Looks at some of the criticisms of Canada's broadcasting policies and argues that, while some of these criticisms are true, there are some good reasons for the policies as well.
1,150 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 3 sources, 2002, $ 44.95
Abstract This essay discusses how economists and other critics of Canada's traditional broadcasting policies have questioned government policies such as Canadian content quotas for television. They have argued that regulations have created government failures, including the protection of the interests of cable companies and the producers of poor quality shows that few people want to watch. The essay points out that this is true, but that there are legitimate reasons for Canadian public broadcasting.
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that the basic idea behind Public Service Broadcasting in Australia is to serve the public without aiming to make profit. The writer points out that public broadcasters acquire money from the government, which collects taxes, and use this money to make programs for the public. The writer explains that on the other hand, commercial broadcasting's main aim is to produce programs in order to make money. The writer then discusses that the scope of public broadcasting is to cover the area, which the commercial sector of broadcasting does not cover due to the profit concerns. Thus, the writer maintains that Public Service Broadcasting's interests are (or should be) the cultural and social values that can be and must be included into the production, meeting public's needs of broadcasting in terms of education, multicultural affairs and citizenship in a democratic society.
From the Paper "In Australia, the ABC and SBS are Public Service Broadcasting channels. They have the advantage of being free of profit making concerns, so they should provide news and current affair programs through regionally specific services. Besides, a diverse range of people who have different tastes or specialized demands should be considered as a matter of concern by Public Service Broadcasting. These public channels are also expected to produce high-quality content, which contains arts and sciences. Therefore, society can benefit from different cultural insights, on the one hand. On the other, the public can be educated on citizenship values and an accurate understanding of democracy. Finally this leads to the creation and development of a national culture and consciousness of being Australian, which includes understanding of multiculturalism and integration of differences."
Abstract This paper analyzes the increasing commercialization of public broadcasting. In recent years, public broadcasters have significantly expanded the scope of donor and underwriting acknowledgments. This expanded scope means that promotional slogans and even corporate logos may be aired. The result is that many of public broadcasting's underwriting announcements are virtually indistinguishable from commercials. The paper rejects suggestions that allowing limited commercial advertisements to penetrate public broadcasting might alleviate the serious funding strains public broadcasting faces.
From the Paper "The controversy surrounding American public broadcasting's increasing commercialization has reached deafening proportions in recent years. Although the Federal Communications Act of 1934 uniformly prohibits noncommercial broadcasters from airing advertisements promoting any specific product or service, the interpretation of that guideline has over many years been stretched significantly as a result of several Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rulings. Public broadcasting's enhanced underwriter announcements increasingly mimic commercial broadcast advertisements. However, allowing public broadcast stations to sell traditional commercial advertisements in any way would greatly undermine the goals and spirit of the American public broadcasting system. While some funding alternatives have been suggested, a concrete and sustainable remedy for the long-term financial health of the U.S. public broadcasting system has yet to be realized."
Tags: advertising, commercials, communications, corporation, cpb, marketing, pbs, television
Abstract Discusses funding issues of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). Impact of the increase of corporate funding to replace cuts in government funding. Problem of continued viewer financial support. Makeup & budget of PBS. Response of Presidental administrations to funding public broadcasting. Canadian system.
From the Paper "In order for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Public Broadcasting System to survive and flourish as they have for the last three decades, the issue of funding is of vital importance. Recent efforts by political enemies of PBS to cut funding have forced the issues of government funding and of alternative funding methods onto the national agenda. PBS has responded by considering different ways of bringing in revenues to replace government funding in case such funding is cut. One of the ways being explored is increased corporate funding, even to the point of showing commercials on public television. This challenges the way PBS has always operated, raises questions about continuing viewer support, and might remove the appearance of independence that has marked the network since its inception. To date, PBS has not gone so far as to sell commercials as..."
Abstract This paper examines and evaluates the impact that international broadcasting has had on the cultural, political, and economical landscape of society. These factors are examined in terms of the impacts affected by law, communication, advertising or public relations.
Outline
Introduction
A New Era in the Federal Communications Commission
Time Periods Inclusive of the Radio Age
The United States was not the Leader of the Pack in the Beginning
1920 - 1934 Radio Industries Beginning
1935 - 1950: Exchanges and Advances in the Radio Industry
Radio Broadcasting on an International Basis
The Mission of the Public Broadcasting Network
Conclusion
From the Paper "Broadcasting has greatly impacted society on an international level and has affected every aspect of life in terms of economically, politically and socially as well as spurring developments in the field of the law, revenues in advertising and advances beyond the wildest dreams of the originators of broadcasting in terms of communications. The once very large world is much smaller due to broadcasting advances and news that took days and even weeks or months to make the rounds is now heard simultaneously throughout the entire globe. Certainly broadcasting on an international basis has propelled globalization and just may have even given birth to the global society in existence today."
