ownership and control of the media

Question 1

types of media: print

Answer 1

e.g newspapers, magazines

Question 2

types of media: audio-visual

Answer 2

e.g podcasts, radio, TV, music

Question 3

types of media: cyber or digital

Answer 3

e.g podcasts, social media

(can’t do without the internet)

Question 4

3 types of media

Answer 4

print
audio-visual
cyber or digital

Question 5

concentration

Answer 5

although the number of outlets has increase there has been an increased concentration of ownership into. a few giant corporations

Question 6

corporation

Answer 6

a business firm which granted separate legal entity from its members

Question 7

Bagdikian

Answer 7

1992 - 22 companies owned 90% of the media

Question 8

media companies have become…

Answer 8

more transnational - exist in a number of different countries

become more diverse - have an interest in many different forms of media

become conglomerates - branched into different areas of economic activity

Question 9

main changes in media ownership (7)

Answer 9

concentration of ownership

vertical integration

horizontal integration

technological convergence

global ownership

conglomeration and diversification

synergy

Question 10

main changes in media ownership - concentration of ownership

Answer 10

Less companies are owning increasingly larger areas of the media

AO2: in 1983, 50 corporations controlled the majority of news media in USA.
In 1992, 22 companies owned and operated 90% of the mass media

Question 11

main changes in media ownership - vertical integration

Answer 11

Concentration of ownership in a single medium
AO2: a film company that also owns the cinema chain

Question 12

main changes in media ownership - horizontal integration

Answer 12

Cross-media ownership

AO2: owns film companies, newspapers etc

Question 13

main changes in media ownership - technological convergence

Answer 13

Products are available in different forms that can be accessed on one device

AO2: watches, telephones and TV began as separate, unrelated technologies but have converged into an interrelated technology industry.

Question 14

main changes in media ownership - global ownership

Answer 14

Media organisations operate all around the world

AO2: multinational corporations

Question 15

main changes in media ownership - conglomeration and diversification

Answer 15

Companies having wide variety of products beside the media

AO2: virgin

Question 16

main changes in media ownership - synergy

Answer 16

Media companies produce, promote and sell a product in a variety of forms

AO2: a film, soundtrack and video game for a superhero

Question 17

pluralism

Answer 17

see the media as controlled by audiences because media owners are mainly interested in making a profit - If they don’t provide what they want = they don’t stay in business

see audiences as active and diverse

not concentrated in the hands of minority

Question 18

marxist theory of the media

Answer 18

its controlled by the owners of the media - they use their companies to spread the dominant ideology

Question 19

media professionalism

Answer 19

Just because one 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.

for example - Editors can choose to include stories that may go against the wishes of their owners

Question 20

media professionalism AO3

Answer 20

Most journalists are freelance and will want to make money so will write stories in a way that will appeal to owners

Covering stories that criticise the company or conglomerate could affect jobs security
Owners can fire professionals
Professionals are more likely to be part of the same class as the owner and invested in the dominant ideology themselves

Question 21

forms of government control

Answer 21

leaks and off record briefings

spin doctors

refusing broadcast licenses

refusing use of computer software

electronic surveillance

Question 22

forms of government control - leaks and off record briefings

Answer 22

where governments try to manage what is reported

Question 23

forms of government control - spin doctors

Answer 23

Try to bury bad news of the government at the same time that the media are distracted by something else in hope no one sees it

Question 24

forms of government control - refusing broadcast licenses

Answer 24

To those it deems are unfit and unsuitable

Question 25

forms of government control - refusing use of computer software

Answer 25

Block access to some internet sites
Use of filtering and surveillance

Question 26

control of the media - manipulative/ instrumental approach

Answer 26

owners directly control and manipulate the content and audiences to protect their profits and spread the DI

media editors and managers have little choice but to run the media within the boundaries set by the owner

sees audiences as passive - easily manipulated and unthinking

Question 27

control of the media - manipulative/ instrumental approach AO3

Answer 27

the state regulated media ownership so no one person or company has too much influence

by law Tv and radio have to report news impartially so can’t turn out biased reports

audiences aren’t that gullible - they can accept or reject the dominant readings of messages based on existing ideas

Question 28

control of the media - the hegemonic (dominant) approach

Answer 28

media owners have influence but rarely have day to day control of the content - its left in hands of editors and journalists
staff have some independence but support DI by choice

GMG state most journalists are white, MC and male so share the same view as dominant class

audiences are passive and are persuaded to see the DI as consensus

Question 29

control of the media - the hegemonic (dominant) approach AO3

Answer 29

underrates the power and influence of owners who dismiss editors who step too far out of line

agenda setting means that audiences have little real choice of media content and they’re all produced within the DI = a direct manipulation of the audiences

Question 30

control of the media - pluralist approach

Answer 30

media content is not driven by a DI or political interests of owners but instead the fight for profit .

a wide range of competing media platforms and products that reflect a wide range of audience interests

media is free from government intervention and ownership and can present whatever viewpoint

audiences are free to pick’n’mix whatever interpretation suits them

Question 31

control of the media - pluralist approach AO3

Answer 31

media owners appoint editors and have on numerous occasions sacked uncooperative editors - the theory underestimates the power of owners