British MediaBritish Media

The Power of the MediaThe Power of the Media British Media as the Fourth Pillar of British Media as the Fourth Pillar of

GovernmentGovernment The Concentration of PowerThe Concentration of Power BBCBBC ITVITV Recent TrendsRecent Trends The Americanization of British MediaThe Americanization of British Media

The Impact of the Various The Impact of the Various MediaMedia

Decoding the messageDecoding the message– Visual ImagesVisual Images

Still imagesStill images Moving imagesMoving images

– Aural messagesAural messages Drama series--Dicky, Dick, DickensDrama series--Dicky, Dick, Dickens

– Written messagesWritten messages

Can the Media ManipulateCan the Media Manipulate

Visual manipulationVisual manipulation– Subliminal affectSubliminal affect– Fantasy creationFantasy creation

Aural manipulationAural manipulation– Music and consumer behaviorMusic and consumer behavior

Written manipulationWritten manipulation– Loaded vocabularyLoaded vocabulary

The Power of the PressThe Power of the Press

The 4th Pillar of GovernmentThe 4th Pillar of Government– Providing information Providing information – Raising political issues--Setting the agendaRaising political issues--Setting the agenda– Watchdoging and investigative journalismWatchdoging and investigative journalism

Characterizing a “good” newspaperCharacterizing a “good” newspaper– What should a “good newspaper contain?What should a “good newspaper contain?– Balance vs. BiasBalance vs. Bias

The British PressThe British Press

Qualities--The Times, The Guardian, Qualities--The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Observer, The The Independent, The Observer, The TelegraphTelegraph– ContentContent– FormatFormat

Mid market: Daily Mirror, ExpressMid market: Daily Mirror, Express The Populars--The Sun, Daily MailThe Populars--The Sun, Daily Mail

– ContentContent– FormatFormat

The Press & Political The Press & Political LeaningsLeanings

The QualitiesThe Qualities– The Times: moderately conservative The Times: moderately conservative – The Observer: social-democraticThe Observer: social-democratic– The Independent: Center-leftThe Independent: Center-left– The Guardian: left wingThe Guardian: left wing– The Telegraph: ConservativeThe Telegraph: Conservative

The Press & Political The Press & Political LeaningsLeanings

The Mid MarketThe Mid Market– Daily Mail: ConservativeDaily Mail: Conservative– Daily Express: ConservativeDaily Express: Conservative

The PopularsThe Populars– Sun: From Thatcher to Blair; Sun: From Thatcher to Blair;

populistic and chauvinistic populistic and chauvinistic – Daily Mirror: Liberal and supports Daily Mirror: Liberal and supports

LabourLabour

The Press and EUThe Press and EU

Mid market and the Populars are anti EUMid market and the Populars are anti EU The Times, Telegraph and The Observer The Times, Telegraph and The Observer

express some skepticism over loss of express some skepticism over loss of sovereignty but are not as one-sided as sovereignty but are not as one-sided as the Populars and mid-market which are the Populars and mid-market which are EU sceptics EU sceptics

The Guardian and Independent are The Guardian and Independent are more balanced in their view.more balanced in their view.

The British Press--4th The British Press--4th Pillar?Pillar?

Circulation vs. Quality: Inversely Circulation vs. Quality: Inversely proportionalproportional– InfotainmentInfotainment

Official Secrets Act, 1911Official Secrets Act, 1911– Prevents the divulging of information that Prevents the divulging of information that

could harm national security--exploited by could harm national security--exploited by political powers?political powers?

