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Media - ownership and control Flashcards

1
Q

Marxists believe that the concentration of media ownership is…

A

inherently dangerous, as
the capitalist ideals are being transmitted more
intensely.

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2
Q

MEDIA PROFESSIONALISM
(definition)

A

The idea that concentration of ownership is bad, is criticised by some sociologists

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3
Q

Arguments of media professionalism

A
  • Just because 1 corporation owns many outlets, doesn’t mean it turns into a giant brainwashing machine with all employees also
    brainwashed.
  • Individual companies and individuals within corporations have agency to speak, write and edit how they want.
  • This is part of journalistic professionalism.
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4
Q

MEDIA AUDIENCES - ACTIVE?

A

Even if journalists abandoned their professionalism, and started writing just what their bosses told them to write, the audience don’t passively believe everything and can be critical and selective

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5
Q

Ownership and control - The BBC , PSBs

A

Pluralists:
- point out that Public Service Broadcasting is still popular and owned by the public
- say these are impartial

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6
Q

What factors do Marxists believe that the government overrides?

A
  • Media professionalism
  • Impartialism
  • Active audiences
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7
Q

Marxist beliefs of ownership & control

A
  • state controls
  • role of ideology
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8
Q

Marxists - state control
(ownership & control)

A
  • The state can have huge power in relationship to the media.
  • Depending on the gov. and ppl in power, the media can be changed drastically:
    ● The state can put controls on what media companies can do/own
    ● The state can control the content media companies put out
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9
Q

what do marxists think happens through the media

A

transition of capitalist ideology

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10
Q

Marxism - the role of ideology
(ownership & control)

A

Believe that the media creates false class-consciousness, through which the working class believe that meritocracy exists and society is fair

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11
Q

Disney working class study

A

USE NOTES! ADD TO THIS

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12
Q

The media & ideology - Miliband (1973)

A

Conservative and conformist ideology comes across as fact in the media
e.g articles on immigration/benefits being ‘bad’

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13
Q

The media & ideology - Tunstall and Palmer (1991)

A

Government not interested in
controlling media because of ‘regulatory favours’

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14
Q

regulatory favours - Tunstall & Palmer , example

A

SITUATION:
1) One of Rupert Murdoch’s papers publishes an article that
the conservative party don’t like
2) The Conservatives could then set about creating restrictions, or penalising Murdoch
3) Murdoch’s papers turn against the Conservatives
which would see them lose power.
( So instead, Tunstall and Palmer argue the media are left to do as they please!)

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15
Q

Ownership and control - 3 🔑 approaches

A

1) The manipulative approach (aka instrumental approach)
2) The hegemonic approach
3) The pluralist approach Associated with pluralism (obviously)

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16
Q

The manipulative approach , associated with?

A

traditional Marxism

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17
Q

The hegemonic approach, associated with?

A

neo-Marxism

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18
Q

The pluralist approach , associated with?

A

pluralism (obviously)

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19
Q

The Manipulative approach
(Owners)

A

Directly control and manipulate the content and audiences
- to protect their profits
- and spread the dominant ideology

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20
Q

The Manipulative approach
(media editors and managers)

A

have little choice but to run the media within the boundaries set by the owner.

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21
Q

The Manipulative approach
(audiences)

A

sees audiences as passive
- a mass of easily manipulated, unthinking and uncritical robots.

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22
Q

The manipulative approach - Evans

A

Argues that media moguls such as Murdoch undermine editorial independence and press editorial staff to adopt the same right-wing, conservative views as the moguls.

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23
Q

The Hegemonic approach
(media owners)

A

Although they have powerful influence, they rarely have day-to-day control of the media content, which is left in the
hands of editors and journalists

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24
Q

The Hegemonic approach
(staff)

A

have some independence, but still support the dominant ideology by choice
- not because they are manipulated into doing so
- have some independence, but still support the dominant ideology by choice, not because they are manipulated into doing so

