Media: Ownership & Control Flashcards
What are the media?
- Tech involved in communicating with large audiences without personal contact (TV, computers etc)
- Institutions & organisations concerned with mass communication in which people work, such as press, cinema etc.
- Products of those institutions such as news, movies; newspapers magazines etc.
Traditional & New media
Traditional: mass media that communicated uniform messages in one way, non-interactive process to very large audiences. (ie. BBC & radio), large homogenous audiences.
New: interactive, screen-based digital tech sed for digitalisation & consumption of media, which is individualised. (ie. computers, social media - tiktoks with a wide range of choice).
Social media
Group of online applications that are used for social interaction amongst large groups of people.
-Build social networks of friends.
-Can globally share videos, messages etc.
The power of the media: Media use (2014)
-96% of homes had digital TV, with an average of 4 hours watched daily.
-77% of households had broadband; 8% had mobile broadband.
-93% of adults owned/used a mobile phone; 61% had smartphones.
-57% of adults used mobile phones to access the internet.
-7.5 million national newspapers sold daily.
The power of the media: Bauman (2007) - Info overload
-More information produced in 30 years than in the previous 5,000.
-A single edition of the New York Times contains more information than an 18th-century educated person would consume in a lifetime.
The power of the media: Media-saturated society
-Media are key sources of information, entertainment, and leisure.
-They act as important agencies of secondary socialisation.
-Influence individual identity and consumer spending choices.
-Most knowledge and opinions are based on media, not personal experience.
The power of the media: Media power & influence
-Media can shape or even construct perceptions of reality.
-They may filter or distort information, obscuring the truth.
-Potential bias in media content due to profit-driven private ownership.
-Possibility of media promoting dominant ideologies that favour the wealthy.
-Media may misrepresent or stereotype certain social groups (e.g., women, ethnic minorities, disabled individuals).
Formal controls of the media: OfCom (2003)
-Role is to regulate the media (TV, radio).
-Responsible for furthering interests of consumers, protecting the public from any offensive media & safeguarding people from unfair treatment in TV.
-ie. Love island
Formal controls on the media: The law
-Libel Laws – Prevent publishing false statements that damage reputations.
-Official Secrets Act – Bans unauthorized reporting of classified government activities.
-Contempt of Court – Restricts reporting on ongoing trials to ensure fair justice.
-Equality and Hatred Laws – Prohibit media content that incites discrimination or hatred.
These laws limit the media’s ability to report freely while balancing public interest, security, and fairness.
Formal controls on the media: The BBC & BBC Trust
-Govt funded through the TV liscense fee (publically funded).
-Partly governed by the Trust & members of this are elected by the king & influenced by the PM.
-Also party governed by OfCom.
-Could influence content by promoting PM’s interests in the media & leading to be party led.
Formal controls on the media: Independent broadcasting
-All non BBC & radio shows.
-Regulated by OfCom & who licences the companies which can operate in the private sector & is responsible for the amount & quality of advertising & programmes on independent TV & radio shows & for dealing with complaints.
Is OfCom regulation effective?
-Pluralists argue OfCom is enabling public to voice their concerns, ensuring the audience has the ability to control mass media.
-ie. Danny Baker complaints (royal baby & monkey image) and how he lost his job as a radio presenter.
-However, Marxists argue that measures like OfCom provide the illusion of audience control over the mass media as they argue the owners are the real ones in control of media content to reproduce the capitalist agenda in society.
(Althusser)
Formal controls on the media: Independent press standards organisation (IPSO)
-Independent regulator for the newspaper & magazine industry itself.
-Seeks to monitor & maintain standards of journalism set out in the “Editors code of practice” (deals with issues of accuracy, privacy etc).
-IPSO investigated complaints against newspapers & magazines about the content or about the behaviour of journalists.
:( Marxists argue IPSO is a puppet of the big newspaper corporations that would be more concerned with protecting big companies interests than the public’s.
How governments influence & control media output: Govt press conferences & briefings
-Governments control media narrative by presenting their official position on various issues, guiding how these issues are covered by journalists.
-Press conferences and briefings are used to ensure that the government’s perspective is heard and spread across news outlets.
-E.g: The UK government regularly holds briefings during times of crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the Prime Minister and health officials provided regular updates.
