The Business of Media
by Volker Weber
Many people are under the mistaken impression that the business of media is collecting information or creating entertainment and selling it to the public. This is not true. Information and entertainment is the bait, the "loss leader," which is used to lure large numbers of people into looking at a magazine, newspaper, television show or what have you. The "product" that media sells is you, the audience. Your attention, gained through information or programming, is sold to advertisers whose ultimate aim is to convince you to buy their product.
