🚀 go-pugleaf

timmer@io.org (Remain Calm!) wrote:

>If you have a problem with the CBC (and there are many) I think it
>should be discussed and debated but I believe that Coren and his ilk
>engage in grievous dishonesty and deception when they invoke the
>jingoism of this war against public institutions.


Tim,
 
Agreed.
 
I think the thing that makes all these discussions difficult is that
we tend to talk as though commercial and public radio were in the same
industry.  They are not, because they produce different things.
 
Public broadcasting produces broadcasts.  They are the product of the
operation, and people pay, indirectly, by fees, donations, or taxes,
depending on whether they are satisfied with the product.
 
Once you have this straight you are ready for a discussion of how many
fund drives a year you can stand on CJRT, should we have higher taxes
or user fees for CBC, etc. etc.
  
                                     * * *
Private broadcasting has a different product. It produces audience,
which it packages, by "demographics," (meaning money and spending
habits) and sells to advertisers.
 
The listeners and viewers are not the consumers.  They are the product
which is consumed -- and recycled -- by the advertisers who buy them.
 
Once we understand that we are ready to discuss the issues that come
from it -- for instance the growing consensus that it is immoral to
sell children to cereal companies and anybody to tobacco companies.
There is less of a consensus around liquor companies, but at least
there is a clear recognition of the issue.
 
                                                 -dlj.