirely sure there is an intelligent reason for this, I just enjoy most of the programs it shows.

I do understand why advertisers would want to market their projects through the most popular broadcasters, but I'm not sold on how well it would work. I rarely pay attention to advertisements and am often day dreaming during the breaks.

I watch for the program not the advertising, but I guess the two really work hand-in-hand.

Until next time.

Listen Closely

What was that? I am allowed to listen to the lecture from the comfort of my own bed this week? SCORE!

The Sound lecture of week 5 was a really different experience. Sure, we've all listened to lectures online, but just hearing voices with no visual was definitely a first for me. I really felt like I was listening to a local radio.

I will admit, I've never been a huge fan of talkback radio myself. I once worked for a business that had ............ - it was that uninteresting I can not even remember the station - blaring from the speakers. Every morning I would turn up half asleep to listen to a man and his callers discuss recent events. However, I did occasionally find myself wanting to voice my opinion about the matters. And I guess that's what they were after; the public calling up to say what they think. Even though I wasn't a fan of the station, I still found myself wanting to become involved.

An interesting point I picked up from Richard (I feel as though we could be on first name basis as the lecture sounded quite intimiate, like a radio piece) was the need to take a different approach. Too many times I have heard the same celebrities tell the exact same story. Like when Kim Kardashian visited Australia whilst in the gut of her divorce. Each interviewer asked the same questions, and Kim had a monotonous, rehearsed answer to each one. No one took a different angle, no one surprised her.

I was recently listening to the Kyle and Jackie O Show while they interviewed Brian McFadden. From the beginning they were asking questions completely out of the box. One question was about social media and ended with Brian having a big rant about Facebook and Twitter and he seemed to be really out of his shell. It is the only recent interview I can recall that really caught my attention, and this is because it was a side of Brian I hadn't heard before.

Although I don't think I will ever love talkback radio, I can appreciate where good radio work lies.

Until next time.