The Effects of Media Mergers on Society
How much of what your read in a paper or magazine, or hear on the television is actually the true story, and how much of it has been altered by a corporation who wishes to control what you hear? The public should feel that they are getting the whole story, not a story approved by an executive, taking out content that is damaging to the parent corporation or something they just don't agree with. When parent companies interfere with the reporting of sources under their control they are wrongfully using their market position to deprive consumers of accurate information.Beginning with the first of the mega media mergers, Capital Cities buying ABC in 1986, and then after the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which opened the floodgates, the trend has been for large corporations to buy media and broadcast companies. According to the FCC there have been over 1000 broadcast deals in the last ten years. On the outside this appears to be a fairly benign offshoot of late 20th century capitalism's tendency of merger, acquisition, and hostile takeovers, but further review reveals that the conglomeration of media outlets hurts consumers by taking choice out of their hands and putting it into the hands of corporations. The media giants have be
Broadcast and print media represent their own spheres of public service and expectations. The mainstream media is expected to be somewhat unbiased and objective in reporting on current issues, (within the range of the political leanings of their editors). Another arena where the media's bias has become more pronounced is in the political arena. Although the media has always had influence over politics, often it was passive. Large corporations with political agendas have the ability to promote candidates and parties subtly in news programs by giving them more airtime and covering up minor embarrassing mistakes, while candidates or incumbents who are disliked can be shown in a negative light or receive less air time. These actions essentially take choice out of the hands of the public and put it in the hands of the executives. Howe, Peter. "Massive Mass Media" The Boston Globe, September 12, 1999 p J1 Lexis/Nexis Hickey, Neil. "Coping with Mega-Mergers" Columbia Journalism Review, January/February 1997. Available Online www.cjr.org/year/97/1/telecom.asp
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Approximate Word count = 1394
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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