MEDIA INDUSTRIES THEORY #1

Power and Media Industries

James Curran and Jean Seaton
Curran and Seaton on the need for diversity:

‘diversity is in the public interest – but

modern societies suffer from collective
attention deficit disorders[…] the public
interest has to work harder to be noticed,
and we need agile but resourceful media
to do that’
- James Curran and Jean Seaton
KEY TERM: monopoly
monopoly
= the exclusive ownership or control of something

How might this version of

the Monopoly board game
be symbolic?
KEY TERM: conglomerate
conglomerate
= a large corporation consisting of multiple smaller
companies

KEY TERM: subsidiary

subsidiary
= a smaller company owned by a large corporation

Can you think of any significant examples from the

media industry? Film, TV, newspapers, online?
TASK 1: Conglomerates and subsidiaries

Disney is one of the ‘Big Six’ media conglomerates.

It owns multiple subsidiaries, such as:

…and many more!

TASK 1: Conglomerates and subsidiaries
If these are the subsidiaries, what is the conglomerate?
TASK 1: Conglomerates and subsidiaries
If these are the subsidiaries, what is the conglomerate?
Curran and Seaton on monopoly:

‘it [extends] their range of business and political

connections, [increases] their corporation’s
prestige and, through judicious editorial
appointments, [contributes] to the maintenance
of public opinion favorable to private enterprise’
- James Curran and Jean Seaton

It is essential to remember that conglomerates are

primarily driven by the logic of profit and power!
TASK 2: Conglomerates and monopoly
What is an issue with a conglomerate owning multiple
media companies in different industries?
KEY FACTS: conglomerates and monopoly
COPY THIS DOWN!
• Having a monopoly means domination of multiple
media industries
• If the focus is on creating profit, generally
conglomerates don’t take risks with the media
products they produce
• This often results in limited variety, creativity and
quality

‘anti-monopoly media regulation is needed not only to

maintain fair competition but also to prevent the
distortion of democracy.’
- James Curran and Jean Seaton
What are the alternatives to conglomerate ownership?

‘Media policy should seek[…] to create the conditions

of greatest possible competition, thus enabling
consumers to exercise sovereign control. This produces
media that people want, a wide range of choice, and
media independence from government’
- James Curran and Jean Seaton
KEY TERM: Public service broadcasting
public service broadcasting
= broadcasting intended for public benefit rather
than to serve purely commercial interests

‘British broadcasting was started as a public

service, and this proved as creative commercially
as it was innovative culturally.’
- James Curran and Jean Seaton
The BBC & public service broadcasting
• The BBC was set up in 1922 with
the mission statement to
‘inform, educate and entertain’
• It is government-owned and paid
for by the tax payer
• It aims to represent the diversity
of the UK, sustain citizenship and
stimulate culture & creativity

How does BBC Radio 4’s Late Night

Woman’s Hour fit the BBC’s PSB
remit? Listen to a recent episode:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02zhq5l
KEY TERM: independent producer
Independent producer
= free from outside control

Independents offer something different to conglomerates

“We will reflect the diversity of Britain; culturally

and geographically. We will reflect the energy of
our multicultural society[…] We will reflect the
complexity of Britain back to itself[…]”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2GKVtWsXKY

Watch the trailer for Trainspotting (1996). How does

the film reflect the Channel 4 mission statement?
Why might this attitude be a positive thing?
KEY FACTS: A diverse media landscape
COPY THIS DOWN!
• Public Service Broadcasters produce content without the sole
intention of profit. This results in a more varied range of
content across multiple media industries.
• Independent producers contribute to this creativity and
variety by providing niche products that often act as the
alternative to the mainstream.
• These socially diverse patterns of ownership support a more
varied and adventurous media landscape.

‘diversity is in the public interest – but modern societies suffer

from collective attention deficit disorders[…] the public interest
has to work harder to be noticed, and we need agile but
resourceful media to do that’
- James Curran and Jean Seaton
MAIN TASK: researching institutions
As part of our study into film marking and advertising,
we explore two differing film products: Straight Outta
Compton (2015) and I, Daniel Blake (2016).

Research and make notes on

the production contexts for
the two films.
In what ways do they reflect
the differing aspects of
Curran and Seaton’s theory?

CONSIDER: conglomerates, PSB, independents, mission

statements, motivations, social diversity, and audience impact
PLENARY: “basically, yeah…”
Sum up Curran and Seaton’s Power and
Media Industries theory on one side of a
post-it note.
Complete this sentence starter:
“basically, yeah, Curran and Seaton’s
Power and Media Industries theory is…”