Who owns the media? Why does it matter?

What types of written media can you think of..?

Newspapers (what types, or genres?) Magazines (what types, or genres?) Websites, blogs, social media (?) Leaflets/Flyers Advertising copy (Advertorial)

History of Newspapers Claxton Printing Press 1476 (Papers such as The Observer and The Times launched in late 1700s) Industrial Revolution 1850s - Daily Printing possible

Types of Newspapers (outdated) Tabloid "Red Tops" Sensationalist Page 3? Short words Short sentences Word searches Advertising: Cash for Gold etc. Broadsheet Serious Long words Long sentences Cryptic Crosswords Advertising: Luxury Holidays etc.

Politics (a stereotypical guide) Left wing: Socialism and equality Minority rights Economic restrictions Change (Republicanism) High taxes Social welfare system Public ownership Pacifist Extreme: Totalitarian communism Right wing: Economic freedom Law and order Tight border controls Tradition (The Monarchy) Low taxes Personal responsibility Privitisation Interventionist Extreme: Fascism

What are your politics?

Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) Associated Newspapers run The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Metro newspapers DMGT also have shares in ITN, various radio stations and websites Daily Mail founded Bought by Lord Rothermere in 1922 who had fascist sympathies and links to Hitler. Traditionally a right wing newspaper

Northern & Shell Owned by Richard Desmond The Express Newspapers, Daily Star Ok! New! magazines Channel 5 TV also Television X, Red Hot TV formally owned Penthouse group (inc. Asian Babes) Traditionally right wing, supportive of Conservative Party

News Corp News International - The Sun, News of the World*, The Times Majority stakeholder in BSkyB* Owner of 20th Century Fox film studio and numerous international television stations, newspapers and magazines. Owner of MySpace (until recently) Traditionally right wing and supportive of Conservative Party, but supported Tony Blair's Labour Party

Alexander Lebedev Russian Billionaire has recently bought The Evening Standard (from DMGT) and The Independent (for £1 each) Recently started publishing i

Others Traditionally left wing (support Labour) Guardian Media Group - Guardian, Observer (other media interests) Mirror Group - Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, The People Right wing (support Conservatives) Telegraph Group - Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, The Scotsman, The Spectator magazine

Phone Hacking Scandal 2011 News corporation (Rupert Murdoch) was forced to shut down the most popular Sunday Newspaper,The News of the World, this summer because of phone hacking. Why do you think this was such a problem? world-phone-hacking-nick-davies-rupert-murdoch-video Under what circumstances (if any) do you think hacking would be justifiable?

Debate Proposal: The law should be much tougher on journalists who break ethical codes and invade peoples privacy. In 2 groups you will think of arguments either in favour of or against the proposal. You will elect a spokesperson who will speak for 2 minutes on your behalf. Once the speeches are complete the rest of the group will be allowed to speak one at a time

Media Theory Do we passively consume newspapers or actively engage with them?

Hypodermic Needle Model

Hypodermic Needle Model A 'myth' that began in the early 20th Century, with the rise of 'Mass Media' Linked to propaganda

Task How relevant do you think the Hypodermic Needle Model is today? Think of 5 specific examples of how the media have directly affected your own, or another person's behaviour. e.g Watching a news story about farming made you stop eating meat.

Uses and Gratifications Theory Established in the 1940s with the rise of Television Key early theorist Harold Lasswell (1948)

Lasswell's Media surveillance correlation entertainment cultural transmission

Uses and Gratifications Focuses on 'WHY' audiences might use the mass media NOT 'What the media does to us' BUT 'What we do with the media'

Denis McQuail Mass Communication Theory: An Introduction 1987 What are the common reasons for media use?

Information o finding out about relevant events and conditions in immediate surroundings, society and the world o seeking advice on practical matters or opinion and decision choices o satisfying curiosity and general interest o learning; self-education o gaining a sense of security through knowledge

Personal Identity o finding reinforcement for personal values o finding models of behaviour o identifying with valued other (in the media) o gaining insight into one's self

Integration and Social Interaction o gaining insight into circumstances of others; social empathy o identifying with others and gaining a sense of belonging o finding a basis for conversation and social interaction o having a substitute for real-life companionship o helping to carry out social roles o enabling one to connect with family, friends and society

Entertainment o escaping, or being diverted, from problems o relaxing o getting intrinsic cultural or aesthetic enjoyment o filling time o emotional release o sexual arousal

Task For each of the two stories: What, if any, is the political bias? Do you think the story has been effected by the newspapers ownership? How? What newspaper (style and title) do you think the articles come from? Do you respond to the article actively or passively? What could the uses and gratifications of the article be?

Presentation Find a news story from a DMGT and/or Guardian Media Group website. Show this story to the class and point out any political bias you can spot. Also discuss what the uses and gratifications of the text might be. Put this information on a powerpoint and present to the class for minutes.