How are media organisations concentrating? Mass Media Who owns UK media?
Vertical integration Communication that reaches large audience: Concentration of media organisations (Willia
• Company owns all aspects of industry to maximize • Digital media (internet/MP3 players/game consoles) 5 billionaires (all old white men) own 80% of
profit (e.g film studio, cinema, streaming services, • Print media (newspapers/magazines)
theme park, merch) • Broadcast media (Audio-visual → TV/DVD/cinema/music) 1. Rupert Murdoch (owner of News International))
• Disney owns studios (Pixar), distribution channels 2. Richard Desmond (used to be owner of the Expres
(Disney+), merch (Disney store) + theme park 3. Viscount Rothermere (owner of the Mail)
(Disneyland) How do moguls make money? 4. Barclay Brothers (owners of the Telegraph)
Commercial broadcasting mainly funded through
Horizontal Integration advertisements (advertisers pay to promote products + • Could argue new media moguls like Musk + Zuckerb
• Company acquires different media formats sponsor programmes to show logo) • Even regional newspapers owned by few newspape
(newspaper/TV/podcast) run independently (Reach PLC own 240 like Liverpo
• News Corp owns newspapers (the Sun), TV channels Public service broadcasters (BBC/PBS) are paid for by Gov • In UK 2017 – 10 companies received 70% revenue fro
(Star TV – largest satellite in Asia) + streaming + fee-paying public • Curran (2003) – in 1937 4 men owned half all newsp
platforms (Tubi) • BBC services used by 90% of UK adults • Bagdikian (2004) in USA control went from 50 in 198
• TV license 2024 costs £159/year + free for over-75’s monopoly)
Media convergence • Aim to provide unbiased democratic coverage (BBC
• Media companies join others to offer criticized for apparent bias of political groups Other key players:
product/service • BBC launched ‘BBC Launchpad’ initiative to help → Sky, ITV, Channel 5
• Microsoft Windows operating system used in underrepresented groups enter industry → Disney (may soon own FOX)
Samsung phones • BBC NewsWatch (accountability to keep public trust) → Online communication (Facebook + YouTube- owned
• BBC under Royal Charter (framework that ensures they
Diversification operate in public interest) Possible to overstate power of private media moguls a
• Media company branches out into non-media falling rapidly (10% drop from 2022-2023)
• Virgin into trains + insurance Ownership +
control of media: Classic example of media mogul:
Global conglomerates RUPERT MURDOCH
• Company with many businesses internationally
Trends Owns (reaches 66% of English-speaking world):
• News Corp has newspapers in US, UK + Australia • Wall Street Journal
• News of the world (best selling newspaper
Synergy in UK until 2011 phone-hacking scandal)
• Media company sells primary product (film) + • The Sun (tabloid)
secondary products associated with it • News Corp
(games,soundtracks,toys) • Hulu
• Also, media companies produce product + Significant relations:
advertises through own means (The Sun advertises • Republican party (FOX news support Trump’s candid
Sky – both owned by News Corp) 2015-2020 → 70% viewers republican)
• The Sun influences conservative win in 1992 (“It’s Th
Technological convergence • The Sun then helped agenda setting to support Blair
• Several tech/ media forms put into 1 device 1997 election (landslide victory)
• Smartphones can access radio/ TV/ internet
, Formal controls on Media Ofcom Government
• Freedom of press is essential in Established in 2003 as media regulator • Official gov press conferences w
democratic society their views on contemporary is
• Censorship seen as sign of dictatorship Responsible for: • Boris Johnson press conferenc
• Furthering interests of consumers frame narrative as good opport
+ authoritarianism
• Ensuring wide range of networks available with broad appeal potential risks
North Korea
• Protect public from offensive/harmful effects of broadcast
- Gov has complete monopoly over all media
media • Leaks – informal briefing of jou
- Restricted access to internet Example: which gov manages what is rep
- Cultural homogeny that aligns with In 2021 investigated ITV ‘This Morning’ segment where doctor (don’t quote named sources + jo
state ideology + propaganda made unverified claims on COVID-19 treatments give favorable exposure of gov
(misinformation) given preferential treatment in
But UK still has restrictions on content… privileged access to gov source
• During investigation into Bill Cli
Ownership + relationship with Monica Lewin
Laws control of White House officials conducted
• Laws of Libel (forbid publication of untrue media: Formal briefings with journalists to ma
statements about person) controls the scandal.
