The subject ‘Media’ had been suggested almost as an afterthought, and it didn’t take much to realise that the subject is vast and varied and entrenched in every aspect of our lives. How to start?  Members were asked to record any of the 7 broad categories of media they observed during the course of one day to give focus to those aspects most frequently encountered.

Aware that the group represents a specific and narrow cohort, we acknowledged that the more contentious aspects of media have arisen since the development of digital media and our cohort is probably still largely reliant on legacy press for news and current affairs, albeit its access is mostly online.

Len pointed out that most of the legacy press was authoritarian by nature of ownership and that TV outlets were also regulated to guard against extreme propaganda and disinformation.  However, while it was generally thought that having multiple viewpoints emanating from the various platforms and streaming services was quite liberating, it was also acknowledged that their unregulated nature presented serious problems for society.

Visual media was thought to be more powerful than text, (a picture is worth a thousand words), but images are open to manipulation and suggestive interpretation.  Journalistic articles are shaped and edited for attention grabbing – ‘easy journalism’ was how Barabara described it; Margaret and Anthony extolled the virtue of ‘the long read’ in The Guardian, but this requires both concentration and tenacity, qualities which seem to be on the decline.

Apart from news dissemination, media is mostly accessed for entertainment, and its creative content in all aspects of cinema, broadcasting and online platforms both reflects and drives cultures globally. To quote ‘4 Weddings’, “[there is] something for everyone – laughter, tears, …” and everyone has a favourite drama, programme or feature, but the adverts! Oh no, those annoying, intrusive adverts.  Even though admitting that companies and organisations spend billions yearly on marketing strategies, suggesting they work, no one liked adverts. Oh, except that one that had the beautiful imagery, the recognisable music, the ingenious jingle, the unforgettable, ridiculous, humorous, thoughtful, bright and bedazzling,…

What have adverts ever done for us? Well, apart from sub-conscious brand-placement, subliminal persuasion and the incidental nudge factor, discussing adverts lifted the mood of this group as we happily shared the ‘adverts we have known’. Bring on the refreshments.