How I learnt to stop worrying and study the media

original copy, and I would recommend Mark Steel (The Independent, every Wednesday) and Gary Young (The Guardian), although of course my recommendations re� ect my politics.

Many of the critics of the BBC come from Many of the critics of the BBC come from rival media outlets such as Sky News. I am no rival media outlets such as Sky News. I am no “Beeb-basher”, but I do feel there is something to “Beeb-basher”, but I do feel there is something to “Beeb-basher”, but I do feel there is something to be said for a BBC funded out of general taxation be said for a BBC funded out of general taxation be said for a BBC funded out of general taxation be said for a BBC funded out of general taxation with a � xed amount generated per year, rather with a � xed amount generated per year, rather with a � xed amount generated per year, rather with a � xed amount generated per year, rather than the government arbitrarily setting the licence than the government arbitrarily setting the licence than the government arbitrarily setting the licence than the government arbitrarily setting the licence fee. The media tries to prevent its audience from fee. The media tries to prevent its audience from fee. The media tries to prevent its audience from fee. The media tries to prevent its audience from discovering the hidden factors behind what discovering the hidden factors behind what discovering the hidden factors behind what discovering the hidden factors behind what becomes news, mainly by rarely mentioning becomes news, mainly by rarely mentioning becomes news, mainly by rarely mentioning becomes news, mainly by rarely mentioning or debating them, but also by focusing on “soft or debating them, but also by focusing on “soft or debating them, but also by focusing on “soft or debating them, but also by focusing on “soft news”, which is easy to write up and avoids debate. news”, which is easy to write up and avoids debate. news”, which is easy to write up and avoids debate. news”, which is easy to write up and avoids debate. Soft news can also be used to promote the Soft news can also be used to promote the Soft news can also be used to promote the business interests of those who own the media. business interests of those who own the media. business interests of those who own the media. business interests of those who own the media. Private Eye runs an infrequent “I-Sky” column Private Eye runs an infrequent “I-Sky” column Private Eye runs an infrequent “I-Sky” column Private Eye runs an infrequent “I-Sky” column featuring advertisements for Sky disguised as soft featuring advertisements for Sky disguised as soft featuring advertisements for Sky disguised as soft featuring advertisements for Sky disguised as soft news stories in Murdoch-owned papers. Rupert news stories in Murdoch-owned papers. Rupert news stories in Murdoch-owned papers. Rupert news stories in Murdoch-owned papers. Rupert Murdoch, of course, owns Sky Digital. Murdoch, of course, owns Sky Digital. Murdoch, of course, owns Sky Digital. Murdoch, of course, owns Sky Digital.

Anyone in politics who tries to tame the power Anyone in politics who tries to tame the power Anyone in politics who tries to tame the power Anyone in politics who tries to tame the power of the media, whether to protect the general of the media, whether to protect the general of the media, whether to protect the general public or their own interests, runs the risk of being public or their own interests, runs the risk of being public or their own interests, runs the risk of being public or their own interests, runs the risk of being hounded by the press. David Mellor’s a� air in the hounded by the press. David Mellor’s a� air in the hounded by the press. David Mellor’s a� air in the mid-nineties was not of major public interest, but mid-nineties was not of major public interest, but mid-nineties was not of major public interest, but the story was published, damaging the career of the story was published, damaging the career of the story was published, damaging the career of one of the few people in the Conservative Party to one of the few people in the Conservative Party to one of the few people in the Conservative Party to challenge the power of the press, at a time when challenge the power of the press, at a time when challenge the power of the press, at a time when the party was losing favour with right-wing press the party was losing favour with right-wing press the party was losing favour with right-wing press barons like Murdoch.barons like Murdoch.

