Media 6: Reading Discussion – Week Three

The Informal Media Economy (Chapter Three) by Ramon Lobato and Julian Thomas

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This weeks reading was chapter three of The Informal Media Economy by Ramon Lobato and Julian Thomas. In short, the chapter focuses on the informal mode of media work, both its advantages and disadvantages and in conjunction includes a lengthy debate about informal labour within the media industry.

Throughout the article, Lobato and Thomas highlight the ways in which the media industry can be a place of employee exploitation, leading to issues such as underemployment, unhealthy working conditions, and unpaid overtime. However, as a counter argument, it is stated “…creatives are also generally remunerated well for their services…and have “options” and mobility due to their qualification levels and experience in project based work… in other sectors of the economy, many people have it worse” (Lobato & Thomas, 2015, p78).

A point that I found endearing was in relation to history and feminism. Within the chapter, ‘Fantone’ is quoted stating; “what is now being called precarity is, in fact, an age-old condition of economic insecurity with which women are well acquainted”, and yet only now, when the issue is hurting white collar men, is it being brought to the forefront. It was also interesting to note how some referred to the Industry as “a digital sweatshop”, unnervingly accurate considering there are people overseas working around the clock for minimal wage to produce online content. And yet it seems (speaking in relation to our empowerment research report), that it is only when the educated, industrialised and empowered economy speaks up, that the issue grabs attention.

If anything is obvious from this reading, it’s that there is no solid solution as to whether the media industry should take a formal or informal face. However, it is undeniable that the issue needs to be discussed, as for now, as Lobato and Thomas state, it seems as though the industry is in quite a contradiction of itself…

“Progressive cultural critics of creative industries want it both ways: we want the stability of the industrial model as well as the seductive informality of the art, fashion and dotcom worlds; we want state support for workers without paternalistic bureaucracy; 9-5 wages without 9-5 drudgery” (Lobato & Thomas, 2015, p88).

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References 

Ramon Lobato and Julian Thomas, 2015, ‘Work’ in The Informal Media Economy, Polity Press, Cambridge UK, ch.3.