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"Make A Difference" TV
We sometimes hear from media students who want to "make a difference" in the world but who are disillusioned by the mainstream media's bland, commercial, homogenized and restrictive approach to TV programming.
This may be true, but there are still ways of making a difference.
First, TV producers must have "their antennas up" and be highly sensitive to the winds of social preferences and change. By not being sensitive to these things, and especially by trampling on such "sacred cows" as politics, religion, and big business--they can quickly hit a stone wall.
During times of uncertainty, which definitely includes the present time, people tend to move in a conservative direction. More specifically, they tend to revert to earlier beliefs and behaviors, even when those beliefs and behaviors are not the most effective means of dealing with the issues.
This tenancy can even be demonstrated in the laboratory. In one experiment laboratory animals are first taught at an early age an ineffective way of dealing with a survival task. Then, they are taught much faster and more direct ways of dealing with the same survival problem--a way which they immediately take to and prefer.
Later, however, when put under stress, and even when their very survival is at stake, they revert back to the earlier, inefficient way of "solving" the problem.
During times of uncertainty, people also have a more limited tolerance for new ideas, preferring the comfortable and familiar.
This tenancy has spelled the end of more than one company. When faced with the threat of survival, many companies have tenaciously clung to the old ways of doing things until they were forced out of business by a rival that brought much more effective ideas into the marketplace. The best-selling little book, Who Moved My Cheese?, clearly illustrates this concept.
These examples may help TV producers understand that understanding the winds of social change and acceptance are critical to success in the mainstream media.
But what about the non-mainstream media?
There are good options here for aspiring TV producers.
For example, WorldLink TV, (WorldLinkTV.org), which is available on many programming services, is designed to serve, "the millions of Americans who desire to make positive change in our world." (World Link TV is at 9410 on the Dish Network and can be found on many other programming services.)
According to their mission statement:
WorldLink TV is the first national network offering a global perspective on news, current events and culture, presenting viewpoints seldom covered in the U.S. media. We present first-run documentaries on global issues, current affairs series, international news, classic foreign feature films, and the best of world music.
We focus on critical global issues, from human rights, justice and conflict prevention to environmental protection, sustainable development and preserving cultural integrity in the face of globalization.
Another example, although not quite as professional and often even more out of the mainstream, is FSTV (Free Speech TV) which is at 9415 on Dish TV (Free Speech TV. Org).
Both of these services are supported by donations, which means that they don't have the huge production budgets enjoyed by mainstream programming. Programming on these services tends to be repeated many times. Like PBS, "change agents" and "outside the box" thinkers tend to view this programming.
If you want to make a difference, you first have to reach those with decision making power, the change agents. An interesting, well done documentary is definitely one of the best of way of doing this.
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