Lack of transparency in British politicsLack of transparency in British politics The mediafication of politicsThe mediafication of politics

The British PressThe British Press

The tabloidsThe tabloids– The popularsThe populars

The Sun, The Mirror and Daily StarThe Sun, The Mirror and Daily Star– Sensationalist, scandals, sports and Sensationalist, scandals, sports and

celebrities.celebrities.– The largest circulationThe largest circulation

– Mid-marketMid-market The Daily Mail and ExpressThe Daily Mail and Express

– A similar coverage, but somewhat more newsA similar coverage, but somewhat more news

The British Press: TrendsThe British Press: Trends

Fear of declineFear of decline– The electronic media—internetThe electronic media—internet– Decline in advertising revenuesDecline in advertising revenues– Concentration of ownership reduces the Concentration of ownership reduces the

diversity of views and limits political debatediversity of views and limits political debate– Decline of journalistic standards and a Decline of journalistic standards and a

tendency toward a more tabloid orientation tendency toward a more tabloid orientation of the qualities to gain readersof the qualities to gain readers

Increased owner pressure on the journalists—Increased owner pressure on the journalists—especially in Murdoch owned newspapersespecially in Murdoch owned newspapers

The Concentration of The Concentration of Power in British MediaPower in British Media

Rupert Murdoch--The Times, The Rupert Murdoch--The Times, The Sun, BskyB, Star TV, Fox TV, 20th Sun, BskyB, Star TV, Fox TV, 20th Century Fox, TV Guide, HarperCollins Century Fox, TV Guide, HarperCollins Publishers, & New York PostPublishers, & New York Post

Conservative tendency with media Conservative tendency with media conglomeratesconglomerates– Broadcast conservative viewsBroadcast conservative views– What is news and who decides?What is news and who decides?

The British Press: TrendsThe British Press: Trends Decline in circulationDecline in circulation

– Especially Sunday editions which is the edition Especially Sunday editions which is the edition people had the most time to read and be informed.people had the most time to read and be informed.

Introduction of on-line editionsIntroduction of on-line editions– Real time news, but limited debate and editorial Real time news, but limited debate and editorial

points of viewpoints of view Quality newspapers publishing tabloid format Quality newspapers publishing tabloid format

editionseditions A decline in the number of people reading A decline in the number of people reading

newspapers daily. 52% of the these readers newspapers daily. 52% of the these readers get their new from other sources such as TV get their new from other sources such as TV and internet.and internet.

Decline in CirculationDecline in Circulation

Nationally for 2009: -4.2%, but Nationally for 2009: -4.2%, but even more significant the qualities even more significant the qualities are declining even more.are declining even more.– Guardian: - 15%Guardian: - 15%– Independent: - 7.2%Independent: - 7.2%– The Times: - 9.4%The Times: - 9.4%– The Financial Times: -9.2%The Financial Times: -9.2%

Decline in CirculationDecline in Circulation

The decline is across the board with The decline is across the board with even the tabloids decliningeven the tabloids declining– Compare the figures in your book with Compare the figures in your book with

today:today: Sun: 3.5 million to 3.0Sun: 3.5 million to 3.0 Daily Mirror: 2.2 million to 1.4 millionDaily Mirror: 2.2 million to 1.4 million

The Daily Star is the only newspaper The Daily Star is the only newspaper to increase its circulation—up 15.3%to increase its circulation—up 15.3%

The Impact of Declining The Impact of Declining CirculationCirculation

Newspaper sales in terms of Newspaper sales in terms of income are not the major issueincome are not the major issue– Daily Star increased its circulation by Daily Star increased its circulation by

reducing its cost from 35 p to 25 p.reducing its cost from 35 p to 25 p.– The loss is in advertising.The loss is in advertising.

What happens if quality What happens if quality newspapers disappear?newspapers disappear?

British TV--BBCBritish TV--BBC

FinancingFinancing– Non-commercial, license financedNon-commercial, license financed– £130/household/year£130/household/year

Levied on BBC TV but covers all programs both Levied on BBC TV but covers all programs both ITV and BBC radioITV and BBC radio

– Reissued for the next ten yearsReissued for the next ten years Everyone must pay the license feeEveryone must pay the license fee There was talk of making TV subscription basedThere was talk of making TV subscription based This means that BBC will have financing for at This means that BBC will have financing for at

least 10 more years.least 10 more years.

The Digital Revolution and The Digital Revolution and British MediaBritish Media

The internet: 70.9% of all Britons The internet: 70.9% of all Britons use the internet regularly.use the internet regularly.