• Official secrets act (criminal offence to
report without permission gov activity
defined as official secret) • Government spin doctors who m
• Racial + religious hatred act (2006) by providing favourable slant to
• Obscene publications act (1995) controversial news/ bury bad n
• Broadcasting Act 1990 (Thatcher – bad gov news at same time as s
prevents monopolies by not allowing 1 • Alastair Campbell was director
company to own over 15% of national TV communications for Tony Blair
audience) (managed communication abou
Example:
News of the World phone hacking scandal • Filtering + surveillance softwar
(2011) internet sites
• Journalists illegally accessed voicemails • E.g. US government attacked W
of celebs, victims of crime + politicians Assange for whistleblowers to
• Led to closure of newspaper, resignation leak classified information → co
of high-profile executives + public enquiry with US restricted access
into ethics (Leveson)
, Criticism
Accountability + Public interest Functionalist view of concentration
Increased choice could have affe
→ Curran et al (2009) did conten
→ Citizen journalism + self-publishing allows for Not overly concerned with concentration of media ownership (not Denmark and found that all fo
minority voices to challenge mainstream narratives sinister ideological plot but rational economics in capitalist society) been ‘dumbed down’ to attrac
of social issues (BLM and #MeToo) (tabloidization)
→ Media companies are held to account for unethical → forming conglomerates, integration + globalisation of companies → E.g. instead of diverse conten
documentaries reality shows
practices (Leveson enquiry for phone hacking facilitates greater profits to appeal to ‘lowest common
scandal by News of the world 2011) profit + clickbait)
→ Media seen as ‘fourth estate’ or watchdog over → This acts as ‘opium of the ma
powerful institutions like Government (the Guardian Ownership + false class consciousness (F
independently reported on issues like corporate tax control of media: Fallacy of choice
evasion) Pluralist theory → Marxists argue audience man
will when choosing due to tar
algorithms (variety just creat
→ Barnett & Weymour - Over 4
compared to 3 in 1970 but ma
same format (talent/dating)
Diversity of perspectives represented → Shows like Friends still frequ
→ Limited by advertising restra
Magazine displayed plus-size
Dismiss idea that media moguls/ press barons control threatened to withdraw contr
media content → journalists + editors are → Digital media platforms (Face
professionals with autonomy + ethics who would not of content by celebrities + pe
allow to be manipulated by owners (like suggested by followers (minority voices hi
Marxists) Hidden bias + reliability
→ neo-pluralists like Davies (20
→ Owners preoccupied with many products even journalists to be neutral/relia
globally to be personally checking every piece lots of output could lack fact-
→ Citizen journalism not fact ch
published (freedom to shape content) Consumer choice → Owners have power to hire jo
→ Whale (1997) competition is healthy because same views + influence medi
consumers able to choose from range of views → Suggest media is demand-led + audience control media → Sutton Trust (2016) found 50%
→ Due to vast range of forms of media to access content/agenda (lots of choice in what to consume with diversity of UK were privately educated (
audience can select what they want so determine middle/upper class, conserva
viewpoints especially with new media)
→ Echo chambers
success/failure of product → For example: reports to IPSO about page 3 in The Sun + ‘No more - Selective exposure (tend to s
→ See this as important part of mass media in page 3 campaign’ = less frequent confirms existing beliefs)
modern liberal democracy (most voters get → In free media market companies must meet demands of consumers = - Algorithmic filtering (social m
knowledge from mass media so crucial it doesn’t they have control over which media to consume + pick n mix (active search engines recommend
behaviour = shown similar vi
manipulate/indoctrinate them) choosers exerting real control) existing beliefs)
Vertical integration Communication that reaches large audience: Concentration of media organisations (Willia
• Company owns all aspects of industry to maximize • Digital media (internet/MP3 players/game consoles) 5 billionaires (all old white men) own 80% of
