Commercial Media

Commercial Media is a profit-driven form of media production. The main reason to why commercial media exists is due to its love for the dosh! (money). The lecture defined commercial media as 'eyeballs and ears to advertisers'. This is predominately due to the fact that 'advertisers are the real customers of  commercial media organisation'. It was further outlined of commercial media being non-government funded and therefore its survival or failure is determined by the businesses success.
Such commercial media forms include News Limited, FairFax Media, APN, Nine Entertainment, WIN Corporation, Southern Cross broadcasting, Seven West Media and Ten, as well as Telstra, Optus and Austar. Each of these media corporations further produce varying media forms, for example the Nine Entertainment Co also contribute to commercial media through Free to Air TV, magazines, digital media and events (including WIN News, ninemsn, Women's Weekly and tickek.com).

Our lecture further went into the form and function of Commercial media.
The form of commercial media included subscription media (e.g. Foxtel), sponsored media (e.g. Nine network) and subsidised media (e.g. government $$$$). The function of media including commercial (Austar), Propaganda (Fox News) and social (supporting local areas). I started a YouTube search of a form of propaganda media and I came across a new song my Katy Perry. It is called Part of Me and the film clip shows her joining the marines in order to get over a heartbreak. Below is a segment I found that showed of the power of propaganda in the media.

So, what is Commercial Media's role in a democratic society?
It was questioned in the lecture whether commercial media can deliver on both a commercial (profit) and social ("public trust") levels, or if it is really just about the mighty dollar. I would have to say that I do have a great element of trust in the media. I believe what they tell me, even when I probably shouldn't. When thinking about the power the news has over our minds, I considered the YouTube channel 'Onion News' (ultimately a fake newsroom that reports of fictional stories very seriously). Here is an example:

Are we really expected to believe that?

This lecture also taught me of the ways in which commercial media can be controlled. It was mentioned of the "ethical wall" - ultimately following ethical decisions in considering journalistic power and equality. I felt that this really was not enough for most journalist - those journalists that will stop at nothing to be the first to uncover some crazy information. We really do need new elements of control on commercial media. It was brought up of regulating content, state/press subsides and the need of licensed journalists (primarily in Indonesia). I thought these were good ideas, but would they really stop commercial media going into a total profit-driven frenzy where the truth just did not matter? who knows..

This lecture really opened my mind up to the degree of profit in commercial media. Sure I knew about the rivalry between such channels as Seven and Win, but had it gone too far? All consumers really want is a credible source for their news updates..

02.04.2012