Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by dragonwriter 4037 days ago
> The media is to blame for not educating the general population on this.

Most of the media exists to sell advertising, and the content provided to consumers exists specifically to attract a particular demographic to the outlet to support advertising sales.

Educating the general population is not part of the media's business model.
1 comments
craigmccaskill 4037 days ago
No, the media has evolved to become advertising. News corporations definitely should have the responsibility of education, despite what the Murdoch empire would have you believe.
link
dragonwriter 4036 days ago
> No, the media has evolved to become advertising.

If true, it was quite a long time ago -- advertising has been the dominant source of revenue, and media has served that revenue source for a long time. Even in the days when print newspapers were strong, their "paid circulation" wasn't important because it brought in a lot of revenue, it was important because advertisers viewed it as the best indicator of engaged audience.

For-profit businesses serve their owners and generally act to maximize profits; there are exceptions, but expecting something different to be the norm without any structurally-imposed constraints mandating is naïve.

If you want a media whose mission is educating the public, You aren't going to get it from privately-owned, for-profit, media corporations because "educating the public" isn't something they can monetize as well as providing a combination of both a source of distress and the appearance of a salve for that distress for a targeted demographic to get them dependent, and then selling advertising access targeted to that demographic.

link
craigmccaskill 4035 days ago
This is nothing new, and my comment was made with all of this in mind.

Here's a thought experiment however, ask someone why they watch the news, buy a news paper or visit sites like the new york times. Then re-read your comment and see where the differences are. :)

link
sdoering 4036 days ago
What should be is of really no significance in analyzing causes. What should be is ideology and that has no empirical bearing.

I could also state, that people are dumb for not demanding to be informed truthfully about real important issues. But then at least the following question arises: Who gets to decide, what is important?

Is it American Idol, Dancing with the Stars or is it TSA not working properly?

Most people would root for entertainment I believe yes I know I am a misanthrope).

link