Ad Money Pays the Bills

Michelle Lohman
ml272105@ohio.edu

Advertising pays the bills. While this may be common knowledge to some, not everyone really can grasp the amount of money that advertising generates. It generates money for the product and company that executed it, for the agency that creates it and for every television station, magazine, internet website, etc. that airs, or prints it. And at the end of the day, most people are motivated by money.

With this being said, it is understandable as to why Tom Grant is frustrated. As a newscaster for 15 years, it would be very disappointing to know that he was prohibited from reporting a certain type of story by an advertiser. It would be frustrating to know that ad money was more important than the general public's right to know something going on in their community

How could we ever fix this problem though? We are a society of consumers who are continually buying. Even in the recession we are still buying (which is good). How can we blame news stations for trying to make a profit while this is all going on? Is there a balance we can reach? How do we reach this balance when the story we want to run directly contradicts the advertising that’s coming on after the first three minute spot on the 6 pm news?

As irritating as it is to not be able to present a story, the station needs that cash to be able to produce the evening news sans “controversial” story. As a matter of fact, whether it's a news station, a magazine publication, a multimillion dollar corporation or whatever, there is always someone or “something” (advertising) that is paying the bills. This will ultimately create conflicts of interest and the only thing we can do is try and find a balance between what we’re willing to sacrifice in order to continue producing, reporting, printing, planning, etc. Is the fight against “the 800 lb gorilla really worth it?