The DR gives rapid & easy access The DR gives rapid & easy access to news and entertainment. Real to news and entertainment. Real time access which the traditional time access which the traditional media cannot.media cannot.– Example: note all the features of a Example: note all the features of a

cell phonecell phone

The Impact of InternetThe Impact of Internet

FreedomFreedom– You can get the information and You can get the information and

entertainment when you want it.entertainment when you want it.– Customer run media—a revolutionCustomer run media—a revolution

What do you want? Who should choose?What do you want? Who should choose? The impact of customer run media?The impact of customer run media?

Internet shopping—the fate of Internet shopping—the fate of commercecommerce

The Digital Revolution and The Digital Revolution and British MediaBritish Media

Interactivity—the digital media puts Interactivity—the digital media puts the audience in the center and the audience in the center and makes the media user controlled. makes the media user controlled. Users are becoming players.Users are becoming players.

Facebook and social networks—Facebook and social networks—young people are drawn away from young people are drawn away from the traditional media.the traditional media.

Facebook as a political tool.Facebook as a political tool.

The BBC DilemmaThe BBC Dilemma

Non-commercial vs. ITV (commercial)Non-commercial vs. ITV (commercial)– ““BBC should provide television that the BBC should provide television that the

people should want to watch.”—a former people should want to watch.”—a former governor at BBCgovernor at BBC

– Does ITV provide the programs that people Does ITV provide the programs that people “want to watch” or that they are “want to watch” or that they are conditioned to want to watch?conditioned to want to watch?

BBC is caught between wanting to BBC is caught between wanting to maintain their standards and their maintain their standards and their audience at the same time.audience at the same time.

BBC’s ChallengesBBC’s Challenges

Reaching an inter-active audienceReaching an inter-active audience– ””Have Your Say”—a program where Have Your Say”—a program where

the audience participatesthe audience participates– BloggingBlogging– Instant viewer feedback in political Instant viewer feedback in political

debatesdebates– Talent developmentTalent development– StreamingStreaming

BBC’s ChallengesBBC’s Challenges

What BBC does well (news and What BBC does well (news and dramas) may be less and less dramas) may be less and less popular with younger audiences.popular with younger audiences.– Should BBC be concerned about Should BBC be concerned about

audience size or quality?audience size or quality? The digital age challengeThe digital age challenge

– There is a media soup out there and There is a media soup out there and audiences are drawn away.audiences are drawn away.

Meeting the Challenge of Meeting the Challenge of the Digial Realitythe Digial Reality

Audience contributionsAudience contributions StreamingStreaming Entertainment—reaching a younger Entertainment—reaching a younger

audience while not pandering to it.audience while not pandering to it. Converting audiences to Converting audiences to

participatorsparticipators Digital curriculum—education Digital curriculum—education

programs for the classroom programs for the classroom

Meeting the Challenge of Meeting the Challenge of the Digial Realitythe Digial Reality

A new offering for 12-16 year oldsA new offering for 12-16 year olds User-generated content where ever User-generated content where ever

possiblepossible BBC Future Media & TechnologyBBC Future Media & Technology

– Has initiated services such as i Player & Has initiated services such as i Player & bbc.co.uk for mobile, bbc.co.uk for mobile,

What BBC will not do which ITV doesWhat BBC will not do which ITV does– Gaming channel & Film channgelGaming channel & Film channgel

Programming: Meeting the Programming: Meeting the AudienceAudience

BBC 1—36 % viewer ratingBBC 1—36 % viewer rating--a more general appeal—tries to reach a broad segment--a more general appeal—tries to reach a broad segmentDrama, soaps and entertainmentDrama, soaps and entertainment

BBC 2—6%BBC 2—6%--special interest programming--special interest programming--aims at special interest (gardening, redecorating,--aims at special interest (gardening, redecorating,

cooking.cooking.BBC 3—target group is 25-34 year oldsBBC 3—target group is 25-34 year olds

--more radical and innovative--more radical and innovative--If the programs succeed, they are moved to BBC 2--If the programs succeed, they are moved to BBC 2

BBC 4—high arts—ballet, classical music, theatreBBC 4—high arts—ballet, classical music, theatre--Miniscule audience--Miniscule audience

Recent Trends: Competition Recent Trends: Competition and its Impactand its Impact

– BBC should provide the television that BBC should provide the television that people should want to watch”people should want to watch”

20% of the programming is devoted to news and 20% of the programming is devoted to news and current events.current events.

