Ownership and control of the media

Who owns and controls the media? Does it even matter? And if it does, what can be done about it? Can we do anything as consumers? Can the government?

Why does it matter?

Looking back over last week's notes on the function and scope of the media, take a few minutes to think about why ownership and control of the media matters. Who do you think controls the media in the UK?

 

Concentration or diversification?

While much of the trend in print media in recent years has been towards larger media businesses buying up smaller, family-owned titles, there has also been a diversification in other areas of the media. In broadcasting, for example, there are far more companies in the field than there were 50 years ago.

But more channels doesn't necessarily mean more choice - in the USA, for example, one company owns 175 different radio stations.

 

Types of concentration

Biagi (1999) identifies four types of media concentration:

  1. Concentration of ownership within one industry (e.g. a chain of newspapers)
  2. Cross-media ownership (a company owning more than one type of medium, e.g. newspaper and television interests)
  3. Conglomerate ownership (a company with media interests as well as other business interests)
  4. Vertical integration (companies owning different levels of the same industry, e.g. production and distribution)

 

 

Take a few minutes to read the additional handout on 'The Next Corporate Media Order' about the 'big six' media companies.

Working in pairs or small groups, discuss the pros and cons of concentration. Are there any advantages to concentration? What concerns might there be?

 

Some of the players:

AOL-Time Warner

Formed in a $350 billion deal between America Online (internet provider) and Time Warner (owned CNN news station, plus other TV companies, Time magazine, other magazine companies and Warner Bros films).

Steve Case, the founder of AOL, said:

"This is an historic moment in which the new media has truly come of age. By joining forces with Time Warner, we will fundamentally change the way people get information, communicate with others, buy products and are entertained"

George Monbiot, anti-globalisation writer/campaigner, said:

"The Time Warner-AOL consolidation could mark the beginning of the end not only of the residual freedoms of a consolidating press, but also of a brief but glorious flowering of internet democracy."

Source: Guardian Media Guide 2001

 

How do these quotes reflect the pros and cons your group discussed? Are there additional factors raised by Case or Monbiot?

 

Media Conglomerates - an example

 

News Corporation

source: Corporate Watch