Topic 1 Ownership and control of the media Flashcards
Define horizontal integration?
cross media ownership, where big media companies own a wide range of media, eg tv, radio, cinema
Define vertical integration?
some media companies are trying to control all aspects of the media to ensure maximum profits
Define global conglomeration?
where media companies operate in the global market, eg disney
Define synergy?
media companies are using their different interest to package product in several ways
Define technological convergences?
several technologies in one product, for example, you can use your phone to access the internet
Define ideological state apparatus?
institutions which spread the dominant ideology - the media is part of this
Define hegemony?
Gramsci uses this word to explain how the ruling class hold the ideological and more leadership of society, using ideas and values to prevent a revolution
Define media diversity?
pluralists argue that there is a range of media products available which means all points of view are catered for
Define citizen journalism?
where members of the public, rather than professional journalists collect, report and spread news stories and information
In 2014, how many homes had digital tv?
96%
What is traditional media?
- mass media that communicated uniform messages in a one way non interactive process to large audiences
- little consumer choice between a few channels
What is new media?
- interactive screen based digital technology involving the integration of images, text and sound
What is social media?
refers to a group of online and internet based applications that are used for social interaction among large groups of people
What does Bauman’s research suggest?
a single copy of the Sunday New York times contains more information than a cultivated person in the 18th century would consume during a lifetime
What laws restrict the media?
- laws of libel
- official secrets act
- obscene publications act
How does the law of libel restrict the media?
forbids the publication of an untrue statement
How does the official secrets act restrict the media?
it is a criminal offence to report without authorisation any official government activity which the government defines as an official secret
How does the obscene publications act restrict the media?
forbids the publication of anything that a court considers to be obscene and indecent and likely to deprave or corupt persons who are likely to read, see or hear it
What are responsibilities of Ofcom?
- further the interests of consumers
- securing the best use of radio
- ensuring a wide variety of radio and tv is available
- protect the public from harmful effects of media
- safeguard people from being unfairly treated
Who are IPSO?
- an independent regulator of what is published in newspapers and magazines
- it replaced the PCC following the leveson enquiry
What does IPSO do?
- it considers and investigates complaints about the content of the newspapers that breach acceptable standards, and the behaviour of journalists
What are the characteristics of PSB?
- provide full range of programming to meet audience needs
- be universally available
- have a concern for ‘national identity’
- promote competition
Give examples of media companies that operate in the private sector?
- disney
- netflix
- amazon prime
- apple tv
What does Marxists believe about the formal control of the media?
- more available to middle class because of the price
- a way to share their dominant ideology
What does Foucalt say about the formal control of the media?
- easier for us to be surveyed and tracked
- adverts are tailored to your searches, companies watching you to be able to tailor ads to you and gain maximum profits
What was the leveson inquiry?
a judicial inquiry into the British culture, practices and ethics of the British press after news international phone hacking scandal. They hacked into a 15 year olds phone who had been murdered so parents thought she was still alive
Why did the publication of the leveson inquiry lead to the collapse of the PCC?
They got a lot of criticism regarding the scandal
How does the government influence the output of the media?
- press conferences in hopes to get their line in the media
- leaks and off-the-record briefings favourable exposure
- use of government spin doctors - manipulate media by providing a favourable slant to an unpopular news item
- electronic surveillance - restraints people’s willingness to communicate freely
What did Bagdikian find about concentration of ownership?
- in 1983 50 corporations controlled all media in USA
- in 1992 22 companies owned and controlled 90% of mass media in the US
What are the potential problems with the concentration of media ownership?
- people’s personal views are involved
- more likely to get a distorted view
- media bias
How has globalisation changed the media?
- created more fears
- turned political
- sharing of news trade
- information shared globally
- pushing self interest in news to make countries look good
- opportunity for cyber crime
- communication has reached further
What is the pluralist approach of the ownership and control of media?
- owners do not directly control the media
- content is consumer-driven
- owners are objective and impartial to the political media they post
- diverse range of media
- all points of view are catered for
- media is restricted by social controls
How can the pluralist approach by evaluated with
What is the neo-marxist approach of the ownership of the media?
- media spreads the dominant ideology
- owners rarely interfere in media content
- journalists share the dominant ideology because it seems reasonable rather than because they are told by owners to do it
How can the neo-marxist approach of ownership of the media be evaluated?
- owners have more influence than this theory suggests
What does Milliband argue about the media? (Marxist)
Milliband argues the media plays an important role in spreading the dominant ideology and encourages them to accept the unequal society
According to Milliband, do journalists have much choice about media content?
- no
- they depend on their jobs so do as they’re told
- they produce biased content which ridicule ideas that oppose the dominant ideology
How can the Marxist approach of media ownership be evaluated?
there are legal restrictions in place to limit the control of the owners
