“Please allow me to introduce myself ... I’ve been around for a long, long year.” Rolling Stones, “Sympathy for the Devil”
WHAT
IS MEDIA meant to be? What is it meant to do? I say: Not to be hypocritical, prejudiced, unethical
and banal.
William Fulbright said, “We must dare to think
‘unthinkable’ thoughts. We must learn to explore all the options and
possibilities that confront us in a complex and rapidly changing world.”
That's nothing near to what the Media of my country has become. I say become because there was a time when it had worth and vision, strength, honour and integrity, finesse and meaning. It was "Open Media."
Our current media, “Branded Media,” is fixated on amassing advertising dollars and thereby forced to glut our senses with product promotion. It has no clear present core purpose toward the tuning-in public. Certainly no good clear present core purpose.
Our current media, “Branded Media,” is fixated on amassing advertising dollars and thereby forced to glut our senses with product promotion. It has no clear present core purpose toward the tuning-in public. Certainly no good clear present core purpose.
Its intention toward humanity is non-existent, because
it does not cater to humanity.
Demographics drive the day. Demographics is a tool for
slice and dice, dividing people from personality and character; condensing them
into pay grades, skin colour, location, etc. When demographics get done, human
beings, thus dissected, cease to exist.
Many choices of current Media are made pandering to misrepresentations
as defined by demographics rather than out of a desire to truly, deeply engage
with people at a real human level. Could the Branded Media, then, ever serve to
improve society by uplifting, educating, empowering, enlightening citizens? Can
it work to help heal humans who have been damaged one way or another?
Death threats
I was a daughter of the Media in my nation for over
twenty above-and-beyond hardworking years. My reward was the same forces I had
served tried to “out my light,” for daring to think “unthinkable” thoughts. And
when I get going with this blog and the “corazine” (heart-magazine) I intend to
eventually begin publishing, they may try to kill me again, for real this time.
That explains why, when I read a headline in the
newspaper: “Regional media urges probe
into death threats,” I don’t grimace, though I do bare my teeth ... in a
snarl.
As much as I wish the dedicated and talented journalist
in question did not have to face down death threats from “key underworld
criminals” in the execution (pun, acknowledged) of his duties, the Branded Media’s
convenient “we care a lot” stance just angered me.
Anyone who has worked in this arena for some time has
witnessed, or been privy to, far more rank violations of human rights than the
issuing of death threats that remain merely threats. I’m talking sexual
harassment, bullying, profiling, targeting, “racism” (to understand why I
parenthesise the word please read my HERE column) sexism, wrongful dismissal,
civil rights abuses, defrauding, contract breaking and – my God, I better stop
myself.
Anyone who works in this arena has had to be silent about such godawful things being perpetrated by parties within the Media that had entities outside of the Media committed the same, the Media would have raised a reported it to the public.
Anyone who works in this arena has had to be silent about such godawful things being perpetrated by parties within the Media that had entities outside of the Media committed the same, the Media would have raised a reported it to the public.
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Take these broken wings ... please!!!
Photo by Jhaye-Q
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I have a contribution to make in Media, and this new world of ours means it’s not so easy for bigots to decide who can and cannot be heard.
When I entered the Media, it was a learning ground,
full of amazing creators who wanted the best for our nation, and understood
that they then had to be and give their best in their chosen
profession.
There was consistent training both informal and formal.
There was intention and cohesion. There were principles and value. People
worked together to give citizens knowledge so to give them power.
The aim was to at once assist people in appreciating
the wonder and worth of themselves while also opening their eyes, minds and
lives to possibilities, by revealing things unknown, unimagined and yet as real
as you and me. Media was for all. It was open to all. Not like now, not just
for some decided by a bent few.
I believe the Media can return to its former state of
grace, while yet still catering to the truth and reality of people’s lives
today. We professional practitioners have as our first duty to make powerful
thinkers of all.
We must help people to just
question.
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