One of the most interesting aspects of the One of the most interesting aspects of the One of the most interesting aspects of the Media Studies course at Sussex is how media is Media Studies course at Sussex is how media is Media Studies course at Sussex is how media is developing in the modern age. Sadly, practical developing in the modern age. Sadly, practical developing in the modern age. Sadly, practical media electives are not o� ered to elective media electives are not o� ered to elective media electives are not o� ered to elective students, but the rise in electronic media and the students, but the rise in electronic media and the students, but the rise in electronic media and the students, but the rise in electronic media and the media potential for those not in corporate media media potential for those not in corporate media media potential for those not in corporate media is analysed. Anyone is able to create their own is analysed. Anyone is able to create their own electronic media site, while the public (particularly electronic media site, while the public (particularly electronic media site, while the public (particularly studying students) are only able to contribute studying students) are only able to contribute studying students) are only able to contribute news to a newspaper in interviews or as freelance news to a newspaper in interviews or as freelance news to a newspaper in interviews or as freelance reporters. The downside of this is that it is very reporters. The downside of this is that it is very reporters. The downside of this is that it is very di� cult and laborious to verify news published di� cult and laborious to verify news published di� cult and laborious to verify news published

on the Internet. I was introduced to the use of on the Internet. I was introduced to the use of on the Internet. I was introduced to the use of on the Internet. I was introduced to the use of on the Internet. I was introduced to the use of on the Internet. I was introduced to the use of on the Internet. I was introduced to the use of on the Internet. I was introduced to the use of on the Internet. I was introduced to the use of technology in politics (explicitly the Internet) to technology in politics (explicitly the Internet) to technology in politics (explicitly the Internet) to technology in politics (explicitly the Internet) to technology in politics (explicitly the Internet) to technology in politics (explicitly the Internet) to technology in politics (explicitly the Internet) to technology in politics (explicitly the Internet) to co-ordinate the World Trade Centre blockades co-ordinate the World Trade Centre blockades co-ordinate the World Trade Centre blockades co-ordinate the World Trade Centre blockades co-ordinate the World Trade Centre blockades co-ordinate the World Trade Centre blockades co-ordinate the World Trade Centre blockades co-ordinate the World Trade Centre blockades and the use of mailing lists by groups across and the use of mailing lists by groups across and the use of mailing lists by groups across and the use of mailing lists by groups across and the use of mailing lists by groups across and the use of mailing lists by groups across and the use of mailing lists by groups across and the use of mailing lists by groups across the political spectrum. Without the new media the political spectrum. Without the new media the political spectrum. Without the new media the political spectrum. Without the new media the political spectrum. Without the new media the political spectrum. Without the new media the political spectrum. Without the new media available at Sussex University, many of the social available at Sussex University, many of the social available at Sussex University, many of the social available at Sussex University, many of the social available at Sussex University, many of the social available at Sussex University, many of the social available at Sussex University, many of the social and political activism groups would be unable to and political activism groups would be unable to and political activism groups would be unable to and political activism groups would be unable to and political activism groups would be unable to and political activism groups would be unable to inform many students of their existence, let alone inform many students of their existence, let alone inform many students of their existence, let alone inform many students of their existence, let alone inform many students of their existence, let alone inform many students of their existence, let alone keep people interested. Taking a basic computer keep people interested. Taking a basic computer keep people interested. Taking a basic computer keep people interested. Taking a basic computer keep people interested. Taking a basic computer keep people interested. Taking a basic computer course o� ered locally at institutions such as City course o� ered locally at institutions such as City course o� ered locally at institutions such as City course o� ered locally at institutions such as City course o� ered locally at institutions such as City course o� ered locally at institutions such as City College Brighton and Hove can be instrumental in College Brighton and Hove can be instrumental in College Brighton and Hove can be instrumental in College Brighton and Hove can be instrumental in College Brighton and Hove can be instrumental in College Brighton and Hove can be instrumental in enabling would-be journalists and media workers enabling would-be journalists and media workers enabling would-be journalists and media workers enabling would-be journalists and media workers enabling would-be journalists and media workers to exchange ideas across the globe and create to exchange ideas across the globe and create to exchange ideas across the globe and create to exchange ideas across the globe and create to exchange ideas across the globe and create an independent electronic medium free from the an independent electronic medium free from the an independent electronic medium free from the an independent electronic medium free from the an independent electronic medium free from the biases and agendas that mainstream publications biases and agendas that mainstream publications biases and agendas that mainstream publications biases and agendas that mainstream publications biases and agendas that mainstream publications are subject to.are subject to.

