Ramon Lobato and Julian Thomas discuss the issues that currently are embedded in today’s informal media economy. The article loos at the problems that cover the rise in freelance creative work opening up the possibility for ill-treatment of media companies, the scrutinisation of creative labour and it’s limits such as the argument that women have been excluded from ‘homosocial rituals of creative industry workplaces’ is flawed because it ultimately effects men in the same vain. Subsequently, Lobato and Thomas dissect the ethical dilemmas in this formal economy such as the potentially exploitive environment with middle-class pay being is positive thing for freelance workers in low-income countries and the dangers around creating formalisation around an informal economy.

Women Encounter Technology: Changing Patterns of Employment in the Third World’ by Swasti Mitter and Sheila Rowbotha in which discussion is made over the positive effects the globalisation of media and streamlined connectivity can in-fact have a positive effect on employment opportunities of people living in poverty. The reading this week underlines the pivotal factors for all students as it would be to to anyone about to step out into the media industry. Freelance journalism is regarded as a utopia for any journalist. The ability to write want you want and go where the story takes you is the true dream for anyone in the profession. However, the reality of unregulated employment with minor security and a higher possibility of misuse is a disconcersting element yet seems almost certain to occur. Especially, when reading the final part of the reading that says “putting a formal model around this informal industry  to create ‘flexi-curity’ is problematic because doing so would change the system, and in which specific ways is hard to see”.