Jour1111 - Lecture 7

 

Public Media

"...the difference between commercial broadcasting and public braodcasting is the difference between consumers and citizens..." - Nigel Milan (former managing director of SBS)


I found this lecture quite interesting due to the fact I prefer to watch public media over commercial almost always except for when I want very light entertainment that doesn't require much thought and was therefore engaged to find out the ins and outs of it. My preference is founded on the basis that public media in my eyes always seems to be more insightful and intelligible and provides me with shows to watch which I am able to broaden my knowledge with. My favourite television station is probably SBS and radio station is without doubt Triple JJJ, an off shoot of the ABC, hence my engagement with the lecture.

The beginning which outlined the concept that Public Media's ultimate purpose should be to serve or engage the public rather than to turn out profit is pertinent when it comes to defining the difference between public and commercial media. For me commercial media suffers immensely from the copious amounts of ads that overrun it and whose producers dictate alot of what is shown and when. I enjoy the ABC for this reason, the fact it has no adds and even the SBS with its 80-20 scheme is far more watchable.

 

Whilst it seems obvious now looking back, I did not previously know that the ABC was entirely goverbment funded and with this newly acquired knowledge I completely agree with Dr Redman's remark that it is extremely important that it remain this way. I feel it is only in doing so that it will be able to fulfil its duty to support the public and democratic processes. As was also mentioned, it is important to have atleast one station within the country that the government does not favour as it means that it is not being entirely controlled with what questions the journalists are allowed to ask and the video able to be shown and as such still allows a comprehensive insight into the complete array of Australia's leadership by which ever party that may be.

The idea public media should appeal to minorities I feel is particularly evident when considering the SBS within Australia's media landscape. There are constantly television series targetting the smaller groups that are a part of our society and I see this as significant in allowing them to remain connected to such groups as well as allowing people on the outer group or majority to learn and understand others and their ideas, beliefs, values and so forth.

The challenges public media are faced with seem typical of fact that it is often produced on a shoe string budget and therefore cannot often afford to ensure the best quality of everything is maintained. Within saying this, I feel that in general it even so does a considerably good job and will be a part of our media landscape for a long time to come.