Abstract In this essay, the author first examines the term 'public service broadcasting', and what it is understood to mean today. The paper then moves to an examination of the concept of national identity and a consideration of the relevance and value of having a sense of national identity. Finally, the paper takes a look at globalization and digitization, the effects that they can have on national identity, and the role that public service broadcasting can play in countering some of these effects. A website article on the public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom is appended to the paper.
From the Paper "On its surface, 'digitalisation; refers to the move from analogue modes of representation - such as AM radio or 35mm film - to digitised formats, where information is stored in a series of 'bits' (binary digits) and recreated according to pre-defined algorithms (examples include DAB - Digital Audio Broadcasting - or the storage of text items on computer, using the ASCII standard). However, when used in reference to the mass media, the term has a more specific, and one could say complex, meaning. The development of new forms of digital communications technology, leveraging ever more powerful computing resources, is leading to what is termed the "information age""
Abstract This paper examines the issue of governmental interference in Canadian broadcasting, specifically due to the influence of American culture and the power of its consumerism which is integral to it. This paper also explains the different broadcasting acts recently passed.
Abstract The main objective of this report is to critically analyze the recruitment and selection policies and practices of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The use of this Australian organization as an example will help link current practices to relevant human resource theories. The ABC is an independent public broadcaster whose main aim to enrich the lives of the Australian public through television, radio and multimedia programs. This paper begins with a brief profile of the company in order to gain a sound knowledge of its background and activities. The recruitment and selection policies and practices of ABC are then discussed in details. This includes the process of recruitment; selection; induction and training and laying-off existing employees respectively.
From the Paper "ABC started its radio operations in 1932 and extended its services to television broadcast since 1956 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2001). The ABC targets a great majority of the Australian population as its audience. This is evident from the fact that its international radio broadcast in eight languages and has an audience of over 50 million (Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2001). The organization also takes the lead in cultural programs."
Abstract This paper examines how the basis of the thesis created by Postman and Powers is that words and images, especially in the television broadcasting medium, are created to distort the reality of events and how, even when such distortion is unintentional, it still occurs as a result of certain fundamental assumptions made by these two authors. It looks at how the assumptions pertain to the spoken word and to the images accompanying the words spoken by broadcasters and anchors. This thesis is investigated using Peter Jennings's "World New Tonight".
From the Paper "A further problem with television news broadcasting is the fact that time is limited. Often a story with multiple facets is illuminated only from one perspective, thus unintentionally biasing the viewer. To alleviate this problem, pictures are used to illuminate the various meanings that may be derived from a news broadcast. However, these also have their own distorting qualities. Pictures accompanying television broadcasts are usually in motion in order to catch the viewer's attention. They also have a certain emotive quality, evoking emotion from the viewer regarding an issue. This in itself may distort the reality behind the images."
Abstract This paper presents an analysis of the necessary skills required for a career in broadcast journalism (being a news anchor). It looks at the training and education required for the position and then discusses the tasks, duties and responsibilities that are essential in this career. The paper concludes by describing the future job outlook for broadcast journalism and related fields of work.
Table of Contents:
Description of the Career
Skills Required
Training and Education Required
Tasks, Duties and Responsibilities
Work Environment
Future Job Outlook
Related Occupations
From the Paper "There are a variety of skills required for those seeking to be a news anchor. First, and foremost, the individual must have outstanding reporting skills. In addition, they must have excellent on-air presentation skills. Live reporting skills are also typically essential to the job, as is excellent written and verbal communication skills. Because news anchors often report live, they must be able to think quickly and have strong problem solving abilities. In addition, the individual must be able to meet strict deadlines and be detail orientated. As in any career in journalism, a high-degree of ethics and standards is necessary to excel in the industry ("News Reporter")."
Abstract The paper examines the lengthy past of Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and how it established itself as an industry leader in the 1930s and beyond. The paper looks at the business organization of CBS; its organizational style, its ability to put money into projects that yield long-term gains, and its policy of advancing women and minorities. The paper concludes that few broadcasting organizations seem better situated to be successful in the long-term than CBS.
