“There used to be such a thing as a sense of responsibility among broadcasters: a feeling that this extraordinary medium, with so much to offer and so much power to affect lives, should be used to make things better, richer, more interesting for those who made up the audience – especially for children. But the ideology of ‘profit before everything’ shows itself to be as toxic in this field as in every other. When audiences are regarded as customers to be separated from their money as quickly and efficiently as possible, there is no chance for life-enhancing work to flourish, and children are regarded as a marketing opportunity at best, a dangerous and feral threat at worst, and an expensive nuisance otherwise.
This social poison goes much deeper than broadcasting, of course, but it’s particularly visible there. Taking children’s needs seriously is not different from taking every human need seriously – it’s absolutely central to a true and humane vision of the whole of life. if we need to challenge the prevailing neo-liberal market-based state religion in order to do it, then we should do so proudly.”
