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
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Well concentration of media ownership is and will be a big problem in future. Not just because of pressures of advertisers but also like you are saying, increased economic and political influence. Nice example for this is Rupert Murdoch and his influence on public opinion (through his networks like Fox). But what does this mean for audiences? I think that this concentration is reflected in low profile and bad quality content. And also of course with niche content made for better earnings. This problem is saved in some countries by public TV network (like in our country or Britain, which by the way has a very good system of public television). In others is saved by laws or acts on ownership structure. But I think that we still should ask what does this mean for audiences and what for content because non the less audiences are those who are the most affected by this concentration of ownerships.
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