The Contradictions of Media Power

Description

Media power is a crucial, although often taken for granted, concept. We assume, for example, that the media are ‘powerful’; if they were not, why would there be so many controversies over the regulation, control and impact of communicative institutions and processes? Further, we assume that this ‘power’ is somehow problematic; audiences are often treated as highly susceptible to media influence and too much ‘power’ in the hands of one organization or individual is seen as risky and potentially dangerous. These concerns have been at the heart of recent controversies involving the relationships between media moguls and political elites, the consequences of phone hacking in the UK, and the emerging influence of social media as vital gatekeepers. Yet it is still not clear what we mean by media power or how effective it is. This book evaluates contrasting definitions of media power and looks at the key sites in which power is negotiated, concentrated and resisted - politically, technologically and economically. Combining an evaluation of both previous literature and new research, the book seeks to establish an understanding of media power which does justice to the complexities and contradictions of the contemporary social world. It will be important reading for undergraduates, postgraduates, researchers and activists alike. Cover Contents Acknowledgements 1 Approaches to Media Power Elements of the puzzle Political, economic and cultural dimensions of media power Four paradigms of media power Consensus Chaos Control Contradiction Conclusion 2 Elites, Ownership and Media Power Power elite theory and the media Media power elites and neo-liberalism The rise of the communications sector The return of the media baron The role of the ‘club’ Ownership and media power Conclusion 3 Media Policy and Power Policy activism in neo-liberal times Power, decision-making and the policy process Media policy silences Silences in pluralism policy debates Silences in net neutrality debates Conclusion 4 Power Shifts and Social Media A radical redistribution of power? Decentralization: The rise of the ‘power mosaic’ Disintermediation: Power to the people? Conclusion: ‘It’s called capitalism’ 5 Challenging Media Power Media, contradiction and resistance The dominance/resistance model in action: The war in Iraq The politics of media reform Conclusion 6 Conclusions – Media Power Paradigms Revisited References Index