MEDIA: What is the role of this institution and how has it changed over time? Defining “media” First and second media age The networked society Popular culture Media ownership

Defining “media” How would you define the media?

What is the media? “The media (or the mass media) refers to all forms of written communications to the public, such as newspapers, magazines and books and to all forms of transmitted communication, such as radio, television, cinema and the Internet. The term now included the new generation of mobile phones, linked to the Internet” (Moore 2001, p.194).

What is the media? The media is a window on the world The media is an interactive link The media is a provider of information The media is a filter, choosing what audiences should see The media is an interpreter, making sense of the world for audiences The media is a mirror, where audiences observe society and figure out their place in it The media is a controller, socialising audiences to understand what is the norm and what is deviant in a society (Moore 2001, p.195).

First and second media age

First and Second Media Age The second media age emerged in the final decade of the 20th Century. Exemplified by the Internet, the second media age transformed the nature and scope of communication mediums (Holmes 2005 , p. 4).

First and Second Media Age First Media Age Second Media Age Centred (few speak to many) One-way communication Predisposed to state control An instrument of regimes of stratification and inequality Participants are fragmented and constituted as a mass Influences consciousness Newspapers Radio Television Decentred (many speak to many) Two-way communication Evades state control Democratizing: facilitates universal citizenship Participants are seen to retain their indiduality Influences individual experience of space and time The rise of interactive media, most especially the Internet (Holmes 2005, pp.4-10)

The Networked society

The networked society “A modern type of society with an infrastructure of social and media networks that characterizes its mode of organisation at every level: individual, group/organisational and societal. Increasingly, these networks link every unit or part of this society (individuals, group and organisations). In western societies, the individual linked by networks is becoming the basic unit of the network society. In eastern societies, this might still be the group (family, community, work team) linked by networks.” (Dijk 2012, p.24)

The networked society “In a networked society, boundaries are more permeable, interactions are with diverse others, links switch among multiple networks, and hierarchies are flatter and more complex. People in networked societies live and work in multiple sets of overlapping relationships. They cycle among different networks. Many of the people they deal with are physically dispersed and do not know one other (i.e., the social networks are “sparsely-knit”).” (Wellman 2002, p.1)

The networked society What do you perceive may be the benefits of the networked society?

(Cake 2013)

The networked society What do you perceive may be the disadvantages of the networked society?

Opens up the possibility for hackers to commit fraud and launch spam and virus attacks. Increases the risk of people falling prey to online scams that seem genuine, resulting in data or identity theft. Potentially results in negative comments from employees about the company or potential legal consequences if employees use these sites to view objectionable, illicit or offensive material. Potentially results in lost productivity, especially if employees are busy updating profiles, etc. Loss of personalised communication Isolation of individuals from the real world (Society for Human Resource Management 2012: Charusmita 2012)

Popular culture

Popular culture Popular culture consists of activities, products, and services that are assumed to appeal primarily to members of the middle and working classes. These include rock concerts, spectator sports, movies and television shows. The three most prevalent forms of popular culture are fads, fashions and leisure activities. (Kendall 2016, p.62).

Popular culture Culture is produced within families, neighbourhoods, schools, and churches – and it is produced by the entertainment industry. Theorists Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer, refer to the mass media as the culture industry. The culture industry generates a wide array of social meanings through the production, content, and reception of commercial culture objects that, taken as a whole, are consumed by the mass of society. (Kidd 2014, pp.6-10)

Popular culture “Because the mass media pervade the whole society, the media influence such things as popular styles, language, and value systems.” “Although popular culture may be widely available and relatively cheap for consumers, some groups derive their cultural experiences from expensive theatre shows or opera performances where tickets may cost hundreds of dollars. Meanwhile, millions of “ordinary” citizens get their primary cultural experience from television and, increasingly, the Internet.” (Anderson & Taylor 2015, p.46)

