Power and Media Industries

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Power and Media Industries

"Diversity is in the public interest - but modern societies suffer from collective attention deficit disorders (..) the public interest has to work harder to be noticed, and we need agile but resourceful media to do that" - Curran and Seaton.

Technology can give us 'add' as it serves as an distraction.
Digital Technologies - Mobile phones, Laptops etc - They are special because they have access to the internet.

Monopoly

The exclusive ownership or control of something.

 

British Newspaper Ownership Charts


Rupert Murdoch and NewsCorp own the newspapers who have the most marketshare - this is notable.

This is an example of conglomeration.
Subsidiary - A smaller company owned by a large corporation, this is also an example.

For example Disney own:
Marvel (Superheroes)
LucasFilms (StarWars etc)
Pixar
Theme Parks
Hotels
Channel
abc
Vice (Stoner magazine)
Walt Disney Studios
History
LucasArts
ESPN

Disney bought Vice in order to keep up with the latest cool, hip trends. It allowed them to explore another audience.

NewsCorp own:
The Sun
Fox
20th Century Fox
itv
The Times
National Geographic
Sky
HarperCollins Publishers

This is getting very close to being a monopoly.

Curran and Seaton on Monopoly

Advantages:
- It removes the competition
- Audience manipulation
- It increases prestige
- Makes the public opinion more favourable
- It extends their range of business

Conglomerates are driven by power and money.

Issues with Conglomerations:
- Reduces diversity (Lack of)
- They can advertise their other industries through their industries (E.g. film reviews in the newspapers)

If you have a monopoly you have domination of multiple media industries. The focus is on creating profit, generally conglomerates don't take risks with the media products they produce. This often results in limited variety, creativity and quality.

"Anti-monopoly media regulation is needed not only to maintain fair competition but also to prevent the distortion of democracy." - Curran and Seaton.

Alternatives to conglomerate ownerships:
- Unionisation
- Partnership as opposed to Ownership
- Limit how many companies you can own
- Boycott
- Make our own media
- Spread the word
- Social Media

"Media policy should seek to create the conditions of the greatest possible competition. Thus enabling consumers to exercise sovereign control. This produces media people want, a wide range of choice, and media independence from government."

Independent producer - free from outside control

Independants offer something different to conglomerates.

Long Road is an institution. Is it was an industry the selling points would be different.


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