profit (e.g film studio, cinema, streaming services, • Print media (newspapers/magazines)
theme park, merch) • Broadcast media (Audio-visual → TV/DVD/cinema/music) 1. Rupert Murdoch (owner of News International))
• Disney owns studios (Pixar), distribution channels 2. Richard Desmond (used to be owner of the Expres
(Disney+), merch (Disney store) + theme park 3. Viscount Rothermere (owner of the Mail)
(Disneyland) How do moguls make money? 4. Barclay Brothers (owners of the Telegraph)
Commercial broadcasting mainly funded through
Horizontal Integration advertisements (advertisers pay to promote products + • Could argue new media moguls like Musk + Zuckerb
• Company acquires different media formats sponsor programmes to show logo) • Even regional newspapers owned by few newspape
(newspaper/TV/podcast) run independently (Reach PLC own 240 like Liverpo
• News Corp owns newspapers (the Sun), TV channels Public service broadcasters (BBC/PBS) are paid for by Gov • In UK 2017 – 10 companies received 70% revenue fro
(Star TV – largest satellite in Asia) + streaming + fee-paying public • Curran (2003) – in 1937 4 men owned half all newsp
platforms (Tubi) • BBC services used by 90% of UK adults • Bagdikian (2004) in USA control went from 50 in 198
• TV license 2024 costs £159/year + free for over-75’s monopoly)
Media convergence • Aim to provide unbiased democratic coverage (BBC
• Media companies join others to offer criticized for apparent bias of political groups Other key players:
product/service • BBC launched ‘BBC Launchpad’ initiative to help → Sky, ITV, Channel 5
• Microsoft Windows operating system used in underrepresented groups enter industry → Disney (may soon own FOX)
Samsung phones • BBC NewsWatch (accountability to keep public trust) → Online communication (Facebook + YouTube- owned
• BBC under Royal Charter (framework that ensures they
Diversification operate in public interest) Possible to overstate power of private media moguls a
• Media company branches out into non-media falling rapidly (10% drop from 2022-2023)
• Virgin into trains + insurance Ownership +
control of media: Classic example of media mogul:
Global conglomerates RUPERT MURDOCH
• Company with many businesses internationally
Trends Owns (reaches 66% of English-speaking world):
• News Corp has newspapers in US, UK + Australia • Wall Street Journal
• News of the world (best selling newspaper
Synergy in UK until 2011 phone-hacking scandal)
• Media company sells primary product (film) + • The Sun (tabloid)
secondary products associated with it • News Corp
(games,soundtracks,toys) • Hulu
• Also, media companies produce product + Significant relations:
advertises through own means (The Sun advertises • Republican party (FOX news support Trump’s candid
Sky – both owned by News Corp) 2015-2020 → 70% viewers republican)
• The Sun influences conservative win in 1992 (“It’s Th
Technological convergence • The Sun then helped agenda setting to support Blair
• Several tech/ media forms put into 1 device 1997 election (landslide victory)
• Smartphones can access radio/ TV/ internet
, Formal controls on Media Ofcom Government
• Freedom of press is essential in Established in 2003 as media regulator • Official gov press conferences w
democratic society their views on contemporary is
• Censorship seen as sign of dictatorship Responsible for: • Boris Johnson press conferenc
• Furthering interests of consumers frame narrative as good opport
+ authoritarianism
• Ensuring wide range of networks available with broad appeal potential risks
North Korea
• Protect public from offensive/harmful effects of broadcast
- Gov has complete monopoly over all media
media • Leaks – informal briefing of jou
- Restricted access to internet Example: which gov manages what is rep
- Cultural homogeny that aligns with In 2021 investigated ITV ‘This Morning’ segment where doctor (don’t quote named sources + jo
state ideology + propaganda made unverified claims on COVID-19 treatments give favorable exposure of gov
(misinformation) given preferential treatment in
But UK still has restrictions on content… privileged access to gov source
• During investigation into Bill Cli
Ownership + relationship with Monica Lewin
Laws control of White House officials conducted
• Laws of Libel (forbid publication of untrue media: Formal briefings with journalists to ma
statements about person) controls the scandal.
