roundtable: Re: Content is the cargo of truth

roundtable: Re: Content is the cargo of truth

Re: Content is the cargo of truth

Matt York (myork@videomaker.com)
Thu, 30 Mar 1995 09:15:10 -0800 

Date: Thu, 30 Mar 1995 09:15:10 -0800
Message-Id: <199503301715.JAA14829@video.hidden.videomaker.com>
To: roundtable@cni.org
From: myork@videomaker.com (Matt York)
Subject: Re: Content is the cargo of truth


Victor Schreibman writes:
> The television model is comprised of the medium and it is that 
> medium following the profit motive that has produced a muderous product.  

What I think you are saying here is that television is a hopeless 
medium. I stand by my assertion that television can be vastly improved 
and serve mankind if more people can participate in the production and 
distribution of video content. There is nothing intrinsically evil about 
the medium, its just in the wrong hands. Don't shoot the messenger Victor.


>The print model does not include the video medium, 
>which has numerous differences from the print medium, in case you had 
>not noticed, onbe of which is exclusive licenses to utilize discrete 
>channels of broadcasting. 

A free press (including a free video press someday) inevitably leads to 
a fair share of "garbage" and "important information". The distinction is
subjective. Correct. The print model does not include the video medium,
currently. The print model has great merits that the video medium can and
should have. There are  millions of content providers (writers like you).
Text also includes millions of unrestrained distribution options (e-mail,
WWW, hand delivered/newspapers, common carriage of magazines and
newsletters, free LIBRARIES) 


> If we could compare the garbage that is published, 
>including the garbage published in books, newspapers, and periodicals, 
>with the important information that has been denied publication because 
>of the danger to the propaganda system, we might see a more truthful 
>story.  

The "truthful story" is in the eye of the beholder. There is no 
"propaganda system" in the world of text. Anyone can publish text. Video 
may be a different story. I wouldn't go so far as to call it propaganda, 
but certainly bias. But there are now millions of people with video 
cameras and they are expressing themselves on public access channels 
and emerging TV networks like The 90's Channel and Deep Dish TV)


>Profit pressures distort the information that is conveyed in 
>every medium that is used, some worse than others, due to limited 
>competition.  The worst of these is video.

Profit is fundamental to the creation and distribution of products,
including information products. It won't go away. People that create
information need to make house payments and put food on the table. We 
can't leave the media system to volunteers because there are too many 
shrewd capitalists evangelizing their messages FOR profit. You hit the 
nail on the head when you said that limited competition is a key reason 
for distorted information.

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