>>But the framing from journalists and media professors who have a passing understanding of the media business model but find themselves instead weighing in with absolute knowledge is part of a larger media problem. Media literacy and literacy about the media business isn’t just for our readers, but should also be mandatory for its practitioners. Understand how this shit works.<<
Absolutely. And remember something about the history of U.S. journalism, including pushing headlines to get people to buy copies of papers; "if it bleeds, it leads" broadcasting to get bigger audiences to charge higher ad rates; special sections intended to get audience interest and provide incentive for advertisers or editorial schedules built around seasonal ad spending (like certain major papers' focus on countries like France when the big tourism ad dollars come in); etc. Coziness between editorial management and sources in power. All manners of activities that undercut the purity that some would like to pretend existed at one time.
And if one of these "experts" has an answer that will work, rather than theories to expound upon, for God's sake, tell everyone who is trying to keep the industry alive.
>>But the framing from journalists and media professors who have a passing understanding of the media business model but find themselves instead weighing in with absolute knowledge is part of a larger media problem. Media literacy and literacy about the media business isn’t just for our readers, but should also be mandatory for its practitioners. Understand how this shit works.<<
Absolutely. And remember something about the history of U.S. journalism, including pushing headlines to get people to buy copies of papers; "if it bleeds, it leads" broadcasting to get bigger audiences to charge higher ad rates; special sections intended to get audience interest and provide incentive for advertisers or editorial schedules built around seasonal ad spending (like certain major papers' focus on countries like France when the big tourism ad dollars come in); etc. Coziness between editorial management and sources in power. All manners of activities that undercut the purity that some would like to pretend existed at one time.
And if one of these "experts" has an answer that will work, rather than theories to expound upon, for God's sake, tell everyone who is trying to keep the industry alive.