-Spread in media & presented the government’s stance on lockdowns and public health measures.
How governments influence & control media output: Leaks & off-the-record briefings
-These leaks often shape public opinion by releasing select information to journalists who then use phrases like “sources close to the govt” or “anonymous govt officials.”
-Allows the govt to push a narrative without taking direct responsibility for the release.
E.g: In 2019, the UK government was accused of leaking details of the Brexit negotiations to specific media outlets, with reports emerging in the Daily Telegraph about key details of the talks.
-The leaks were presented as coming from “government sources,” influencing public perception of the government’s handling of Brexit.
How governments influence & control media output: Spin doctors & media manipulation
-Manage public relations and ensure that news stories are framed in a way that supports the government’s image.
-They aim to present unfavorable situations in a more favorable light or to divert attention from controversial issues.
-E.g; During the 2008 financial crisis, the US government, under President George W. Bush, used spin doctors to downplay the severity of the banking collapse and to frame bailout packages as necessary to prevent a greater economic disaster.
How governments influence & control media output: Refusal of broadcasting licenses
-Selectively issuing or withholding broadcasting licenses.
-Media outlets that are critical of government policies or narratives can be denied access to broadcast, effectively limiting their reach and influence.
-E.g: In 2009, the Iranian government shut down several opposition news outlets and satellite TV channels in the wake of the controversial presidential elections.
-Channels like BBC Persian and Voice of America Persian were blocked, preventing critical news coverage during the protests that followed the election results.
How governments influence & control media output: Internet censorship & blocking access
-Can include blocking access to international news, social media platforms, or specific content deemed unfavorable to the government’s interests.
-By controlling access to the internet, governments can limit public discourse and suppress dissent.
-E.g: In 2010, Google withdrew its search engine services from China after the government imposed censorship measures and conducted cyberattacks against the company. -In countries like China & Iran, the government often blocks websites like Facebook, Twitter to prevent citizens from accessing global perspectives.
How governments influence & control media output: Electronic surveillance & monitoring
-Monitor private communication channels, including emails, social media posts, and mobile calls.
-Govts can control public discourse, identify and suppress dissent, and discourage open criticism of the government.
-E.g: In 2014, the UK passed the Investigatory Powers Act, known as the “Snooper’s Charter,” which gave the government unprecedented powers to access personal data, monitor online activities, and intercept communications.
Focus on media ownership & control in the UK
-Ownership of main mass media is concentrated in hands of a few large companies interested in profit.
-Around 86% of National newspapers is owned by just 4 companies, over 1/2 by just 2 (news corp/daily mail).
-Rupert Murdoch is the major rice behind News UK, which own The Sun & Times (35% of all national daily newspaper sales in the UK).
Importance of Murdoch
-206 meetings between Murdoch staff & govt in last 2 years.
-5 personal meetings with ministers 2018-19.
-Met BJ 3x in the last 2 years.
-43 meetings with Johnson’s administrator.
-> POLITICAL BIAS & POWER!
Bagdikian (2004)
-Bagdikian has noticed in America in 1983, 50 corporations controlled vast majority of news media, but in 1992, 22 companies owned & operated 90% of the mass media.
-Concentrated ownership refers to how cyber media is typical owned by the 4 main companies: Microsoft, Apple, Google & Yahoo.
-Media monopoly refers to how in his book in 1992, he predicted that less and less companies will control America’s media and will fall to half a dozen. It fell to 6 in 2000.
-The effect of media monopoly is that it gives each of the 5 major corporations (Disney/ Murdoch news/Time Warner/CBS/Viacom) & their leaders moe communication power than any dictators in history.
Functionalist perspective of media
-The media acts as an agency of socialisation, integrating people by communicating common values, norms, and aspirations.
-It reinforces value consensus, promoting individualism, competition, and financial success.
-The media performs similar functions to family and education in shaping societal norms.
Functionalists: Functions of the media
- Surveillance – Provides news and information to the public.
- Correlation – Presents and interprets information to shape public perception.
- Cultural Transmission – Reflects and reinforces societal values, beliefs, and norms.
- Entertainment – Provides leisure, escapism, and enjoyment.
- Mobilisation – Promotes societal interests, especially in times of crisis.
