Do you think media workers are exploited under capitalism?

Answer 1

No, they are not exploited. Many are highly paid, and they're all doing their jobs of their own free will.

Do you think viewing the world through the lens of Marxism/Leninism is tired, been proving wrong and assigned to the ashcan of history?

Answer 2

Members of the media have a rather unique problem. They have a skill -- writing, annoucing, etc. -- but they do not have a direct way of profiting from that skill. If I am good at growing apples, I can sell them to the market and make money. If I can build engines, I can sell them to auto manufacturers (or work for them directly, more to the point).

Therefore, the members of the media must go through a third party. And the entry cost is high. Ever try to buy a television station? A printing press for a newspaper? Big bucks. That gives employers incentive to keep costs down. Plus, there are more applicants for jobs in the media than jobs. The lack of scarsity depresses wages.

Unions have been an answer in some cases, but they don't cover large portions of the media. Most small to mid-sized papers and broadcasting stations aren't protected by unions, and their salaries probably are below what they should be based on skills, brainpower and workload.

I'm not sure I'd use the word exploitation to describe that. But in many cases, it's not completely fair.

Answer 3

"exploited" How so?

Doesn't seem to be a shortage of "media workers", whatever that is, so how exploited can they be?
Unpaid interns are exploited, the rest seem to make a fair amount of money. They also have a fairly prestigious reputation, outside of a number of Montana compounds and right wing "think tanks."