• Official secrets act (criminal offence to
report without permission gov activity
defined as official secret) • Government spin doctors who m
• Racial + religious hatred act (2006) by providing favourable slant to
• Obscene publications act (1995) controversial news/ bury bad n
• Broadcasting Act 1990 (Thatcher – bad gov news at same time as s
prevents monopolies by not allowing 1 • Alastair Campbell was director
company to own over 15% of national TV communications for Tony Blair
audience) (managed communication abou
Example:
News of the World phone hacking scandal • Filtering + surveillance softwar
(2011) internet sites
• Journalists illegally accessed voicemails • E.g. US government attacked W
of celebs, victims of crime + politicians Assange for whistleblowers to
• Led to closure of newspaper, resignation leak classified information → co
of high-profile executives + public enquiry with US restricted access
into ethics (Leveson)
, Criticism
Accountability + Public interest Functionalist view of concentration
Increased choice could have affe
→ Curran et al (2009) did conten
→ Citizen journalism + self-publishing allows for Not overly concerned with concentration of media ownership (not Denmark and found that all fo
minority voices to challenge mainstream narratives sinister ideological plot but rational economics in capitalist society) been ‘dumbed down’ to attrac
of social issues (BLM and #MeToo) (tabloidization)
→ Media companies are held to account for unethical → forming conglomerates, integration + globalisation of companies → E.g. instead of diverse conten
documentaries reality shows
practices (Leveson enquiry for phone hacking facilitates greater profits to appeal to ‘lowest common
scandal by News of the world 2011) profit + clickbait)
→ Media seen as ‘fourth estate’ or watchdog over → This acts as ‘opium of the ma
powerful institutions like Government (the Guardian Ownership + false class consciousness (F
independently reported on issues like corporate tax control of media: Fallacy of choice
evasion) Pluralist theory → Marxists argue audience man
will when choosing due to tar
algorithms (variety just creat
→ Barnett & Weymour - Over 4
compared to 3 in 1970 but ma
same format (talent/dating)
Diversity of perspectives represented → Shows like Friends still frequ
→ Limited by advertising restra
Magazine displayed plus-size
Dismiss idea that media moguls/ press barons control threatened to withdraw contr
media content → journalists + editors are → Digital media platforms (Face
professionals with autonomy + ethics who would not of content by celebrities + pe
allow to be manipulated by owners (like suggested by followers (minority voices hi
Marxists) Hidden bias + reliability
→ neo-pluralists like Davies (20
→ Owners preoccupied with many products even journalists to be neutral/relia
globally to be personally checking every piece lots of output could lack fact-
→ Citizen journalism not fact ch
published (freedom to shape content) Consumer choice → Owners have power to hire jo
→ Whale (1997) competition is healthy because same views + influence medi
consumers able to choose from range of views → Suggest media is demand-led + audience control media → Sutton Trust (2016) found 50%
→ Due to vast range of forms of media to access content/agenda (lots of choice in what to consume with diversity of UK were privately educated (
audience can select what they want so determine middle/upper class, conserva
viewpoints especially with new media)
→ Echo chambers
success/failure of product → For example: reports to IPSO about page 3 in The Sun + ‘No more - Selective exposure (tend to s
→ See this as important part of mass media in page 3 campaign’ = less frequent confirms existing beliefs)
modern liberal democracy (most voters get → In free media market companies must meet demands of consumers = - Algorithmic filtering (social m
knowledge from mass media so crucial it doesn’t they have control over which media to consume + pick n mix (active search engines recommend
behaviour = shown similar vi
manipulate/indoctrinate them) choosers exerting real control) existing beliefs)
