Chapter 8 – Media power Week 5 - Media and Power
Long et. Al., Chapter 8, p361-388
Con ceptualising p ower
Conceptualising power
Power = the ability to determine the actions of others and our own actions
- dominant individuals/groups = those who hold and exercise power
- subordinate individuals/groups = those over whom power is exercised
- Two related aspects to power:
- the power of control = ability to determine the actions of others
- the power of self-determination = having liberty in the exercise of power, or from obligations
from those in power
- Two main ways in which power is exercised
1. through physical force = using violence (often the threat is enough)
2. through the force of ideas = the most successful support to those who want power, is when
a subordinate group accepts their subjugation, believing it to be natural. (monarchs that were
divinely appointed)
- the more (obvious) exercise of power, the more likely it is to be resisted
Locating power
- traditionally: a small amount of powerful people at the top of the social heap, and a large number of
subordinate people below
- class = a way of categorizing social groups according to hierarchies of wealth, occupation, taste, and
culture
- the lower classes always outnumber the rich and powerful -> discontent -> attempts to throw
off oppression (French revolution) -> theories such as democracy and socialism.
- class politics were about workers and owners -> now it is more about levels of ownership,
display, and cultural differences
- besides classes, also power differences between men and women, and people of a different ethnicity
- Formal power: government and their agencies.
- the state is a collection of agencies that have power within all areas of a country
- primary agencies: police, the army, legal system
- secondary agencies: education, health provision, social security
Media and power
Media and power
- three types of media power
1. powerful media: emotional, psychological, and its affecting behavior. Strongest influence is
on individuals. (e.g.: viewing TV is bad for you) -> arguments that the media content should
be controlled
2. powerful people through media: those who control media organisations have undue political
and social influence (e.g.: editorial bias in newspapers)
SUMMARY | Media Studies (Long et. Al.)
Long et. Al., Chapter 8, p361-388
Con ceptualising p ower
Conceptualising power
Power = the ability to determine the actions of others and our own actions
- dominant individuals/groups = those who hold and exercise power
- subordinate individuals/groups = those over whom power is exercised
- Two related aspects to power:
- the power of control = ability to determine the actions of others
- the power of self-determination = having liberty in the exercise of power, or from obligations
from those in power
- Two main ways in which power is exercised
1. through physical force = using violence (often the threat is enough)
2. through the force of ideas = the most successful support to those who want power, is when
a subordinate group accepts their subjugation, believing it to be natural. (monarchs that were
divinely appointed)
- the more (obvious) exercise of power, the more likely it is to be resisted
Locating power
- traditionally: a small amount of powerful people at the top of the social heap, and a large number of
subordinate people below
- class = a way of categorizing social groups according to hierarchies of wealth, occupation, taste, and
culture
- the lower classes always outnumber the rich and powerful -> discontent -> attempts to throw
off oppression (French revolution) -> theories such as democracy and socialism.
- class politics were about workers and owners -> now it is more about levels of ownership,
display, and cultural differences
- besides classes, also power differences between men and women, and people of a different ethnicity
- Formal power: government and their agencies.
- the state is a collection of agencies that have power within all areas of a country
- primary agencies: police, the army, legal system
- secondary agencies: education, health provision, social security
Media and power
Media and power
- three types of media power
1. powerful media: emotional, psychological, and its affecting behavior. Strongest influence is
on individuals. (e.g.: viewing TV is bad for you) -> arguments that the media content should
be controlled
2. powerful people through media: those who control media organisations have undue political
and social influence (e.g.: editorial bias in newspapers)
SUMMARY | Media Studies (Long et. Al.)
