"While mainstream media is led by profit, ratings and popularist culture and filtered by the current political climate, Alternative Media is lead solely by the convictions of the campaign and film maker"

This quote by Ben Edwards suggests a crucial distinction between mainstream media and alternative media, concentrating on their underlying inspirations and influences. The interpretation of this statement highlights contrasting drives behind these two kinds of media and their resultant effect on material creation and dissemination.

Mainstream media, as kept in mind in the quote, operates primarily under the influence of revenue margins, audience scores, and the needs of pop culture. Revenue inspires these media entities, prompting them to seek big audiences to take full advantage of marketing revenue. As an outcome, the material typically shows the tastes and preferences of the broadest possible audience or the interests of advertisers rather than focusing on extensive storytelling or investigative journalism. Ratings, another considerable influence, drive mainstream media to deal with what is most likely to record attention rapidly and thoroughly, often at the cost of investigative rigor or diverse point of views. Furthermore, traditional media material typically aligns with the prevailing political environment, shaped by regulatory pressures, ownership interests, or the desire to remain within the bounds of widely held political perspectives.

On the other hand, according to the quote, alternative media is driven by the "convictions of the project and filmmaker". This suggests that alternative media is characterized by a focus on credibility, specific initiative, and frequently provides content lined up with particular causes or viewpoints. The developers behind alternative media are represented as being guided by personal beliefs, principles, and the motivation to bring attention to concerns neglected or underrepresented in mainstream narratives. This conviction-driven technique suggests a dedication to storytelling that prioritizes integrity and thematic depth over mass appeal or commercial success.

Hence, Edwards' quote highlights a basic distinction in motivations: mainstream media is portrayed as browsing the crossway of profit, popularity, and politics, while alternative media is portrayed as grounded in individual conviction and a desire for genuine representation of specific concerns. This divergence points to a more comprehensive discussion in media studies about the balance in between industrial success and genuine, diverse representation in media storytelling.