So what can students do to challenge the So what can students do to challenge the So what can students do to challenge the So what can students do to challenge the abuses of the media? We can educate ourselves by abuses of the media? We can educate ourselves by abuses of the media? We can educate ourselves by abuses of the media? We can educate ourselves by abuses of the media? We can educate ourselves by studying media, either at university or by reading studying media, either at university or by reading studying media, either at university or by reading studying media, either at university or by reading round the subject independently, but this doesn’t round the subject independently, but this doesn’t round the subject independently, but this doesn’t round the subject independently, but this doesn’t help e� ect an actual change in the way the help e� ect an actual change in the way the help e� ect an actual change in the way the help e� ect an actual change in the way the media is run. Complaining to Ofcom each time a media is run. Complaining to Ofcom each time a media is run. Complaining to Ofcom each time a media is run. Complaining to Ofcom each time a newspaper violates the code of practice (available newspaper violates the code of practice (available newspaper violates the code of practice (available newspaper violates the code of practice (available online) is one possibility, but Ofcom has limited online) is one possibility, but Ofcom has limited online) is one possibility, but Ofcom has limited online) is one possibility, but Ofcom has limited powers and is often seen as “toothless”. Lobbying powers and is often seen as “toothless”. Lobbying powers and is often seen as “toothless”. Lobbying powers and is often seen as “toothless”. Lobbying your MP to put pressure on the Government to your MP to put pressure on the Government to your MP to put pressure on the Government to your MP to put pressure on the Government to end its cosy relationship with Rupert Murdoch end its cosy relationship with Rupert Murdoch end its cosy relationship with Rupert Murdoch end its cosy relationship with Rupert Murdoch is another possibility but I believe the most is another possibility but I believe the most is another possibility but I believe the most is another possibility but I believe the most important way to prevent the news being important way to prevent the news being important way to prevent the news being important way to prevent the news being dominated by hidden powers is to become the dominated by hidden powers is to become the dominated by hidden powers is to become the dominated by hidden powers is to become the news. Get involved in student media, such as the news. Get involved in student media, such as the news. Get involved in student media, such as the pulse or the badger. These publications help us pulse or the badger. These publications help us pulse or the badger. These publications help us break out of the quagmire of media � lters, mogul break out of the quagmire of media � lters, mogul break out of the quagmire of media � lters, mogul agendas and traditional political biases and write agendas and traditional political biases and write agendas and traditional political biases and write directly to faculty members and other students. directly to faculty members and other students. directly to faculty members and other students. Other possibilities are to write for non-hierarchal Other possibilities are to write for non-hierarchal Other possibilities are to write for non-hierarchal news sources such as Indymedia, which is geared news sources such as Indymedia, which is geared news sources such as Indymedia, which is geared towards documenting protest and human rights towards documenting protest and human rights towards documenting protest and human rights abuses globally, and SchNews, a radical news abuses globally, and SchNews, a radical news abuses globally, and SchNews, a radical news sheet distributed around the campus and in sheet distributed around the campus and in sheet distributed around the campus and in Brighton shops. Rather than seeing the media as Brighton shops. Rather than seeing the media as Brighton shops. Rather than seeing the media as a closed elite, we need to realise that anyone can a closed elite, we need to realise that anyone can a closed elite, we need to realise that anyone can understand its hidden codes and conventions and understand its hidden codes and conventions and understand its hidden codes and conventions and anyone can take part in reporting news. Don’t fear anyone can take part in reporting news. Don’t fear anyone can take part in reporting news. Don’t fear the media, be the media.the media, be the media.

MediaStudies is seen by many in the media and in academia

as a “doss subject”. Comedians running out of material churn out stale jokes about Media Studies graduates only being � t to work in McDonald’s once they obtain their degree. Those setting admissions requirements at Cambridge University decide that Media Studies should be taken with more suitable A-levels. They do not feel that two years of analysing contemporary media will enable students to thrive in their university’s environment, although they seem quite happy to let a student’s place be decided by his answer to random theoretical questions about how many ears we should have.

