Understanding Media Industries

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Whether you realize it or not, you guys are creating your own personal media industry.

When you think of media industries, you might think CNN, Fox News or other news outlets. Or you might think of television networks like ABC or the CW. Turns out a lot of these media industries are owned and operated by the same companies.

For example, Comcast owns NBC Universal and all its subsidiaries.

If you think that's crazy, check out all the properties Disney owns:

Currently, the Walt Disney Company owns nearly every major movie franchise . with the exception of DC Comics and Harry Potter (which are owned by Time Warner).

Considering this, you must ask yourself, what is the agenda of these companies where you are not only getting your entertainment, but also your information.

Media Industries operate on what is known as a mandate. A mandate is the mission statement for the company: their purpose of being. Mandates are either commercial or non-commercial mandates; either they want to profit or they do not. Disney and Comcast have a commercial mandate; NPR and PBS are non-commercial mandates.

Which is better for authentic content, commercial or non-commerical mandates?

Tough question, right? Commercial mandates mean the company is at the mercy of losing advertisers or subscribers for composing something they disagree with. However, non-commercial mandates are at the mercy of the donations of its listeners or viewers, so they have to make sure their content is appealing to their primary audience.

Media Industries can only create content as far as these three elements will allow: Technology, Regulation, and Economics.

Consider the television program Game of Thrones.

Game of Thrones, the HBO series, is based on the book series A Song of Ice and Fire. The first book of that series, Game of Thrones, was published in 1996. It developed a small but loyal following of readers which consistently grew as each book was released. When the author George R.R. Martin conceived the book series, he wrote it with the intent of it never being able to be adapted into a movie. However, as time wore on, technology, regulation and economics changed so that not only could the books be adapted, but they could be done so successfully that it now sets the bar of what can be done with the audio/visual mode.

What changed?

• Technology: Dragons! In 1996, any dragons on screen would have been an animatronic puppets or animated like a cartoons. Advancements in CGI made it possible for fantastical creatures to appear on screen and look realistic.

• Regulations: In 1996, HBO was primarily a place for movies. Sex in the City premiered in 1998 and The Sopranos in 1999. When these television shows premiered, they ushered in the Golden Era of Television because without the regulations of Prime Time Broadcasting and the FCC, these programs were able to show commercial-free and push the boundaries for what television writers could compose. "The Red Wedding" was possible because HBO has no limits when it comes to blood and gore.

• Economics: Television became legit. Beginning with HBO, other networks began to pay attention. Viewers were paying for the opportunity to watch their favorite TV programing. Television became a more consistent money-maker than the movies, because it was a guaranteed consistent subscription income as long as the show was on television. A multi-generational fantasy genre which required multiple film sites in a variety of climates and the costly fees required to craft CGI dragons no longer seemed like a financial risk, but television gold.

With Project #3, you are now Student X Media Industries. (Feel free to name your media industry as you see fit).

While developing this project ask yourself:

• What is your mandate? Your reason for being? Your research question?

• How does this determine your audience?

• What are your conditions? Technology, Regulations, Economics?

• What are your practices? How do you manage your team?

Once you know your genres and have built them, ask yourself what's next?:

• How do you get the completed product to the audience?

• How does your audience get information and entertainment?

• How do you reach them?

• How are all three genres connected to craft a cohesive campaign message?

• How do you encourage others to come see your genres?

• How can you use social media to attract your audience?

• Which outlet would attract your audience more?

Your Three Genres (modes) are due on Wednesday. Upload your compositions to your P3 Wix page and post the link to your Peer Review Group before 11:59pm Wednesday. Provide Feedback to them via the Peer Review Form.

Don't Forget:

Short Assignment #2: Research Sources Report (200-500 words) In this report, you will provide an update on which research sources from P2 you will be using for P3. Explain what information from those sources is most useful and why those sources make sense for remediation or change of mode. DUE 11/7 at 11:59 pm.

Twitter: SHARING. After you submit to your peer review group, [DUE before 11:59 pm on Wednesday 11/8], post the link to your genres to your student Twitter Account. Ask for workshop feedback from your fellow classmates. Provide legitimate feedback to at least two students (Minimum 10 Tweets) [DUE before 11:59 pm on SUNDAY 11/12]

Genres must meet initial minimums before your upload. For example, if you are building a Twitter Genre, you should have posted your initial 25 Tweets. See P3 Page for genre minimums.