Mainstream media and alternative media are the two types of media and it’s almost impossible not to get philosophical regarding the dichotomy of the two when discussing the relevance of the two to businesses and further their advertising efforts. However, it is also important to understand the differences between mainstream media and alternative media and also to understand the various philosophical motivations behind the two. This becomes especially important before choosing the one you would use for advertising your business in an effective manner.
2. Mainstream media and alternative media are the two types of
media and it’s almost impossible not to get philosophical
regarding the dichotomy of the two when discussing the
relevance of the two to businesses and further their advertising
efforts. However, it is also important to understand the
differences between mainstream media and alternative media
and also to understand the various philosophical motivations
behind the two. This becomes especially important before
choosing the one you would use for advertising your business
in an effective manner.
3. WHAT’S MAINSTREAM MEDIA?
“Mainstream media” — this term is used commonly every day
in the public discourse. The fact is that the term is so
commonly used that it has an abbreviation of its own: MSM.
And seeing the trend where the two types of media are in a
constant tug-of-war, common people are going to listen about
the mainstream media for a very long time. it can be said that
mainstream media is an integral part of an average person’s
life.
Mainstream media is widespread and is present everywhere,
as the name, too, suggests the same. It encompasses
television, radio, print, and obviously the internet, where it is
present in the form of various online news publications,
showcasing various sports news and world news. In the U.S.,
mainstream media can easily be back to a small number of
conglomerates who own most of the newspapers, TV
networks, and magazines.
4. IS THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA A RELIABLE
PLATFORM FOR ADVERTISING?
There is huge number of viewership associated with
mainstream media, and therefore it attracts a lot of money
through advertising. Most companies and businesses see
mainstream media as a goldmine as it provides their
opportunities to convey their message and products/services to
a large audience, that too at once. It is common for families to
spend their evening time in front od the TV watching India
tech news, common news, or their favorite movies and shows,
and would also watch advertisements that come in the middle
of these shows and news.
So yes, mainstream media is a highly effective and reliable
platform for advertisements. But it is great if the product you
are advertising appeals to masses, else alternative media may
be a better choice.
5. WHAT’S ALTERNATIVE MEDIA?
There isn’t any one definition that can specifically define
alternative media, but there are numerous examples of
alternative media. The wide-range of sources of publications
and information that do not come within mainstream media can
be called alternative media. It is more easily defined by what it
is not. It is not corporate-owned. Its contents often include news
coverages that are misreported or repressed by mainstream
media. Online publications covering India political news is a
common example.
While mainstream media covers a much lager base of audience
and is better funded, they ted to be biased as well. Also,
mainstream media ca be easily located online. At the same time,
alternative media are tougher to be located and harder to access,
and has a faithful audience, as they don’t really trust the
mainstream media.