Every student interacts with a variety of media outside of their course, much of the time without considering how they are actually interacting: Lots of us buy a daily paper, whether it’s for “serious news” or “a laugh”. I reckon that most people would purchase a broadsheet such as The Independent for the former and a tabloid such as The Mirror for the latter. How many students reading this have considered who controls what is written in these papers? Media ownership is one of the Key Concepts that Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman felt were needed to understand why the

media disseminates certain information. For example, if you buy The Sun, The

Times or The News of the World you are purchasing a paper owned by Rupert Murdoch. Therefore, no editor of any of these papers will

print any stories that might damage Murdoch’s interests, reputation or those

he relies on for � nancial and political support. You will receive a � ltered and biased version of the news. An example of this is the deal struck between Murdoch and Tony Blair. Greg Palast states in The Best Democracy Money Can Buy that, ‘In return for Tony-praising tabloid coverage, the government o� ered Rupert Murdoch’s News International valuable amendments to the competition and union recognition bills’. Not being able to own more than one newspaper

would have drastically reduced Murdoch’s wealth and in� uence among the elite. Whatever you read in the newspaper will have been directly in� uenced by whoever owns the paper, whether that’s a group of shareholders or a single person. If the paper’s owner does not wish Britain to remain in the European Union he will instruct his editors to feature stories critical of the EU, and that pander to typical euro-sceptic fears.

Media Mogul agendas are not the only factors that decide what news is published. Advertisers will not pay money for their adverts to be carried if they are placed in the same publication as stories criticising their company, so if a paper carries a large advert for Shell, it’s safe to say it won’t be running any stories about global warming on that day. In the same way, it’s illegal to publish an article criticizing one brand of item next to an advert selling another. I would suggest looking at the adverts in any paper you buy before reading the adverts in any paper you buy before reading any of the articles. It’s also worth considering any of the articles. It’s also worth considering any bias driving those writing in the Comment any bias driving those writing in the Comment pages: Are they a member of a political party? pages: Are they a member of a political party? Do they have connections to the people they are Do they have connections to the people they are writing about in the article? Is it even appropriate writing about in the article? Is it even appropriate to criticize the opinions and politics behind a to criticize the opinions and politics behind a comment page, which is supposed to re� ect comment page, which is supposed to re� ect the thoughts and ideas of an individual rather the thoughts and ideas of an individual rather than the gospel truth or a bland and ino� ensive than the gospel truth or a bland and ino� ensive than the gospel truth or a bland and ino� ensive political ideology? political ideology?

The BBC is an exception to this, but it is The BBC is an exception to this, but it is interesting to note that the government has a interesting to note that the government has a certain degree of control over the BBC as they set certain degree of control over the BBC as they set certain degree of control over the BBC as they set the licence fee. This is why a line in BBC 2 sitcom the licence fee. This is why a line in BBC 2 sitcom the licence fee. This is why a line in BBC 2 sitcom Absolute Power depicting Tessa Jowell as a lapdog Absolute Power depicting Tessa Jowell as a lapdog Absolute Power depicting Tessa Jowell as a lapdog was cut. It is intriguing that many of those who do was cut. It is intriguing that many of those who do was cut. It is intriguing that many of those who do not want students to study media studies work not want students to study media studies work not want students to study media studies work in the media themselves. Almost as if they don’t in the media themselves. Almost as if they don’t in the media themselves. Almost as if they don’t want to reveal how little control they have, or how want to reveal how little control they have, or how want to reveal how little control they have, or how subtle and subversive media agendas can be. subtle and subversive media agendas can be. subtle and subversive media agendas can be. Perhaps they are concerned about competition, as Perhaps they are concerned about competition, as Perhaps they are concerned about competition, as many columnists such as “Our Woman in Crouch many columnists such as “Our Woman in Crouch many columnists such as “Our Woman in Crouch End” just churn out drivel about their home lives, End” just churn out drivel about their home lives, End” just churn out drivel about their home lives, parodied by the excellent Private Eye in its Polly parodied by the excellent Private Eye in its Polly Filler Column. Some, it is true, write interesting and Filler Column. Some, it is true, write interesting and

media disseminates certain information. For example, if you buy The Sun, The

Times or The News of the World you

Murdoch’s interests, reputation or those he relies on for � nancial and political support.

You will receive a � ltered and biased version of the news. An example of this is the deal struck between Murdoch and Tony Blair. Greg Palast states in The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

on the Internet. I was introduced to the use of

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