8. Industry - Theories

Question 1

Curran and Seaton’s Power and Media Industries Theory.

Answer 1

• The idea the media is controlled by a small number of companies primarily driven by the logic of PROFIT and POWER.
• Media concentration generally limits variety, creativity and quality.
• More socially diverse patterns of ownership help to create the conditions for more varied and adventurous media platforms.

Question 2

Livingstone and Lunt’s Regulation Theory.

Answer 2

• The idea there’s an underlying struggle in recent regulation policy between the need to further the interests or citizens (protection from harmful material) and the need to further the interest of consumers (choice and value for money)
• The idea the increasing power of global media corporations together with the rise of convergent media tech, have placed traditional approaches to media regulation at risk.

Question 3

David Hesmondhalgh’s Cultural Industries Theory.

Answer 3

• The idea that cultural industry companies try to minimise risk and maximise audiences through integration.
• The idea the largest companies now operate across different industries.