Media Ownership

Media ownership “The democratic ideal of a media which is impartial, and designed to inform citizens, is inevitably compromised as media ownership becomes more concentrated.”  “This is due to a reduction in the number of perspectives that are available to citizens on any given issue, at any given time; and this interferes with an individual’s ability to formulate an opinion, as access to information presented in an unbiased and balanced fashion becomes more and more restricted.”  (The Australian Independent Media Network 2014)

Media ownership “An International Media Concentration Research Project, led by Professor Eli Noam of Columbia University, found that Australian newspaper ownership was the most concentrated of 26 countries surveyed, and among the most concentrated in the democratic world. For example, News Corp titles account for 59% of all sales of daily newspapers, with sales of 17.3 million papers per week in Australia, making News Corp Australia’s most influential newspaper publisher by a considerable margin.” (The Australian Independent Media Network 2014)

Media ownership What does News Corp own?: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assets_owne d_by_News_Corp

Media ownership In what specific situations is concentrated media ownership dangerous?

Here a number of reasons why media diversity is important: Decision making. We make important decisions about issues based on information obtained from the mass media. We need a diversity of views and opinions so we are informed and make the right decisions. (Lamb n.d.)

Democratic process. In democratic societies like Australia, we use the news media to make decisions about who will represent us in parliament and pass laws on our behalf. A diverse and objective news media is crucial to help us make the right decision. According to the Centre for Democracy and Governance, the media is essential to a healthy democracy for two key reasons: “First, it ensures that citizens make responsible, informed choices rather than acting out of ignorance or misinformation. Second, information serves a “checking function”by ensuring that elected representatives uphold their oaths of office and carry out the wishes of those who elected them. In some societies, an antagonistic relationship between media and government represents a vital and healthy element of fully functioning democracies.” (Lamb n.d.)

Political influence. Having a diverse media means that it is less likely that media moguls, like Rupert Murdoch, will be able to have too much influence over the electoral process. (Lamb n.d.)

Political accountability Political accountability. The news media also helps to keep our politicians accountable, scrutinising their decisions and policies. A diverse and tenacious news media helps to keep our leaders honest and ensures that they act in the public interest. (Lamb n.d.)

Corporate accountability Corporate accountability. Large multinational corporations play an important role in our lives. Unfortunately, they don’t always act in the public interest, doing what is best for their shareholders and the profitability of the company. The news media helps to monitor the behaviour of big business and ensure that they act in an ethical and responsible manner. (Lamb n.d.)

Community voice. Having a diversity of media organisations means that the media will better reflect the needs of our community and culture. In Australia, for example, it is more cost effective for media organisations to have fewer newsrooms and source content from overseas. This could potentially reduce our access to Australian content. Similarly, smaller regional media outlets provide a voice for people living in rural and remote areas. (Lamb n.d.)

Current Media Ownership Laws

(Dwyer 2016)

Suggested reforms include: The Government has announced the most significant reforms to Australia's media laws in a generation, supporting the viability of our local organisations as they face increasing global competition in a rapidly changing digital landscape The Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Media Reform Bill) 2016 (the Bill) was introduced into the House of Representatives on 2 March 2016.  Suggested reforms include: commercial television licences that collectively reach in excess of 75 per cent of the Australian population (the '75 per cent audience reach rule'); and more than two of the three regulated forms of media (commercial radio, commercial TV and associated newspapers) in the one commercial radio licence area (the '2 out of 3 rule'). (Department of Communication and the Arts 2016)

