“The media are getting dumber and dumber…

“We have so much opportunity to know and do so much more, and yet we know less because we accept poor quality media and don’t think for ourselves.”
 
Killeen’s experience with Channel Ten’s Big Brother taught her several things about the dumbing down of the media, including: “A lot of the people who are at the top of the media are really stupid… it seems that to be a boss in the media, make sure you never make a decision so that you are blameless.”
 
“It’s about thinking, about making conscious decisions… So many people surrender to the pressures of media and society, but if we think about things we will realise that we do have the power to change things if we just think and act on things.”
 
Her topic covered images of women in the media, paparazzi and advertising stereotypes. She told stories about being chased by paparazzi and supposed interviews with her that were in fact totally made up, yet the power of the media bullies people into accepting these poor practices.
 
In community radio you can actually have a voice, but Killeen says you must use it well. “Think, be informed, speak… use your imagination to solve problems,” she said, urging community broadcasters to use the privilege of having a media voice to achieve something positive.
 
Killeen got her first taste of media at 2SER, while she was a student and still values the role of community broadcasting.