The Impact Of Media Ownership
The impact of media ownership
Media should play its role freely without the influence of any other parties or power. The media suppose to be the agent of change, development, stability, social cohesion, a platform for mental or intellectual reformation and its biggest role is as the market for any kind of information. But in reality, these roles are not fully applied as the interruption of the media owners inhabits some of its roles. As we all know, the owner has the full power towards the media that is under its control. Because of that, it gives impacts that affect our freedom to express and gain limited opinion.
One of the impacts that can be seen due to media ownership is there is no pluralism in the media system. Throughout the world, media pluralism is considered as a very important element for democracy. This is because media can ensure diversity especially in opinion and viewpoint of society of cultural, religion and ethnic diversity. In other words, pluralistic media is also considered as independent media. There are various concepts highlighted for media pluralism which are:
i. Pluralist view that the media are independent; ii. The independence of media from government, pressure groups and big conglomerations; iii. The relative independence of journalists in writing their articles; iv. Media freedom by reducing media ownership concentration, and by supporting more and diverse media voices;
v. Editorial independence in the mass media by supporting the efforts of journalists and media professionals to work freely and to resist all forms of internal and external pressure that undermine the quality and ethical standing of media; vi. Public engagement with media and policymakers in order to develop a more balanced, accessible and democratic media system; vii. A comprehensive strategy for diversity to help media meet the challenge of improving levels of diversity, both in content and within media institutions, and among broadcasters; viii. Awareness of
Media should play its role freely without the influence of any other parties or power. The media suppose to be the agent of change, development, stability, social cohesion, a platform for mental or intellectual reformation and its biggest role is as the market for any kind of information. But in reality, these roles are not fully applied as the interruption of the media owners inhabits some of its roles. As we all know, the owner has the full power towards the media that is under its control. Because of that, it gives impacts that affect our freedom to express and gain limited opinion.
One of the impacts that can be seen due to media ownership is there is no pluralism in the media system. Throughout the world, media pluralism is considered as a very important element for democracy. This is because media can ensure diversity especially in opinion and viewpoint of society of cultural, religion and ethnic diversity. In other words, pluralistic media is also considered as independent media. There are various concepts highlighted for media pluralism which are:
i. Pluralist view that the media are independent; ii. The independence of media from government, pressure groups and big conglomerations; iii. The relative independence of journalists in writing their articles; iv. Media freedom by reducing media ownership concentration, and by supporting more and diverse media voices;
v. Editorial independence in the mass media by supporting the efforts of journalists and media professionals to work freely and to resist all forms of internal and external pressure that undermine the quality and ethical standing of media; vi. Public engagement with media and policymakers in order to develop a more balanced, accessible and democratic media system; vii. A comprehensive strategy for diversity to help media meet the challenge of improving levels of diversity, both in content and within media institutions, and among broadcasters; viii. Awareness of
References: Kenney, K. & Simpson, C. (1993). Was coverage of the 1988 presidential race by Washinton’s two major dailies biased? Journalism Quaterly, 70(2), 345-355. Klein, M. W. & Maccoby, N. (1954). Newspaper objectivity in the 1952 campaign. Journalism Guaterly, 31(2), 285-296.