Media Problems

1
Media Problems

• Media production broadcasting of radio,
  television, motion pictures, movie theatres,
  music companies, newspaper, magazines, books
  internet services that influence people
  cultures worldwide
• The average US person spends ½ of their awake
  time in some media related activity, more than
  any other activity

2
Media Problems

• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_wide_web
• Media concentration refers to the tendency of the
  media industries to cluster together in groups
  with the goal of enhancing profitability
• See figure 14.1 on page 308

3
Media Problems

• Corporate megamergers have the changed the media
  in these ways
• Concentration of ownership within one industry
  10 chains represent more than 51 of the
  newspapers in the US
• Cross-media ownership media companies own more
  than one type of media property

4
Media Problems

• Conglomerate ownership a single corporation
  owns companies that operate in different business
  sectors. GE owns NBC Television Network
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conglomerate_28comp
  any29
• Vertical integration the corporations control
  the media content

5
Media Problems

• The media industry makes - see table 14.2 on
  page 310
• As of 2006, the cost of a 30-second commercial on
  average is 2.5 million for the Super Bowl now
  a cultural phenomena
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol

6
Media Problems

• Six major media conglomerates worldwide
• AOL Time Warner
• Sony
• Viacom
• Disney
• Bertelsmann
• News Corporation http//www.newscorp.com/

7
Media Problems

• Framing the manner in which news content its
  accompanying visual images are linked together to
  create certain audience perception give
  specific impressions to viewers readers (this
  is sometime called spin) http//www.billoreilly.
  com/http//www.billoreilly.com/
• http//www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_vlent.shtm
  l

8
Media Problems

• Cathartic effect hypothesis media offer a
  vicarious outlet for feelings of aggression may
  reduce the amount of violence

9
Media Problems

• Racial/ethnic stereotyping in the media
• Perpetuating images that appear to be positive in
  nature flattering (model minority)
• Exaggerating the physical appearance or
  suggesting that people look alike
• Creating characters who have undesirable
  attributes/attitudes
• Using statements images that link groups to
  illegal actions

10
Media Problems

• Gender stereotyping
• Connecting gender age bias older men
  younger women are linked together
• Perpetuating traditional roles
• Maintaining cultural stereotypes of feminism
• Impulsive conduct by women holding professional
  positions (sex the city)

11
Media Problems

• Women in positions of power abusing their
  positions http//www.judgejudy.com/home/home.asp
  
• Women overwhelmed by their work unable to
  competently handle work, family, marriage being
  forced to make choices

12
Media Problems

• Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
• Hypodermic needle theory people are passive
  equally susceptible
• Theory of limited effects media has minimal
  effects on the attitudes perceptions of
  individuals

13
Media Problems

• Use gratification theory making conscious
  decisions about what to entertain themselves with
  but are aware that media has limitations
• Social learning theory people are likely to act
  out the behavior they see in role models media
  sources http//www.youtube.com/watch?vRy5_cVcZxZw
  

14
Media Problems

• Audience relations approach people use their
  own cultural understandings to interpret what
  they hear see in the media

15
Media Problems

• Functionalist perspective
• Media provide news information
• Media facilitates public discourse regarding
  social issues policies
• Media passes on cultural traditions and
  historical perspectives
• Media is a source of entertainment
• Media confers status on people/groups

16
Media Problems

• Functionalists believe that the media is
  dysfunctional when they contribute to a reduction
  in social stability or weaken social institutions

17
Media Problems

• Conflict perspective
• The capitalist class owns controls the media
  with the purpose of instructing people in the
  values, beliefs attitudes that they should have
• Hegemony theory the media is used for social
  control by the ruling class to create false
  consciousness in the working class (the idea of
  feeling in control when not)