SAC: TERM 4 WEEK 4
AUSTRALIAN MEDIA ORGANISATIONS - UNIT 2 OUTCOME 3
From the Victorian Certificate of Education: Media Study Design:
On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe characteristics of Australian media organizations and discuss the social, cultural, and industrial framework within which such organizations operate.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe characteristics of Australian media organizations and discuss the social, cultural, and industrial framework within which such organizations operate.
KEY KNOWLEDGE |
KEY SKILLS |
|
|
KEY TERMS FOR THIS OUTCOME:
|
|
WHO CONTROLS OUR MEDIA?
When looking at who owns the major media corporations in Australia, it's easy to see where the power lies. The Australian Communication and Media Authority has created this handy snapshot to highlight media ownership in Australia. The link below is updated regularly to reflect the changing ownership.
|
TYPES OF MEDIA ORGANISATIONS
COMMERCIAL
Commercial media organisations exist to make money, and this profit motive shapes the content they produce and distribute to the public.
Heinemann Media 2nd ed. |
The purpose of a commercial media organisation is to make money, and make a profit. Most of their funding comes from advertising.
EXAMPLES TV: 7, 9, 10 Radio: NOVA, Fox FM, Triple M Print: The Herald Sun, The Age, Dolly, Cleo, Surfing Life |
PUBLIC (GOVERNMENT)
Unlike commercial media organisations, public media organisations are not privately owned; they are owned by the Australian people. It is taxpayers via the government who fund public media organisations.
Heinemann Media 2nd ed. |
Believe it or not, triple j, that indie / alternative radio station you listen to is a subsidary of the ABC, meaning that it is in fact a Public media organisation.
EXAMPLES TV: ABC and SBS, triple j tv Radio: triple j, ABC radio, SBS radio Print: jmag |
COMMUNITY
Community media organisations receive a small amount of government funding, but many rely on sponsorship from businesses and individuals in the local community to pay for their operational costs.
Heinemann Media 2nd ed. |
As a result of this, the majority of community media organisations are radio broadcasters, because it is comparatively much cheaper to run the radio station, and to create content than it is on Television or in Print.
EXAMPLES TV: Channel 31 Radio: Triple R, SYN FM, PBS, 3CR Print: s-press |
WHO ARE AUSTRALIAN MEDIA AUDIENCES?
Who are the people who are consuming media in Australia and how do media organisations make choices about the content they broadcast or print and why?
|
Reading about Australian Media Audiences:
ABC news, current affairs battling for viewers Television Audiences for Free-to-Air Viewing 1 in 7 Australians now watch no Commercial TV |
HOW IS THE MEDIA REGULATED?
INDUSTRY BODIES AND SELF-REGULATION
There are different bodies and councils that work with the variety of media industries in Australia to support them in ensure their industry runs smoothly and successfully.
|
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
The government set a number of laws that dictate both Media ownership and content rulings in order to protect Australian audiences and ensure impartiality in media content and reporting.
|
Recent changes to media content laws
Visit this link: www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/television/media/updating-australias-media-laws
Visit this link: www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/television/media/updating-australias-media-laws
Consider some of the reasons why we have laws that regulate the amount of locally produced content broadcasted.
|
MEDIA OWNERSHIP ISSUES
Reading about media ownership in Australia:
The History of Media Ownership in Australia Media ownership reforms could open floodgates for mergers and acquisitions |
BREAKING NEWS!
What's happening with Media Ownership in Australia this year? Read about the acquisition of Channel Ten by America's CBS here. |