Marxist Theory of Media Ownership and Control
- Created by: Emma
- Created on: 24-04-14 09:17
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- Marxist Theory of Media Ownership and Control
- Role of Ideology
- Capitalist classes use ideology to make sure the working class accept capitalism.
- Ruling classes use the dominant institutions like the media to convey ideology.
- They convince the working class of the benefits of capitalism.
- 'False class-consciousness' the working believe that the capitalist system is fair.
- The Media and Ideology
- Media owners transmit conservative and conformist ideology through news and entertainment.
- MILIBAND (1973) the role of the media is to shape how we think about the world we live in.
- We are rarely informed about important issues such as why people contuine to live in poverty.
- Owners ensure that we only get a narrow range of 'approved' views and knowledge.
- The media will transmit ruling class ideology because the owners are from the ruling class.
- TURNSTALL & PALMER (1991)suggest that governments are no longer interested in controlling media activities but will arrange 'regulatory favours' in exchange for positive press exposure.
- Evidence of Ideology CURRAN (2003)
- SILVIO BERLUSCONI
- owns 3 TV stations
- his shares in the media helped him win the general election in 1994
- There are four distinct periods of owner intervention.
- 1920's - 1950's
- The rise of 'press barons'
- Lord Beaverbrook and Northcliffe excerised control over the content and layout of their papers.
- Papers on this time "strengthen conservative prejudices of their readers".
- 1951 - 1974
- Pluralist phrase of reporting
- Investigative reporting appeared.
- A group consensus appeared between editors and journalists.
- 1974 - 1992
- A new type of interventionist proprietorship appeared.
- Rupert Murdock
- Murdock introduced a perrsonalised style of management.
- Murdock handpicked compliant editors.
- 1997 to the present day
- 'Global conservatism'
- The Pluralist view of media owners not intervening with media content is evidently false as Curran's evidence shows.
- There is little evidence eto support the Marxist idea that there is a deliberate capitalist conpiracy to subvert working-class consciousness.
- CURRAN suggests that owners are motivated by economics rather than capitalist ideology.
- CURRAN'S findings fit with findings of the Glasgow University Media Group (GUMG)
- SILVIO BERLUSCONI
- The Manipulative/ Instrumental Approach
- MILIBAND
- Traditional Marxist Approach
- Ownerships is in the hands of a few media corporations
- The media output serves the ruling-class
- The ruling class can manipulate media content in its own interests
- Owners have direct control over media content
- They use it to spread ideas that justify the ruling-class power.
- Media managers do not have much choice or power
- Journalists support the interests of the owners.
- The audience is assumed to be passive.
- Strenghts
- There is evdience to support the approach.
- Media owners do control the content of the media.
- Ownership is highly unconcentrated
- Jounalists depend on owners for their careers
- Weaknesses
- Pluralists would argue that there is a wide range of opinions in the media.
- The state regulates media ownership so one company does not have too much influence.
- Audiences are not easily manipulated.
- The Hegemonic Approach
- Neo-Marxist Approach
- Spreading ideology to legitimise ruling-class power
- Journalists manipulate media content.
- Hegemony
- Dominant class ideology becomes the everyday common sense.
- Owners of the media rarely have direct control on media content
- Journalists support dominant ideology
- The audience is exposed to a limited range of views.
- Strenghts
- Owners are often not involved in the day-to-day runnings of their businesses.
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- Role of Ideology
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