Media Wars Part 4: A Sustainable Media Geekonomy

So as I mentioned last post, the Media Geekonomy is stuck in an Extraction mentality where members of it (Fans, Support, Creators) are often trying to get the most out of their situation.  This is exacerbated by regular business practices, attitudes, and technology changes.  It's an unpleasant situation, and it can't last forever – because there's a lot of simmering pathology and problems.

Me I'd like it solved because I can see a lot of continuing unpleasantness.  I can see more lawsuits and bizarre regulations designed to limit the choices of Fans and keep Creators under control by those in the Support sector.  I can see ignorant companies folding, unaware of how the market has changed until they die off.  I see Creators loosing out on opportunities or being denied them.

So let's ask what we want the Media Geekonomy to be, and I'd say that the opposite of Extraction (getting as much as possible) is Sustainability.  Sustainability is about making sure you have enough now and in the future.

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Frustration Friday: You First, Guys

You know the drill in the job world, in the economy, in the geekonomy.  Various experts, who we know are experts because people say they're experts, say that it's time that we all be realistic and take pay cuts, have financial austerity, and in general all give up more.  We see this in calls for government cuts, or for people to take lower-paying jobs (as if there are enough jobs to go on), stop collecting unemployment, and so forth.

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Media Wars Part 3: How We Got Here

Last column I discussed the fact that the Media Geekonomy is an area of conflict, an Exctraction Economy where different factions are in conflict.  Fans want things cheaper, the Support people want to make money and keep their good position, and the Creators of media want money and stability.  Their interests don't line up and often end up adverse.

So how did this happen?

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