Carolyn M. Byerly Howard University, USA WOMEN & MEDIA CONGLOMERATION: FEMINISM’S NEXT FRONTIER

Women’s right to communicate Guaranteed by Article 19 of UN Declaration of Human Rights Is blocked by women’s access to media through conglomeration: Consolidated ownership shrinks job market Women hold few positions on boards or other decision making Content continues to marginalize women and feminist ideas

Men’s power Men have consolidated their economic and political power through media conglomeration. Telecommunications is the second greatest revenue-generating industry in the world.

Media conglomeration concentrates wealth CompanyNational Base2014 profits (Euros) ComcastUSA52 billion GoogleUSA50 billion DisneyUSA35 billion News CorpUSA30 billion Direct TVUSA24 billion ViacomUSA21 billion Time WarnerUSA21 billion SonyJapan20 billion BertelsmannGermany17 billion AppleUSA14 billion

Women’s representation on boards CompanyTotal directors# women% women Comcast12217% Google14214% Disney12433% News Corp12325% Direct TV12217% Viacom11436% Time Warner12217% Sony1500% Bertelsmann5120% Apple8225%

Questions to consider: How is media ownership regulated in each nation? What do laws and regulations specify about gender (and race) in ownership? Do women in media professions discuss ownership? Do feminist organizations have a strategy for addressing media laws and regulation?

Thank you for interest! Carolyn M. Byerly Department of Communication, Culture & Media Studies Howard University Washington, DC, USA