The Political Economy of the Media

1
The Political Economy of the Media

• Eric Ma Kit Wai
• Associate Professor
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong

2
Pluralist vs Marxist Perspective
3
Media Social Control

• Manipulative Model
• by those who own and control the media
• the control is conscious

4
Media Social Control

• Hegemonic Model
• Hegemony the dominance in society of one set
  of ideas
• owner, journalists, editors all have a share in
  the manipulation
• bias is unconscious

5
Media Social Control

• Pluralist Model
• the nature of bias is determined by audience
  choice (or market)
• a plurality of media outlets can undo bias

6
Media Firm
Discovery Creation
Selection
Reporting Representing
Cultural Context
7
Social Functions of the Media

• Informing, information diffusion
• Warning
• Monitoring
• Educating
• Socializing, conversational currency, parasocial
  relation
• Entertaining, relaxation
• Diversion, catharsis
• Linking, articulating

8
Social Functions of the Media

• Valorizing, status conferring, stigmatizing
• Normalizing
• Framing
• Legitimating power
• Agenda setting
• Attitude change
• Emotive categorization
• Behavioral change