Concentration of ownership of companies in media

I would like to share with you an article on ownership of companies in media - the topic which we discussed on our last meeting during the class "New Media and Society". Just a little abstract:

"Some nations can influence and control their media greatly. In addition, powerful corporations also have enormous influence on mainstream media.

In some places major multinational corporations own media stations and outlets. Often, many media institutions survive on advertising fees, which can lead to the media outlet being influenced by various corporate interests. Other times, the ownership interests may affect what is and is not covered. Stories can end up being biased or omitted so as not to offend advertisers or owners. The ability for citizens to make informed decisions is crucial for a free and functioning democracy but now becomes threatened by such concentration in ownership.

The idea of corporate media itself may not be a bad thing, for it can foster healthy competition and provide a check against governments. However, the concern is when there is a concentration of ownership due to the risk of increased economic and political influence that can itself be unaccountable."

Want to read more? Go on: http://www.globalissues.org/article/159/media-conglomerates-mergers-concentration-of-ownership

Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide

Recently I've read book called Convergence Culture - it talks about where and how new and old media collide. Henry Jenkins takes us on a journey through modern culture, past the must-see television series and social networks to fan fiction, comics and internet forums. Jenkins then takes his book beyond the most byzantine storytelling to point out that it is as much about discovery rather than telling the story. It moves from media to experience and relies on the media property staying ahead of large groups of people who use online tools to collaborate on this discovery process with each other. From a marketing perspective, planning rather than story creation is going to be the dominant element as brands look to architect their own experience for consumers to discover. Very nice reading!