"Diversity is in the public interest- but modern societies suffer from collective attention deficit disorders...the public interest has to work harder to be noticed, and we need agile but resourceful media to do that"
MONOPOLY the exclusive ownership or control of something
Rupert Murdoch - owns a lot of UK newspapers (e.g. The Times, The Sun), Australian-born but American
CONGLOMERATE a large corporation consisting of multiple smaller companies/subsidiaries (e.g. News Corporation)
SUBSIDIARY a smaller company owned by a large corporation
Advantages of forming a monopoly;
- to remove competition (make more money)
- audience manipulation
- extends their range of political and business connections (C and S)
- increases prestige (C and S)
An issue with a conglomerate owning media companies in different industries means a lack of diversity.
If the focus is on creating profit, generally conglomerates don't take risks with the media products they produce, leading to limited variety, creativity and quality
"anti-monopoly media regulation is needed, not only to maintain fair competition, but also to prevent the distortion of democracy"
Alternatives to conglomeration;
- partnership
- limit on number of subsidiaries
- boycott
- make our own media
"media policy should seek to create the conditions of greatest possible competition, thus enabling consumers to exercise sovereign control. This produces media that people want, a wide range of choice, and media independence from government"
INDEPENDANT PRODUCER free from outside control
independants offer something different to conglomerates
INSTITUTION a media industry with its own identity
POWER AND MEDIA INDUSTRIES - CURRAN AND SEATON
the media is controlled by a small number of companies primarily driven by the logic of profit and denomination
REGULATION - SONIA LIVINGSTONE AND PETER LUNT
transformations in the production, distribution and marketing of digital media, have placed traditional approaches to media restrictions and risks
CULTURAL INDUSTRIES - DAVID HESMONDHALGH
companies try to minimalise risk and maximise audiences through vertical and horizontal integration
