A2 Sociology: Mass Media

L.O: 1. To be able to define the media

2. To be able to name the three different types of media organisation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rEmAuRZhAk

What is the mass media?

• In pairs or small groups, answer the following:

–What do you think mass media means?

– How often do you use the mass media?

– Do you think the mass media is a good thing or a bad thing?

Mass Media

Mass media is communication—whether written, broadcast, or spoken—that reaches a large audience. This includes television, radio,

advertising, movies, the Internet, newspapers, magazines, and so forth.

This definition indentifies 3 key aspects of the mass media.

• The production of messages by media institutions.

• The content of media messages

• The reception of messages by audience.

L.O: 2. To be able to name the three

different types of media organisation.

Media organisations 1. Community based media

2. Public/State owned media

3. Privately owned media

Which of these three do you think are most significant in society?

Ownership and controlSome sociologists have expressed

concern about recent trends in ownership and control. On the

surface the number of media outlets available to the general public has

increased dramatically.

• Quick task: In the 1980s there was only four main terrestrial channels.

• TV Boxes – in each square write the name of a TV channel. When told pass your sheet to the next

person in your group. Keep adding till I tell you to

stop!

Choice???

• This increase indicates that there is more choice now than ever. In your groups discuss whether you believe this to be the case.

• Once you have decided on either YES (there is more choice) OR NO (the choice isn’t as great as you would think) try to come up with evidence to support your groups view.

i.e. YES because... OR NO because.....

KEY TERM!!

Concentration of Media Organisations:

Write your definition

• There has been an increased concentration of ownership into a few giant media corporations.

Corporation

A business firm which is granted separate legal

entity from its members

In 1983, 50 corporations controlled the vast majority of all media in the USA. However, in 1992, 22 companies owned and operated 90% of the media.

The UK magazine market is dominated by TWO major companies. 27 million adults read magazines by IPC

• Marie Claire, Woman, Nuts, Country Life, What’s on TV, Elle, FHM – all owned by IPC – part of Time Warner

News Corporation, often abbreviated to News Corp., is the world's third-largest media conglomerate (behind The Walt Disney Company and Time Warner) as of 2008, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009.[The company's Chairman & Chief Executive Officer is Rupert Murdoch.

Time Warner, with major operations in film, television and publishing. Among its subsidiaries are New Line Cinema, Time Inc., HBO, Turner Broadcasting System, The CW Television Network, TheWB.com, Warner Bros., Kids' WB, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim, CNN, DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, Cartoon Network Studios and Castle Rock Entertainment