Intro to The Media & Media theory Flashcards
What is ‘traditional media’ – use examples.
The traditional media is mass media that communicated uniform messages in a one-way, non-interactive process to very large mass audiences which are assumed to be homogeneous.
E.g. terrestrial TV channels, BBC radios, mass-circulation national and Sunday newspapers.
What is ‘new media’ – use examples.
The new media is interactive, screen based, digital technology involving the integration of images, text and sound and to the technology used for the distribution and consumption of the new digitised media content which has emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
E.g. computers & the internet, e-books, digital cable & satellite TV, digiboxes and DVD recorders enabling customised individual TV viewing with hundreds of television programmes.
Define social networking
Social networks are friends and contacts online who use social media to share and exchange pictures, videos, news and other information - these can have been created by them or by somebody else.
Who are Ofcom and what are they responsible for?
Ofcom are a powerful media regulator established in 2003 who have the responsibilities across TV, radio, telecommunications and wireless communication services
Their responsibilities are:
- Furthering the interests of consumers
- Securing the best use of the radio spectrum
- Ensuring that a wide range of TV, radio, electronic media and communications networks are available in the UK, with high quality services having a broad appeal
- Protecting the public from any offensive of potentially harmful effects of broadcast media and safeguarding people from being unfairly treated in TV and radio programmes
Who are IPSO? Why were they set up?
IPSO are the Independent Press Standards Organisation and are an independent regulator for the newspaper and magazine industry in the UK.
They were set up in September 204 b the newspaper industry itself to replace the former PCC (Press Complaints Commission) which was discredited following its inadequate response to journalists hacking into people’s mobile phones, which led to the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practise and ethics of the press in 2011-12.
Who Funds the BBC? Who controls it? How is it regulated
The BBC is funded by the state through the television licence fee, plus income from a series of private spin-off companies which top up the licence fee income with substantial profits.
It is partly regulated by Ofcom and partly by The Trust and financed through TV licence fees plus income from private companies which it is associated with (Licence fees are where most of the income is from)
The state can then have some control over the BBC by refusing to increase the license, limiting what the BBC can do
Although the BBC is dependent on advertising for its income like other channels, it still has to be appealing and attract large audiences to justify the licence fee.
Legal restriction: What is the Official Secrets Act?
it is a criminal offence to report without authorisation any official government activity which the government defines as an “official secret”
Stops spying within government
Protect national secrets that the country has (commercial and military)
Legal restriction: What is the Racial and Religious Hatred Act (2006) and the Equality Act (2010)?
forbids the expression of opinions which will encouraged hatredor discrimination agaisnt people because of their ethnic group or religious beliefs
Legal restiction: What is the Obscene Publications Act (1959)?
forbids the publication of anything that a court considers to be obscene and indecent, and likely to “deprave and corrupt” persons who are likely to read, see or hear it.
What was the Leveson Inquiry?
It was established in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal at the now-defunct News of the World tabloid. It looked at the relationship between the press and the public, including phone-hacking and other potentially illegal behaviour, and at the relationships between the press and the police and the press and politicians.
Legal restriction: What are DSMA notices?
Defence and Security Media Advisory Notices (DSMA-notices) are issued to journalists by the government so they don’t report defence and counter terrorist information which could be damaging to national security.
Legal restriction: What is the Contempt of Court?
Contempt of Court forbids the reporting, expression of opinion or publication of material about cases which are in the process of being dealt with in a court of law
This is because it could jeopardize or prejudice a fair trial
Legal restriction: What is the Laws of Libel
Forbids the publication of an untrue statement about a person which might bring him or her into comtempt, ridicule, dislike or hostility in society
How governments influence and control the media: Press conferences & official briefings
As we saw in the previous video, the government hold official press conferences and briefings with journalists which show the official government position on contemporary and/or controversial issues.
By doing this they are hoping to get the official line presented in the media. cf. “spin doctor”
How governments influence and control the media: Leaking information
Governments can also leak information or hold off-the-record briefings with journalists
This is to try to manage, if not manipulate what is reported in the news
When it is reported, it would be clear that it is from the government ‘sources close to the government say’…
Journalists who give favourable exposure are most likely to get preferential treatment in the future!
Usually to discredit a political opponent
How governments influence and control the media: manipulating the news agenda - the spin doctor
Government spin doctors try to manipulate, or “spin” (positively) the media & its reporting by providing a favourable slant to potentially unpopular or controversial news items (e.g. tax increases or a resignation) or to boast about positive news (e.g. increased economic growth)
They may also attempt to bury “bad” news for the govt by releasing other news that presents the government in a less bad light at the same time
How governments influence and control the media: more means to “manage” news reporting
Or by releasing this information when the media are distracted by a more sensational story
Or releasing it during a holiday period when journalists and media audiences are on holiday so that negative news receives barely any attention.
How governments influence and control the media: Broadcast licensing powers
To provide a commercial television services in the UK, a company needs to apply for a broadcast license from Ofcom
Services which are seen to be unsuitable or unfit will be refused licenses
The danger is that the government would be accused of censorship and restricting political debate
How governments influence and control the media: Surveillance
A new law in the UK was passed in 2014 allowing police and security services to scrutinize the public’s email and social media communications
This could affect people’s willingness to communicate freely without fear of repercussions - this is more likely to happen in autocratic governments where state surveillance is used to crush, or to “eliminate” opposition to the government. Think China, N Korea.
What is a media conglomerate?
A media conglomerate, media group, or media institution is a company that owns numerous companies involved in mass media enterprises, such as television, radio, publishing, motion pictures, theme parks, or the Internet.
Features of media ownership: Concentration of ownership
It’s important to note that concentration of ownership is an ongoing process as the details of who owns what is continually changing
companies merge and others take over which provides a stronger financial base for competition in the global market
Features of media ownership: Vertical integration
Vertical integration is a strategy whereby a company owns or controls its suppliers, distributors, or retail locations to control its value or supply chain. Vertical integration benefits companies by allowing them to control the process, reduce costs, and improve efficiencies.
Features of media ownership: Horizontal integration
Where media companies buy up other media companies in order to grow and expand
Disney just brough 21st century fox, a film studio brought another film studio
Bigger and more powerful than they are more likely to be able to have an influence on the way people think (Murdoch has a huge media empire along with sky and fox - power of owning content buys him influence)
Features of media ownership: Global ownership
As simple as it sounds, this is where media ownership concentration has to be seen as an international phenomenon - the owners have media empires across the globe, integrated horizontally and/or vertically.
