I just started reading an article in Time magazine about the BBC and the woes besetting it. The article mentions The Eastenders, a popular British TV soap opera which has been running for over 20 years.
In 1986 when there were far fewer TV channels to choose from (and no Internet) EastEnders had 30 million viewers for its portrayal of everyday life and dramas. Now there is apocryphal melodrama and violence in order to retain the dwindling audience , currently 9 million.
This small example suddenly gave me insight to see that this is the way the conventional media is trying to cop ewith its declining audiences. They seem to be in a kind of frantic and desperate competition to bombard us with ever higher drama, hysteria and provocation in order to keep us watching and reading. Sad, doomed to failure and probably self-defeating.
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
Friday, 2 November 2007
Sunday, 13 May 2007
Understanding the media
Welcome to David Lisbona's Understanding the Media blog. The aim of this blog is to share with you my questions and insights about the way conventional print and broadcast media bring us what they call the "news".
Let me explain my perspective. I am a 58-year old Jewish Israeli , born in Britain and living in Israel for for the last 34 years. My interest in the news media is as a consumer in a country which generates a lot of "news" for its small size and where the news makes a lot of difference to our lives. I can imagine that in many other places in the world you can live most of your life without the news ever making a significant impact on your life.
In Israel, we are living in a dangerous and volatile part of the world and many of us believe that perceptions and political power can affect our long term-future here and whether we live in peace or in an ongoing war footing.
News media has changed dramatically over the last 40 years and I believe that most of us trust the news media much less than we did years ago (as we trust most symbols of authority much less). I invite you to join me on a voyage of discovery and understanding.
Let me explain my perspective. I am a 58-year old Jewish Israeli , born in Britain and living in Israel for for the last 34 years. My interest in the news media is as a consumer in a country which generates a lot of "news" for its small size and where the news makes a lot of difference to our lives. I can imagine that in many other places in the world you can live most of your life without the news ever making a significant impact on your life.
In Israel, we are living in a dangerous and volatile part of the world and many of us believe that perceptions and political power can affect our long term-future here and whether we live in peace or in an ongoing war footing.
News media has changed dramatically over the last 40 years and I believe that most of us trust the news media much less than we did years ago (as we trust most symbols of authority much less). I invite you to join me on a voyage of discovery and understanding.
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