We reap what we sow

Clive Bibby

Opinion

Some readers may misinterpret this as responding to current editorial policy. That would be a mistake. I accept the editor’s absolute right to determine what is acceptable to this newspaper and what is not.

However, while l will admit to a certain amount of déjà vu, the real reason for this submission is to discuss the rapid decline of MSM (mainstream media) as a vehicle for public discourse.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, l am one of those regular contributors who believes part of the reason is editors abusing the right obtained to enter readers’ and viewers’ homes, which is a privilege that is conditional.

While it is true that the traditional sections of the population who still buy subscriptions to newspapers and access to TV channels are ageing, the younger generations rely almost exclusively on social media (TikTok, Facebook, etc) for their daily diet of news and like the idea it seems to provide of being in control of what they watch and listen to.

This social phenomenon has been accelerated by smartphones that connect them to the internet and to friends and colleagues no matter where they are, with costs almost totally dependent on usage.

So, no need for the old options of television and print media that are considered by the growing, more mobile population as being “past their use-by date”.

Unfortunately for the remnants of the traditional MSM, survival is dependent on falling advertising sales. This once huge source of revenue is now available only to those outlets that still attract an audience sufficient to keep them in business. And those readers and viewers will only continue to pay their subscriptions as long as the editorial content is in tune with their opinions and preferences.

In my humble opinion, the latest closures of media outlets are, in the main, a direct reflection of the editorial content on offer.

Frankly, it is a bit late to be blaming everyone but themselves.

Casual conversations with people of all political persuasions across the country would show that too many people are offended by the Woke, ideologically biased editorial content of MSM outlets and their refusal to publish content that offers a different point of view on the issues that should concern us all. People are voting with their feet.

Consequently, the advertising money is flowing to newspapers and TV channels that offer the alternative choice and growing audiences, alongside social media and Google.

It is also interesting to note that the Western news companies best able to survive this dramatic drop in revenue are those that are government owned. But it is only a matter of time before the public will force governments to tell state media employees that their funding is at risk if they don’t operate in a way that their charter dictates.

Provincial media outlets — take note. You could be next to fail.