Neo Marxist View of Media Ownership and Control | The Media | AQA A-Level Sociology

Summary

This video delves into Neo-Marxist perspectives on media ownership and control. Unlike traditional Marxism, which focuses on media owners, Neo-Marxists argue that journalists and editors, often from similar elite backgrounds, perpetuate the ruling class's ideology. They suggest that media content reflects the interests of the upper and middle classes, sidelining working-class issues like inequality. Drawing on Antonio Gramsci's theory of hegemonic ideas, the video explains how media reinforces the status quo. Critics, including traditional Marxists and pluralists, challenge these views, arguing that media ownership and public demand play a larger role in shaping content.

Takeaways

• 😀 Neo-Marxists agree with traditional Marxism that media transmits the ruling class's ideology, but they focus on journalists and editors, not just owners, as the key players.
• 😀 Journalists and editors often share similar backgrounds with media owners, which influences the media content to align with the ruling class's values.
• 😀 The Glasgow University Media Group found that most senior media roles are filled by individuals educated at elite institutions like Oxford and Cambridge, reinforcing class-based values.
• 😀 Neo-Marxists argue that media professionals, who often come from the middle class, make content decisions that reflect their cultural background, which in turn maintains the status quo.
• 😀 The media tends to exclude topics like inequality and poverty while focusing on issues beneficial to the wealthy, such as the economy, thus serving the interests of the ruling class.
• 😀 Neo-Marxists draw on Antonio Gramsci's concept of 'hegemony,' which explains how institutions like the media promote the dominant ideology that preserves the current power structure.
• 😀 Hegemonic ideas are often centrist political views that preserve the status quo, and media marginalizes radical or revolutionary ideas by portraying them as abnormal or unworthy.
• 😀 Neo-Marxists point out that dissenting voices, such as environmental activists like Greta Thunberg, are often treated negatively by the media, reinforcing hegemonic values.
• 😀 Traditional Marxists argue that media content is primarily controlled by the owners, not the journalists, while Neo-Marxists believe journalists play a critical role in shaping content.
• 😀 Critics of Neo-Marxism, such as pluralists, argue that the media reflects public opinion and that people have access to alternative media sources, challenging the idea of elite control.
• 😀 Neo-Marxists counter pluralist views by pointing out the concentration of media ownership, where a few large corporations control the majority of media content, limiting diversity.

Q & A

What do Neo-Marxists believe about media ownership and control?

Neo-Marxists believe that media transmits the ideology of the ruling class, but they focus on the role of the media employees, such as editors and journalists, rather than the media owners themselves. These employees often share a similar cultural background with the owners, which helps to perpetuate the dominant ideology.

How do Neo-Marxists view the role of media employees in shaping the media's content?

Neo-Marxists argue that media employees, such as journalists and editors, are crucial in shaping media content. These individuals often have a similar social background as the owners, aligning their values with those of the ruling class, which influences the content they produce.

What role does the cultural background of media employees play according to Neo-Marxists?

According to Neo-Marxists, the cultural background of media employees is essential in shaping the media content. These employees are often from privileged backgrounds, having attended elite schools like Oxford or Cambridge, which helps to reinforce the dominant ideology in the media.

What evidence supports the Neo-Marxist view on media employees' backgrounds?

Evidence from the Glasgow University Media Group supports the Neo-Marxist view, showing that a large percentage of senior journalists and editors in the media have been privately educated, are predominantly white, and come from middle-class backgrounds, further reinforcing the dominant ideology.

How do Neo-Marxists argue that media content reflects the interests of the ruling class?

Neo-Marxists argue that media content often reflects the interests of the ruling class by focusing on issues that align with their values, such as economic matters, while rarely addressing topics like inequality, poverty, or workers' rights, which would challenge the existing social order.

What is the concept of 'hegemonic ideas' in Neo-Marxist theory?

The concept of 'hegemonic ideas' comes from Antonio Gramsci, who argued that social institutions like education, religion, and media propagate the dominant ideology of the ruling class. These ideas are often centrist and aim to maintain the status quo, discouraging radical or revolutionary political viewpoints.

How does the media treat dissenting political views, according to Neo-Marxists?

Neo-Marxists argue that the media often marginalizes dissenting political views, portraying them as abnormal or outside the realm of acceptable discourse. This is done to preserve the status quo and prevent radical political ideas from gaining traction.

How does Neo-Marxism explain the media's treatment of environmental activists like Greta Thunberg?

Neo-Marxists explain that the media's initial treatment of environmental activists like Greta Thunberg reflects the media's tendency to view radical political ideas as abnormal. Activists questioning the reliance on fossil fuels are often portrayed in a negative light, reinforcing the dominant, status-quo-supporting narrative.

What criticism do traditional Marxists have of Neo-Marxist views on media control?

Traditional Marxists criticize Neo-Marxists by arguing that it is the owners of the media, rather than journalists and editors, who micromanage the content. They believe that media content is directly dictated by the owners to promote the political ideologies that support their interests.

How do pluralists respond to Neo-Marxist arguments on media control?

Pluralists argue that the media reflects popular culture and the concerns of the general public, rather than being controlled by a small group of elites. They also point out that the public can access alternative forms of media, which allows them to ignore the agenda set by mainstream media sources.