"The difference between commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting is the difference between consumers and citizens."- Nigel Milan
Before starting university, when my
judgement was shrouded with the idea that commercial media was, like,
only the coolest thing ever and public media was for really, like, ancient
people, and I had very limited knowledge about anything of importance. After
starting university, after being forced to actual engage in the outside world
and particularly after starting my Film and Television major, I have realised,
dare I say it, the ABC isn't that bad. This definitely doesn't
mean I'm an avid Radio National listener or 7:30 Report viewer, it simply means
I have a clearer understanding and respect for what the ABC and SBS actually
does.
As the PowerPoint mentioned I once thought public media was out of
touch, boring and elitist. It was for the 50-somethings to watch stuffy old
know-it-all’s talk about things most people couldn’t comprehend. After my days
of watching Play School and the Wild Thornberry’s were up, that was it, goodbye
ABC. Don’t even get me started about SBS, I mean who wanted to watch the Arabic
News anyway? Remember, white, middle-class girl couldn’t see much outside her
bubble. I know realise the necessity and the great pool of knowledge these channels
hold. 41% of Australians get their news through the ABC, 41%! We pride
ourselves on being a multi-cultural society yet without out the SBS how would
these people keep up to date with the news, receive important messages from the
government or simply be informed about what’s happening in their home
country? Channel 10 wouldn’t do it, b105 wouldn't do it. Granted, I don’t watch
it, soccer and sex, uhm, I mean “world movies”, don’t interest me, but for a
large portion of our community it's essential for them to survive in this foreign brown
land. (The news, not soccer and sex)
We briefly delved into the role of
the SBS in Australia but I feel as though there was one major fact that was
neglected. SBS was conceived due to the ABC reluctance to acknowledge
diversity. Gay Hawkins in Public Service
Media: Governing Diversity says, “... the ABC has generally managed
difference using two primary strategies: ignore it or render it a problem.
While it has always acknowledged special populations in the interests of
responding to the market failures of commercial media, the special categories
have traditionally was ‘women’, ‘rural’ and ‘children’... ethnically diverse
audiences have not been considered special... for a long time they were largely
ignored and thereby rendered invisible by the national broadcaster... these
populations simply did not see or hear themselves on ABC TV or radio... hence
the decision to establish SBS... a separate public broadcaster with a specific multicultural
brief.” Public media produces things that, although may not be popular, are relevant and necessary for public consumption.
So there’s
another amateur overview on public media. Some may still call it old and
boring, I say listen to Triple J, it’s so much better than the monotonous whine
of modern music and you feel better inside
when you realise the Jerry Maguire’s of the world aren't earning more money by inundating
you with advertisements for the latest miracle bra or life insurance.
Go forth and listen
to Triple J. You will never have to hear the laborious shrill of One
Direction again.
From
I-still-hate-them-with-an-undying-passion.
Favourite song at the moment that features on Triple J.
Hurt Me (Jezabels Cover)- Big Scary
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