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There are loosely three main funding models that make up our mainstream media. The first is public service models that are not run for profit, like the BBC, the second is donor-led journalism and the third is the big one – advertising. And we have the advertising model to thank for the acceleration of sensationalist, clickbait journalism. Because if you’re selling adverts, you’re ...
Care about independent and ethical news? Support Media Storm on Patreon!
There are loosely three main funding models that make up our mainstream media. The first is public service models that are not run for profit, like the BBC, the second is donor-led journalism and the third is the big one – advertising. And we have the advertising model to thank for the acceleration of sensationalist, clickbait journalism. Because if you’re selling adverts, you’re selling your readers’ attention. When news outlets have to meet advertiser-set traffic quotas, that creates a lot of pressure for quantity over quality. Digital journalists are often desk-bound, required to produce dozens of articles a day out of recycled online material, with no time to pursue quality investigations or seek out minority lived experience. And the more money a broadcaster or a paper are paid for advertising, the more they will do anything to get traffic to their channel or website. So in comes dangerous media malpractices, like opinion masquerading as fact, sensationalism and scapegoating.
This episode, we speak to Richard Wilson, founder of the Stop Funding Hate campaign. The pressure group, which is celebrating a decade this year, asks companies to stop advertising in - and therefore stop providing funds for - certain British news outlets who spread disinformation and hateful rhetoric.
In the shorter term, following the efforts of Stop Funding Hate supporters, GB News has reportedly lost over £131 million. In the long term, they're building a movement which can make hate unprofitable for good, by tackling the systemic failures which currently make publishing hateful clickbait more lucrative than responsible journalism.
This episode is hosted and produced by Mathilda Mallinson (@mathildamall) and Helena Wadia (@helenawadia)
Edited by Toka Omer
The music is by @soundofsamfire
Follow us @mediastormpod
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