Sociology, Mass Media 4.2-Ownership and Control of the Media

According to Bagdikian (2004), how many corporations owned most media in 2014? This demonstrates a concentration of media ownership.

Who found a similar concentration of ownership in the newspaper industry? In 2015, 7 individuals were dominant over the industry, such as Murdock with NewsCorp, owning the Times, The Sun and the Sun on Sunday; while the Telegraph group is owned by the Barclay brothers.

What word does this describe? Cross-media ownership-bigger companies owning a range of media types, such as NewsCorp owning newspapers, the publisher HarperCollins, Fox TV and Asian satellite channel Star TV.

As an example of concentration of ownership in the broadcast media, how many commercial TV franchises does ITV plc own? Access is general controlled by Sky who have the largest share of the market, of which Murdock has the majority share.

What word does this describe? Tries to control all levels of media production, such as Time Warner making films and distributing them to their own cinemas, while NewsCorp owns tv and film studios and the channels that show them, giving them greater economic control.

[blank_start]Lateral expansion[blank_end] is where companies diversify into new business areas to spread economic risk, so losses in one area are compensated b profits in another. An example is [blank_start]Virgin group[blank_end], which is involved in music, publishing, film and cinemas, as well as banking, trains, an airline etc.

[blank_start]Global conglomeration[blank_end] is the erosion of national boundaries and globalisation of economics and culture. Sony, Samsung and Viacom bought companies outside of their countries of origin, as globalisation=new international markets, especially new media. This led to transnational conglomerates [blank_start]monopolising[blank_end] ownership of diversity across dozens of countries. [blank_start]NewsCorp[blank_end] owns hundreds of companies across [blank_start]3[blank_end] continents.

[blank_start]Synergy[blank_end] is media transnationals using diversity to package the same product several ways, increasing profit-film accompanied by soundtrack, computer game, toys etc produced by different areas of the same company.

[blank_start]Technological convergence[blank_end] is putting several technologies into one media system ie [blank_start]tablet[blank_end] or smartphone-in the past, produced by different companies specialising in these products-increased investment in Samsung, Microsoft etc to increase technological convergence and make products globally accessible.

Who said we need to study ownership and control, because of the importance of diverse and pluralistic media to ensure provision for all viewpoints-if concentration occurs, there is danger of abuse of power and influence by elites going unnoticed and democracy suffering.

[blank_start]Pluralists[blank_end] believe that modern capitalist societies are [blank_start]democratic[blank_end], since all interest groups are given a media platform to speak to electorate and the best argument is voted into power. The mass media is therefore essential and [blank_start]impartial[blank_end] facilitators of democracy, since most obtain knowledge of politics from papers, tv and the internet.

[blank_start]Pluralism[blank_end]-economics of media ownership Market model argues the free market and pursuit of profit is more important than the idea that companies can impose political will on audiences and consumers-[blank_start]compete[blank_end] to attract them to product-readers etc have real power because of [blank_start]consumer choice[blank_end]-right to buy or not to-if bias is suspected, they are unlikel to buy the product and the company goes out of business. Market place is [blank_start]segmented[blank_end]-variety of products aimed at different markets counters attempt to influence mass audience-corporations tailor products to groups-increased access to more diverse products-[blank_start]Blackberry[blank_end] 2000s failed to update products and was overtaken by Apple-power lies with consumer/audience not owners-market controls content and product not the owner Concentration of ownership=[blank_start]economic[blank_end]-products costly to produce and so concentration can maximise audience size to reduce costs and attract [blank_start]advertising[blank_end] revenue-globalisation of media and conglomerates=attempts at finding new audiences to increase profits-also enhanced due to not fluctuating prices from other companies Worldwide diversity-impossible for owners to influence content-Murdock-difficult to control cotent of dozens of papers-[blank_start]Whale 1977[blank_end]-media owners have global problems-so don't have time to be concerned with day to day running of businesses

[blank_start]Pluralism[blank_end]-the media as a democratic mirror The range of products offered by the media is extremely [blank_start]diverse[blank_end], so all points of view in a democratic society could be catered for-if some viewpoints have a [blank_start]greater[blank_end] amount of representation, not necessarily biased-mirrors audience beliefs of importance. If most UK newspapers are concerned with Corbyn not being willing to push the nuclear button, they argue this mirrors the concerns of UK citizens

Which of these channels is a public service broadcaster?

