Lecture 7- Public Media

‘The difference between commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting is the difference between consumers and citizens’
– Nigel Milan (former Managing Director of SBS)


This week we examined Public media. 
"Public Media's ultimate purpose- to serve the public and not to turn a profit." - WGBH Educational Foundation Conference Open Content and Public Broadcasting (19-21 September 2006) 


So! Ultimately public media (ABC & partly SBS (80/20)) are not funded by share holders and advertisers- who's aim is to sell sell sell. Public media's interest is one thing. The public. Delivering the true stories to the public at large. 

However ABC is commercial. There is the ABC shop which rakes in millions, the online ABC shop, and how they charge for footage. $75 per second to be exact. So they milk it for all they can. 


Public Media=PUBLIC VALUE:


1. Embedding a ‘public service ethos’


2. Value for licence fee money

4. Public consultation
(According to the BBC)


3. ‘Weighing public value against market impact’

Essentially, Public media networks should present news that appeals to all kinds of people.

Public media had a role in reflecting the nations identity, history, culture, views and conversations.

Some view the stories and content of public media to be ‘boring’ and ‘out of touch in terms of not looking at whats new and shiny. However Public media values importance of the story rather than interest. So views can feel confident that the information they are processing is of real relevance to the world and the people in it. Not about Kim Kardashian and her new hair style.

Public media networks look at themes including ‘THE PRESS’, ENTERTAINMENT, UTILITY, SOCIAL, PROPAGANDA- all important and relevant for all people. Not necessarily entertainment however.

A BIG challenge for public Media is to be INDEPENDENT from being bias or able to be influenced.  Big deal for the political scene in particular.

Further challenges for the Public media lot are opinion. Big deal- don’t include it. However the ABC has a show called ‘The Drum’ where journo’s have the opportunity to announce their thoughts and opinions on news subjects.

Personally I hate it when they do this. I feel like they are forcing their opinion on you. I know they are informed, but still. I prefer being told the facts and being able to make up my mind about the topic.

Funding is another big one for Public Media. Where and how will they get the precious dough to fund their journalists!?

That’s all folks!