Week 1

   In chapter five of ‘Media Studies: Texts, Production, Context’ (Long and Wall, 2012), I believe the key arguments to be the distinction between the production, distribution and consumption of the media, as well as different ways of framing media products such as; artefact, commodity and text.

  It explores the fact that consumers of a media text rarely know its producer, simply naïve to how a text reached us or who created it, as we are simply more interested in the story. However, unlike a title screen of a film outlining who produced the text, it is sometimes hard to figure out who produced a text. For example; freelancers or smaller companies. This links to my reading of ‘Photos that sell: the art of successful freelance photography’ (Frost, 2004). A book that discusses how to be successful in your freelance photography, linking to the earlier idea that people are often blind to the producers of texts, especially in these circumstances.

   There have been approaches to studying the different levels to which we can understand media operation. The first is ‘political economy’, looking at media business as a part of economics and politics. The second is ‘organisational study’, looking into the structure and objectives of the company. Lastly, ‘workplace ethnography’, explores professionalism, creativity and skill.

   Political economy of media looks at the economics and politics behind the production of a media text, looking at where economic value lies whether that’s in where it’s generated or in its ownership. (Long and Wall, 2012: 172) Organisational study looks into the practices and decisions behind an organisation, the development and delivery of the product, both as a commodity in search of profit or a text created for meaning for its audience. To do this it looks at a company’s segments, the mapping of both divisions and staff and their roles within the company. (Long and Wall, 2012: 185-192)

   These texts have brought to my attention how little we know about the producers of many media texts, especially when it isn’t made obvious to us in the way of film. I agree that we simply believe a text appears without thinking of who is behind it. As my own interest lies in freelance photography, it was interesting for me to read how to gain the recognition of your work.

   One option for undertaking academic research is to create a questionnaire asking people if they know the producers of certain texts, and then going onto collate findings to see how many product producers they know.

  

Bibliography:

1.     Frost, L (2004) ‘Photos That Sell: The Art Of Successful Freelance Photography’

2.     Long, P; Wall, T (2012) ‘Media Studies: Texts, Production, Context’ pg. 168-203