However, this is no longer completely possible.However, this is no longer completely possible.– Commercial (ITV) has changed BBC’s attitude to Commercial (ITV) has changed BBC’s attitude to

the public.the public. BBC can no longer dictate tasteBBC can no longer dictate taste The greater the choice, the more emphasis on The greater the choice, the more emphasis on

entertainment and the smaller the market for entertainment and the smaller the market for more serious programsmore serious programs

ITV soaps and comedies challenge the ITV soaps and comedies challenge the traditional more serious news, documentary, traditional more serious news, documentary, high culture, arts orientation of BBC. high culture, arts orientation of BBC.

BBC has to meet the market with BBC 3 & 4.BBC has to meet the market with BBC 3 & 4.

British TV--ITVBritish TV--ITV Commercial Commercial

– Popular while maintaining qualityPopular while maintaining quality Up until recently, BBC has set the standardsUp until recently, BBC has set the standards However, the market is becoming a more decisive factor.However, the market is becoming a more decisive factor. ITV is gaining market shares over BBCITV is gaining market shares over BBC

– 26% of the viewing market.26% of the viewing market.

– New concession lawsNew concession laws The concession goes to the highest bidderThe concession goes to the highest bidder Find a successful formula and reproduce it.Find a successful formula and reproduce it.

– Less willing to take risks. Bottom line thinkingLess willing to take risks. Bottom line thinking

– ITV has systematically lobbied to remove local ITV has systematically lobbied to remove local programming requirements saying that TV should be programming requirements saying that TV should be governed by free market principles.governed by free market principles.

Channel 4Channel 4

Publicly owned and its board is Publicly owned and its board is appointed by Ofcom (the state appointed by Ofcom (the state watchdog agency to insure quality watchdog agency to insure quality and content)and content)

Financed by advertisingFinanced by advertising Produces programs of high quality, Produces programs of high quality,

especially documentaries and especially documentaries and public affairs programs.public affairs programs.

Dumbing Down?Dumbing Down?

What is the impact of a free market What is the impact of a free market system?system?– The more choice, the harder it is for The more choice, the harder it is for

more challenging programs to survive.more challenging programs to survive.– Recent developments--Recent developments--

Americanization?Americanization? ““Big Brother” and voyeurismBig Brother” and voyeurism Pandering to base interests?Pandering to base interests?

Recent Reality ShowsRecent Reality Shows Space Cadet—a hoax where contestants believe Space Cadet—a hoax where contestants believe

they are being trained for a space voyage which they are being trained for a space voyage which they “take.”they “take.”

I’m a Celebrity—celebrity contestants surviving I’m a Celebrity—celebrity contestants surviving in the Australian rainforestin the Australian rainforest

The Apprentice—candidates competing for a top The Apprentice—candidates competing for a top job.job.

The Fame Academy—mediocre artists are The Fame Academy—mediocre artists are trained to become top stars which they don’t trained to become top stars which they don’t become.become.

Living with the Natives—actually wound up Living with the Natives—actually wound up killing four Peruvian natives.killing four Peruvian natives.

Internet and the MediaInternet and the Media

What percentage of your media What percentage of your media time is spent on Internet?time is spent on Internet?

What do Internet activities consist What do Internet activities consist of?of?

Extrapolate the trendExtrapolate the trend– What will happen to newspapers and What will happen to newspapers and

magazines in your future?magazines in your future?

The Media 2050The Media 2050

In groups of four, create a media In groups of four, create a media scenario.scenario.– What will TV be like?What will TV be like?– Will there be any bookstores?Will there be any bookstores?– Will there be any cinemas?Will there be any cinemas?– How will you shop?How will you shop?– How will you get your news?How will you get your news?– How will you inter-relate? Will we have a How will you inter-relate? Will we have a

virtual world?virtual world?