I worked in journalism for a time for a large, daily paper in a major market. I know, can you believe it from these posts? SO not objective journalism or professional, but that's the point, eh? At any rate, while I was there, and while I was in college and grad school, I surrounded myself with journalists. Real world journalists. Award winning journalists. Broadcast journalists. Print journalists. Some were really terrific and some, well, not so much. But I found one thing they all had in common. They thought they were performing a service to their audience. And although some thought there were a bunch of idiots in the populace, they did feel it was their duty to inform, entertain, or discuss issues with their public. They all believed that since they were privileged enough to be granted access to a large audience, that it came with a responsibility to not only tell the truth but to fulfill the needs of the public.
Broadcasters, specifically executives at the network level and producers, seem not to share this dedication. They obviously have no sense of responsibility to the people from which they derive a very comfortable living. In fact, it seems just the opposite is true. It is my contention that as broadcasters who not only hold licenses to use the public airwaves but rely on the public for their very livelihood, they do owe the public a duty. That duty should be in the form of quality programming that is worthy of the viewer, not some recycled crap that saves the most money. It is, then, my argument that broadcasters should be prepared to either fulfill this responsibility or pay the price. Without the viewing public, there is no broadcasting. And, maybe, that's the way this should all go down. I would contend that if we are unhappy with the quality of product we are being provided, we should do several things. But, first and foremost, we should turn off our sets and walk away. We also should do as I am doing here. We should begin encouraging others to do the same!!
I've read and witnessed what I would call open contempt for their audience and even derision. That's good, Boys, degrade and deride the hand that feeds you. Better watch out as someday it might bite you. And now, maybe that time has come. You can only kick a dog so many times until it fights back.
Although the networks are privileged enough to have access to the largest mode of communication on the planet, they don't feel as if they owe anything to their audience. All they care about is the bottom line and their own ideas and that, too, is their pocketbook. Isn't it time that the consumers, the ones who are being "catered" to, stood up and said "enough's enough"? Isn't it time we, as an audience, told those who are in control that they work for us and not vice versa? What I'm suggesting is that if right wing conservatives banded together after the Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" to literally change broadcasting, shouldn't we be able to do so, as well?
It's time that broadcasters understand that we are not a bunch of corn-fed, slack-jawed morons who are there to simply take in any message they feel is economically efficient to produce. It's time that we tell them who we are, what we want, and explain the ramifications of their failing to live up to this responsibility. There should be no protests. There should be no letters. There should only be one thing. We should turn off the sets and move on, while being sure that many others do the same. We should contact advertisers and tell them how we feel and what shows we may be interested in seeing. We should, in essence, leave TPTB on their own. You see, they owe us something. We, on the other hand, owe them nothing. I say it's time we show them the meaning of respect. They need us and, guess what, we don't need them.
Now my field of study, as well as my personal interest, is in daytime. Specifically, what was once known as "ABC Daytime". But this is not a daytime issue. It is an issue with broadcasting in general. One might point out PBS as a potential broadcaster that is devoted to the public interest. I would argue to some extent that this idea has merit. But it is not an absolute. In fact, PBS is dedicated to being somewhat of an alternative voice in the morass of ignorance in commercial television, but, more and more, ratings and advertisers and bottom lines are having input into content. Trust me, I know some of the salespeople for PBS. They call it "underwriting" or "sponsorship", but let's get real. It's advertising.
The prime time schedule on the commercial, terrestrial networks have already been gutted to some extent, but they have not been obliterated like is occurring in daytime. They have not been wiped out completely, as is the obvious plan for the network control of daytime. Granted, it is their network and they can do as they like. But, let's be clear, there would be nothing without us. They will need a new audience and I'm not sure they have the ability to create that. They need to keep affiliates happy and if the plan is to give the affiliates back the time, then there may be no network at all soon. Maybe that is the plan, to commit suicide? I don't know.
But, knowing these guys, anything is possible. What they'll do now, I can't imagine. But I have a feeling, money will not be an issue. They've been living well off us for years. Call me a cock-eyed optimist, but I don't think they're looking to end it all- figuratively or literally. I think they're just arrogant, incompetent, and, well, stupid.
What they don't get is that they work for us!!! That's the point. Advertisers are their priority. But, when you look at it, the advertisers don't want the shows they are producing. That's not the point. The advertiser wants US!!! They are buying our attention and access to us. The networks, who, BTW, are also now the cable providers, are not selling time on shows. They are selling US!! And, without us, there is no product to sell. That's the point.
I say we show the advertisers who we are and why we won't be back. If the networks feel as if they can run their business as they'd like, then so be it. Run it your way, Fellas, but you won't have any consumers for your products. The advertising revenue is already down and without an audience, it will go down further. Let "The Revolution" be the warning- kind of a fitting name for that disaster, isn't it? Maybe it did start a revolution. Just not the one you predicted.
I think I may tune in to see the disaster formally known as "General Hospital" just to mock and degrade it here. But, other than that, ABC's off my radar, along with other Disney holdings. It's time to move on, Kids, unless they tell us there's something to come back for. And I'm not holding my breath for that.
What a shame. They throw away a dedicated, loyal audience to save a little money. Little did they know, the old adage is true- you get what you pay for. And, they'll end up empty handed. But what do we know. We're just a bunch of old, fat, poor, dumb, housefraus with nothing to offer, right?
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