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25
The Hegemonic approach (trend amongst journalists)
The GMG state that: most journalists tend to be white, middle-class and male, therefore share the same views as the dominant class
26
The Hegemonic approach (media managers and journalists)
do not want to upset owners, but also need to attract audiences and advertisers - Journalist news values sometimes go against the dominant ideology, but this is to attract audiences and make a profit
27
The Hegemonic approach ('agenda setting' / 'gatekeeping') - explored by?
- explored by the GMG - they believe is a process where some news is excluded from reporting - meaning that audiences have little choice of media content, as products are produced in the framework of the dominant ideology.
28
The Pluralist approach (media content)
- not driven by a dominant ideology or the political interests of owners, but instead the fight for profit through high circulation and audience figures. - There is a wide range of competing media platforms and products that reflect a wide range of audience interests and choices
29
The Pluralist approach ( government intervention)
Media is generally free of government intervention and ownership, and can present whatever viewpoint they want
30
The Pluralist approach (audiences)
- free to ‘pick and mix’ whatever interpretation suits them - they have the freedom to accept, reject / re-interpret media content in accordance with taste and beliefs.
31
James Curran’s Research on Media Ownership - what did he do?
- extensively examined the interplay between media ownership and democracy. - In his influential work Power Without Responsibility, co-authored with Jean Seaton, Curran
32
James Curran’s Research on Media Ownership - critiques?
The concentration of media ownership - arguing that it undermines democratic processes by limiting diverse and reinforcing elite interests.
33
James Curran’s Research on Media Ownership - emphasises?
The importance of public service broadcasting as a counterbalance to commercial media
34
James Curran’s Research on Media Ownership - advocates for?
structures that promote editorial independence and serve the public interest.
35
Who is The Glasgow University Media Group (GUMG) (GMG)
a collective of researchers known for their critical analyses of media content, particularly television new
36
The Glasgow University Media Group's seminal study
Their seminal study, Bad News, highlighted how media narratives often reflect the perspectives of dominant societal groups
37
GUMG posits that media content tends to support the interests of...
the capitalist system - not necessarily through deliberate bias, but as an unintended consequence of the social backgrounds of journalists and broadcasters, who are predominantly white, middle-class, and male
38
Why Journalism is Profit-Driven
Journalism operates within a commercial framework where profitability is a primary concern.
39
Effect of journalism being profit driven
- profit motive influences media ownership structures - leading to consolidation and the prioritization of content that attracts large audiences and advertisers.
40
consequences of of journalism being profit driven
- media organizations may focus on sensationalism or entertainment at the expense of in-depth reporting - potentially compromising journalistic integrity and the diversity of viewpoints presented to the public.​
41
What is Meant by ‘Agenda Setting’
refers to the media's ability to influence the importance placed on topics of the public agenda - By choosing which stories to highlight, the media shapes what audiences perceive as significant issues - thereby directing public discourse and potentially influencing policy decisions.​
42
What is Meant by ‘The Fallacy of Choice’
describes the illusion of diversity in media options, where numerous outlets appear to offer varied content, but are actually controlled by a few conglomerates
43
‘The Fallacy of Choice’ - concentration limits...
genuine diversity in perspectives and content, as the underlying ownership influences the narratives and information disseminated, despite the appearance of choice.​
44
The manipulative approach - ROLE OF OWNERS
Direct control
45
The manipulative approach -MEDIA CONTENT
Dominant ideology
46
The manipulative approach - ROLE OF MEDIA MANAGERS AND JOURNALISTS
Told what to do by owners
47
The manipulative approach - VIEW OF AUDIENCE
Passive (told what to believe)
48
The Hegemonic approach - ROLE OF OWNERS
Influence and persuasion
49
The Hegemonic approach - MEDIA CONTENT
Dominant ideology with some deviation
50
The Hegemonic approach - ROLE OF MEDIA MANAGERS AND JOURNALISTS
Independence, but they share the same ideology
51
The Hegemonic approach - VIEW OF AUDIENCE
Passive (persuaded)
52
The pluralist approach - ROLE OF OWNERS
No direct control
53
The pluralist approach - MEDIA CONTENT
Meeting the audience’s need, as they strive for profit
54
The pluralist approach -ROLE OF MEDIA MANAGERS AND JOURNALISTS
Highly independent
55
The pluralist approach - VIEW OF AUDIENCE
Active
56
Types of media
1. The print media 2. The audio-visual media 3. Cyber and digital media
57
number of media outlets
● On the surface the number of media outlets available to the general public has increased dramatically. ● In the 1980s = only 4 main terrestrial channels. ● This increase in outlets indicates that there is more choice now than ever in terms of the media we consume.
58
Concentration (media outlets)
Although the n. of outlets has increased, there has been an increased concentration of ownership into a few giant media corporations.
59
Bagdikian (2004)
- 1983 = 50 corporations controlled the vast majority of all media in the USA. - However, in 1992, 22 companies owned and operated 90% of the media. - The UK magazine market is dominated by TWO major companies. - 27 million adults read magazines by IPC
60
Bagdikian -1983 = ____ corporations controlled the vast majority of all media in the ____
50 corporations controlled the vast majority of all media in the USA
61
Bagdikian - However, in ____, __ companies owned and operated ___% of the media
However, in 1992, 22 companies owned and operated 90% of the media
62
The UK magazine market is dominated by ___ major companies. ___ million adults read magazines by ____
The UK magazine market is dominated by TWO major companies. 27 million adults read magazines by IPC
63
Media Companies have become more...
1) transnational 2) diverse 3) conglomerates
64
Media Companies have become more transnational
exist in a number of different countries
65
Media Companies have become more diverse
have an interest in many different forms of media
66
Media Companies have become conglomerates
branched into different areas of economic activity
67
Media companies have become more transactional , diverse and conglomerates , what does this mean? (marxists)
Marxists argue that these companies promote capitalist interests
68
Media companies have become more transactional , diverse and conglomerates , what does this mean? (technology)
Technological developments mean you can watch MTV in India and CNN anywhere in the world
69
Media companies have become more transactional , diverse and conglomerates , what does this mean? (governments)
Governments no longer control what people see
70
MAIN CHANGES IN MEDIA OWNERSHIP
- Concentration of Ownership - Vertical Integration - Horizontal Integration - Technological Convergence - Global Ownership - Conglomeration and Diversification - Synergy
71
Main changes in media ownership - Concentration of Ownership
Less companies are owning increasingly larger areas of the media
72
Main changes in media ownership - Vertical Integration
Concentration of ownership in a single medium (e.g. a film company that also owns the cinema chain).
73
Main changes in media ownership - Horizontal Integration
Cross-media ownership - e.g. owns film companies, newspapers etc.
74
Main changes in media ownership - Technological Convergence
Products are available in different forms that can be accessed on one device.
75
Main changes in media ownership - Global Ownership
Media organisations operate all around the world.
76
Main changes in media ownership - Conglomeration and Diversification
Companies having wide variety of products besides the media - e.g. Virgin.
77
Main changes in media ownership - Synergy
Media companies produce, promote and sell a product in a variety of forms - e.g. a film, soundtrack and video game for a superhero
78
Pluralism
- consumer choice is the primary driver of media content - believe there is a wide variety of media available from a wide variety of sources and owners. - popularity of shows, music, and articles is dictated by audience preferences rather than the personal biases of media owners.
79
NOTES FROM HILLSBURUHGH DISASTER

sociology (28 decks)

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