References: Department of Communications and the Arts, 2016, ‘Updating Australia’s media laws,’ Australian Government, viewed 4 July 2016, from <https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/television/media/updating-australias-media-laws> Anderson, L. & Taylor, H. 2015, Sociology: The Essentials, Cengage Learning, Boston, viewed 4 July 2016, from <https://books.google.com.au/books?id=l7oaCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT67&dq=media%27s+influence+on+popular+culture+sociology&hl=en &sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiQzqzEztnNAhWMpZQKHStjCscQ6AEINTAB#v=onepage&q=media's%20influence%20on%20popular%20cu lture%20sociology&f=false>. Cake, M. 2013, ‘The Shift from Information Age to Network Society,’ Youtube, viewed 4 July 2016, from <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wChEEJ92InM>. Charusmita, 2012, ‘Castells’ “Network Society” and its assessment,’ Media and Development: Bringing together ideas of media iwth the issues concerning Development, viewed 4 July 2016, from <http://formediaanddevelopment.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/castells- network-society-and-its.html>. Dijk, J. 2012, The Network Society, 3rd Edition, Sage Publications, London, viewed 4 July 2016, from <https://books.google.com.au/books?id=7KEkMh- WbpsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Sociology+the+networked+society&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZgfrlptnNAhVJmJQKHaZAARE Q6AEIQzAG#v=onepage&q&f=false>. Dwyer, T. 2016, ‘Explainer: what changes to Australia’s media ownership laws are being proposed?’ The Conversation, viewed 4 July 2016, from < http://theconversation.com/explainer-what-changes-to-australias-media-ownership-laws-are-being-proposed-55509> Holmes, D. 2005, Communication Theory: Media Technology and Society, Sage Publications, London, viewed 4 July 2016, from <https://books.google.com.au/books?id=JUzyNa78V3QC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=first+and+second+media+age+sociology&source=bl &ots=TQBLY3hd0n&sig=bcynPZuCqgMLCMK_hU4CDC2oeSk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjo8- iDlNnNAhUGp5QKHeYmBXgQ6AEIUTAJ#v=onepage&q=first%20and%20second%20media%20age%20sociology&f=false>. Kendall, D. 2016, Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials, 10th Edition, Cengage Learning, Boston, viewed 4 July 2016, from <https://books.google.com.au/books?id=d52aBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT89&dq=popular+culture+sociology&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjI 8o3yxdnNAhVHtJQKHQcaA1sQ6AEIIjAB#v=onepage&q=popular%20culture%20sociology&f=false>. Kidd, D. 2014, Pop Culture Freaks: Identity, Mass Media, and Society, Westview Press, Boulder, viewed 4 July 2016, from <https://books.google.com.au/books?id=SaV_AQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=medias+influence+on+popular+culture+sociology &hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjfuNzAyNnNAhUBwJQKHZeMCVQQ6AEIUTAF#v=onepage&q&f=false>. Lamb, B. n.d. ‘Australian Media Ownership,’ Lesson Bucket, viewed 4 July 2016, from <http://lessonbucket.com/vce-media/unit- 2/australian-media/australian-media-ownership/>. Moore, S. 2001, Sociology Alive, Nelson Thornes Ltd, Cheltenham, viewed 4 July 2016, from <https://books.google.com.au/books?id=YFoEJByucGcC&pg=PA193&dq=how+do+sociologists+define+the+media&hl=en&sa=X&ved =0ahUKEwj_4LiSotnNAhXTNpQKHdPXDiAQ6AEIVTAJ#v=onepage&q=how%20do%20sociologists%20define%20the%20media&f= false>. Society for Human Resource Management, 2012, Social Media: What are the advantages and disadvantages of social networking sites? What should we include in a policy?, viewed 4 July 2016, from <https://www.shrm.org/templatestools/hrqa/pages/socialnetworkingsitespolicy.aspx>. The Australian Independent Media Network, 2014, Democracy and diversity: media ownership in Australia, viewed July 4 2016, from <http://theaimn.com/democracy-diversity-media-ownership-australia/>. Wellman, B. 2002, ‘Designing the Internet for a Networked Society: Little Boxes, Glocalization, and Networked Individualism,’ Communications of the ACM, viewed 4 July 2016, from <http://www.itu.dk/people/khhp/speciale/artikler/Wellman_2001%20Designing%20the%20internet%20for%20a%20networked%20so ciety.pdf>.