Pluralism-state controls Owner power restricted by state control-try to reduce dominance of single viewpoint-[blank_start]USA[blank_end], film studios not allowed to own film production, distribution and cinemas at the same time. [blank_start]Cross ownership[blank_end] rules-companies not able to own more than 1 media form in same area-1 tv channel not several etc BBC and ITV have content monitored by [blank_start]Ofcom[blank_end]

[blank_start]Pluralism[blank_end]-media professionalism Editors don't allow owners to undermine independence and journalists have too much integrity to be biased to 1 particular perspective Investigative journalism of those in power-[blank_start]Watergate[blank_end] scandal-[blank_start]Nixon[blank_end] resignation due to bugging being reported by the Washington Post

Critique of pluralist [blank_start]Curran[blank_end]-owners undermine independence subtly by choosing editors and firing those who do not conform-journalists self-censor to omit controversial issues drawing owners' attention [blank_start]Blumer and Gurevitch 1995[blank_end]-many over-reliant on official sources, especially politicians and police-undermines objectivity [blank_start]Trowler 2004[blank_end]-500 journalists embedded with troops in Iraq-one sided reporting due to personal attachment

Which instrumental Marxist argued that the mass media was an ideological instrument, playing a role in the reproduction and justification of class inequality? They do this by transmitting conservative/conformist ideology-role is to convince the public that the ruling class ideology is truth. Owners shape and manipulate how people think about world, i.e. the public rarely being informed as to why people live in poverty, while representations of wealth are generally positive.

Which instrumental Marxists argued that the representation of ethnic minorties tended to portray them as criminals, migrants and extremists, in order to divide and rule the working class? This was on the basis that white working class people seeing minorities as a threat suits the capitalist class, since it distracts them from the real cause of inequality. Members therefore receive a narrow range of 'approved' views, so other points of view are rarely heard or considered extremist.

The Frankfurt School used which term to refer to media output being mostly entertainment based, in order to distract the population from real problems and keep them happy and ignorant?

Why will the media transmit ruling class values?

Which instrumental Marxist suggeted that governments are not interested in controlling media owners, because the class interests of owners and the political elite overlap. This means that papers owned by a conglomerate can directly support/not criticise the goverment in return for a lack of enforcement and regulation.

Evidence for instrumental Marxism [blank_start]Curran[blank_end]-British press-4 period with varying levels of owner interference 1920-50- press barons (Lord Beaverbrook, [blank_start]Express[blank_end]) openly stated ideological intentions 1951-74-delegation to editors/journalists-investigative reporting into abuses of power 1974-92-more [blank_start]interventionist[blank_end]-Murdock leaned to what sold rather than party interest-right wing belief that right wing economic policy would lead to bigger profits-more personalised management, reading proofs, picking compliant editors etc 1997-ownership based on global conservatism-Murdock made his papers abandon [blank_start]Conservatives[blank_end] and support [blank_start]New Labour[blank_end]-Blair willing to lift controls preventing cross-media ownership

Critique of instrumental Marxism Rarely explain how media manipulation works in practice-evidence [blank_start]anecdotal[blank_end] rather than research based Considered economic [blank_start]reductionists[blank_end]-oly interest=class, ignoring the patriachy etc Assume that ruling class ideology leads to false class conscoiusness-neo-Marxists like Gramsci suggest that the working class are more likely to experience [blank_start]dual conciousness[blank_end], where aspects of ruling class ideology are accepted but everyday life means they can see through ideology Many journalists see selves as guardians of public interest and dedicate careers to exposing those who abuse their powers

What is the economic, social and cultural domination of one group over another?

What hegemonic Marxist concept (Glasgow University Media Group) does the following describe? Journalists consensus decides what topics should be discussed or avoided, such as choosing to discuss a woman's appearance but not societal inequality. The Sun is more likely to be annoyed by Corbyn not singing the national anthem than the number of people living in poverty. This results in cultural hegemony, with the basic principles of capitalism ie profit and the free market being presented as normal.

Which hegemonic Marxists suggested that the content supports interests of capitalist system, but that hegemony is a probable by-product of social backgrounds of journalists/broadcasters? They are often white, middle class and male, with 50% of top UK journalists being privately educated. Tend to believe in consensus ideas, which appeal to the majority of viewers, seeing ideas outside this as extremist.

Which hegemonic Marxist sees owners, editors and journalists as the 'establishment', an alliance of unaccountable groups bound by common interests? They manage democracy by igoring the establishment and vilifying the poor, unemployed, immigrants etc instead of investigating the establishment, since the media and the establishment are the same thing.

Criticism of hegemonic Marxism Vague about what ideology is and the effects it allegedy has on powerless groups [blank_start]GUMG[blank_end] focus on media professionals gives the impression that owners have little/no impact on production-this is unrealistic Media=largely owned/controlled by [blank_start]men[blank_end]-agenda setting=[blank_start]patriarchal[blank_end] exercise-limit women's roles in media production and content

3 characteristics of postmodern society affect wnership and control of the media [blank_start]Media saturated[blank_end]-Haralambos and HOlborn 2013-media is an intimate, defining aspect of postmodernism [blank_start]Globalisation[blank_end]-media transnationals used communications tech to remove distinction between global and local to increase consumer choice Lack of faith in [blank_start]absolute truth[blank_end]-Lyotard-skeptical on power of science, politics etc to change the world-truth=unattainable and irrelevant