Ownership and Control (Pluralism)

Question 1

What do Pluralists say the function of media is?

Answer 1

1) . To provide info and entertainment that represents the diverse groups in society.
2) . Representing the interests of ‘ordinary’ people as democratic.
3) . Criticising and reforming the actions of powerful groups.

Question 2

What does Ralph Dahrendorf say about the ownership of media?

Answer 2

Hard to assume media doesn’t have different views when different people own it.

Question 3

According to Dahrendorf, who owns the media?

Answer 3

1) . Owners.
2) . Free media = anyone with internet access can contribute/
3) . State = such as the BBC, funded through taxes.
4) . Shareholders = anyone who buys a share in a media company.

Question 4

What does Blondel say about the ownership and control of media?

Answer 4

“No single group or person has complete monopoly over control and ownership of media”.

Question 5

Who do Pluralists say controls the media?

Answer 5

1). Free media =

everyone has the right to set up media outlets.

2). Market mechanism =

media content is determined by the audience (supply and demand).

3). Access and interactivity =

audience can respond to media content (criticise).

4). Laws and regulations =

require media to be balanced and fair.

5). Media is diverse =

Blondel…

Question 6

What mass media model supports the Pluralist view that audience can criticise media content?

Answer 6

Stuart Hall.

• dominated, negotiated and rejected.

Question 7

What is an example of free media?

Answer 7

Arab Spring =

• protesters used BBM to organise protests.

Question 8

What opposes the view that mass media is free?

Answer 8

Traditional Marxists =

say free media isn’t ‘free’ as it can be shut down by the state.

Question 9

What evidence supports the traditional Marxist view that media isn’t free?

Answer 9

Burmese government =

in 2008, shut down the internet to restrict dissent.

Question 10

What is an example of market mechanism?

Answer 10

John Wale study =

Murdoch changed the Sun to appeal to the w/c.

Question 11

What opposes the view that media is operate via a market mechanism?

Answer 11

Miliband =

although there is choice, views come from a moderate spectrum…

Question 12

What evidence supports Murdoch’s view that market mechanism doesn’t exist?

Answer 12

Saturday night TV =

usually consists of the same type of programmes.

Question 13

What is an example of access and interactivity?

Answer 13

Guardian =

has a ‘comment is free’ section.

Question 14

What opposes the view that the audience can access and interact with media?

Answer 14

Interactivity is usually to provide free advertising.

Question 15

What evidence supports the view that interactivity is to provide free advertising?

Answer 15

Perfume Nina Ricci =

uses Twitter competitions to expose the brand.

Question 16

What is an example of laws and regulations?

Answer 16

Leveson Enquiry =

set up to regulate the press and criticise practices.

Question 17

What opposes the views that media is regulated and abides by laws?

Answer 17

Althusser =

says this is a form of ISA.

Question 18

What evidence supports Althussers claim?

Answer 18

Leveson Enquiry has resulted in little change to press regulation.

Question 19

What is an example of media being diverse?

Answer 19

Not possible for Murdoch to maintain control over every company in NewsCorp.

Question 20

Who opposes the view that media is diverse?

Answer 20

Marxists =

naive to suggest the bourgeoisie don’t dominate control over mass media.

Question 21

What evidence supports the Marxist claim that media isn’t diverse?

Answer 21

Murdoch arriving in Britain =

said he didn’t come all this way to ‘interfere’.