You see, he [Paul Graham, here] assumes that the customers of the media are their readers and/or viewers- that, by buying a New York Times, he is (one of) their customer(s). That the Newspapers are in the business of selling information (or at least paper).

They’re not. They are not in the business of selling information, entertainment, or even paper to readers, they’re in the business of selling audiences to advertisers. You are not their customer. You are their product.

–Brian Hurt, You are not their customer: realities of the media environment, Enfranchised Mind

Much more at the Enfranchised Mind link.