From the Paper "For the purposes of context, it is appropriate to begin first with the history of the Columbia Broadcasting Corporation. Suffice it to say, through its many ups - and a few "downs" - CBS has enjoyed a most eventful history. The company began in 1928 when William S. Paley acquired one-year-old United Independent Broadcasters Inc. and changed its name to the Columbia Broadcasting System. Three years later, CBS began regular television broadcasts from an experimental station located in New York called W2XAB. Two years after that, Columbia News Service was opened and, in 1936, the signing of "Major Bowes and the Original Amateur Hour" signified that CBS was for real - and unafraid to "raid" talent from rival NBC (Leigh, C1)."
Abstract In recent years we have witnessed a considerable amount of change, which has had an impact on the role of regulators in the broadcasting industry. Included in this is the development of the global marketplace as well as the rise of new forms of technology and media, such as the Internet, which can make regulation difficult if not impossible. This, of course, has raised the question of whether or not there is any role for regulation in this new and evolving environment. The purpose of this paper will be to examine these issues in light of this specific case of government regulation. This analysis will include an outline of the reasons why the government has intervened, the form of intervention, the results of intervention, as well as whether or not an alternative policy might be preferable.
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the topic of the FCC's recent rule changes regarding broadcast ownership in the United States. Specifically, it will discuss what is involved, the arguments on both sides of the issue, and the relative relationship and authority between the FCC and Congress in this dispute.
From the Paper "The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently issued new rules regarding broadcast ownership in America today, and the rules have generated great controversy since they were announced. Basically, the "FCC's rules make it easier for media corporations to buy more newspapers and television stations but tighten radio ownership rules" (Ahrens). Many critics of the new rules believe that allowing huge media corporations to buy even more newspapers and television stations would not only create a monopoly on the media in many areas, it would create a large lack of independent thought in the news and media. With a few large media corporations controlling essentially all of the media in many areas, free thought and expression would be replaced with a corporate spin on all the news available in the area. Before the FCC passed the new rules, millions of Americans voiced their displeasure over the new rules by writing letters and sending petitions to Washington, however, the FCC chose to ignore the pleas of the citizens, and OK'd the new rules in spite of the growing voice against them."
Abstract This paper explains some of the reasoning behind the growth of digital television is that it allows potential access to the Internet, online shopping, and e-mail. The author points out that many people believe mistakenly that digital technology is something very new, but they forget that smaller digital items, such as watches, have been around for quite some time. The paper reports that many individuals in the UK would like to have digital television, but the individuals, who are not interested in the service, are not interested in the additional services, such as the Internet, and are concerned about the cost of television programming and the types of channels and variety of entertainment they would be able to receive for free without having to purchase a subscription.
Table of Contents
Introduction and Theoretical Background
Introduction
Theoretical Background
Review of the Literature
Introduction
Modern European Broadcasting History
Deregulation and its Effects
Pluralism in a Free Market Economy
The Advent of Digital Television Technology in Europe
Industry and Audience Behavior
Viewing Trends
Consumer Expenditure
Plans for Switchover in the UK
Methodology
Discussion of Findings
Conclusion
From the Paper 'This chapter will look at many of the findings from a survey conducted in 2001 which will tie into the information in the literature review and serve to give a complete picture of what is happening with the digital television market and why. The study mentioned in the methodology section in chapter three provided many individuals with a great deal of information. Not only did many of the authors in the literature review either rely on or refer to information that was gained in this study, but the government utilized this study as well so that they could determine the answers to some of the more pressing questions about individual's television preferences and whether they would be willing to switch to digital television without an argument.'
Abstract This paper presents the author's struggle to decide if she wants to pursue a career as a broadcast journalist. The author outlines the drawbacks, including low wages and the extreme competition. She also discusses the educational requirements for the field, and the need to intern. Finally, she examines the particular struggle to find meaningful opportunities for women in TV news. The paper concludes with the author's decision to continue pursuing the field, despite the challenges.
From the Paper "Besides the extreme competition there are many other disadvantages in this career path. One of them is the pervasive low wages. According to Stone, "there's a widening gap between the salaries of anchors and news directors and those of the majority of staff. In small and middle markets, the basic news handlers-- reporters, photographers and producers--have lost ground to the cost of living in recent years." The obvious reason that attributes to the low wages is the aforementioned overabundance of applicants. They don't need to pay the entry-level people very well because many people are willing to take any job to get their foot in the door. A survey done in 1994 shows that the median salary for a reporter is around $21,000 and the top anchor $55,000; the sports and weather people fall somewhere in between. According to US News magazine's own survey conducted in 1997, the average salary for entry level journalism jobs in general, is around $22,000."
