The Lack of Values in Television Programs

The media has a set of values that each corporation follows in terms of what is reflected in the programming and how each set of values reflects the media companies intended viewers. The television industry in terms of the values they follow shift with time and different programs will reflect different values. However, there are no consistent values that are present in the television industry today. Basically television creates numerous debates over cultural disputes, which creates conflict in a democratic nation like the United States. When examining all four types of value systems, the future of the television industry will most likely follow the Media/Commercial and Universal value systems due to the current programming techniques and the paths that society follows in terms of the media and commercial culture.

Most importantly, the television industry realizes that utilizing the media/commercial perspective to programming allows media corporations to receive the high ratings that they need as well as creates high product revenue for the television industry’s advertisers. The values in this system are a mere product of the commercial orientation that it envelops. The media realizes that sex and violence sell to an audience and society that lives off of adrenaline and reality based programming. The programs in this day and age, as well as the future only seem to put forward a wish list of material items that members in society can only dream and hope to one day own. Television all over the United States projects an upper-middle class lifestyle, when in reality most Americans can not even begin to consider themselves upper-middle class.

The second type of value that projects the way of television for the future is the Universal system. This type of value may not be seen as frequently in television as the commercial perspective, but these values are quite prominent in television and as far as it appears, this system will continue to prosper in television. Based on doing well in life, helping others, and being honest and loyal, by far, these are the values that Americans and citizens of the world should hope to emulate themselves. However, there aren’t enough “do gooders” on the television screens today. Critics often say that the shows that reflect the universal values are television at its best, however, when looking at all the programs on television today, there isn’t enough honesty, loyalty, and love for others. Even though this is considered safe territory for television, the television industry still gravitates towards violence, sex, and commercial culture.

Unfortunately, the future of television only looks as if it will follow the commercial perspective simply to keep viewers intrigued and interested in what sells for media corporations at hand. If the current ownership trends continue then almost all television will follow the commercial value system and the universal value and counterculture and oppositional systems will be ignored due to not attracting as many viewers and in a society where we seem to thrive off of money and what sells, commercialism is the only way to succeed according to the industry. I think that the public would want more family values and programs that show how we all struggle with life and that through suffering we obtain success. Television programs should strive to promote the success of careers, loving family and friends, and produce a real life perspective, not programs in which the characters have everything and anything that one could ever want in life. Real life is about working hard for what you have and learning along the way through events that happen to you, we cant expect to be handed everything to us on a silver platter like television programs seem to project.