Press and Broadcasting in the UK

Press and Broadcasting in the UK - glossary for LO1

Conglomerates	Large, multinational companies with business operations in several countries. Have cross-media interests (e.g. television and newspapers) and non-media interests (e.g. sports clubs, theme parks) which they may own outright or hold blocks of shares in. Examples: AOL-Time Warner, News Corporation. You should be familiar with at least one media conglomerate before the assessment.

New technology	Usually refers to the internet and electronic media - you may also wish to refer to developments like digital TV and radio.

Globalisation	Several strands to this concept in relation to the media: role of multinational companies in ownership and control of the media/economic factors content of the media/cultural factors (US/Western culture dominates, more TV shows exported internationally, marginalising local cultures)

Consumption patterns	The number of newspapers we buy, which TV stations we watch, how many hours we spend watching them, etc (see separate handout)

Concentration	Fewer companies/individuals owning more of the media, which may result in a reduction/narrowing of output

Diversification	Increasing output in some aspects of the media (e.g. huge range of satellite/cable/digital channels compared to three terrestrial TV channels 20 years ago)