MEDIA 2

• What is dominant ideology?

  An ideology that justifies the social advantages of the powerful and wealthy
• What does false consciousness refer to?


  A lack of awareness among people about their extent of exploitation
• What are ideological state apparatuses?

  Agencies that spread the dominant ideology and justify the power of the dominant social class
• How does the mass media transmit dominant ideology?

  By controlling the information published and presenting capitalism as normal and acceptable
• Who controls the mass media according to the study material?

  A very small group of people in the ruling class
• What role does the media play in false class consciousness?

  It helps maintain false class consciousness so the proletariat does not see their exploitation
• What do Marxist writers like Ralph Miliband argue about the media?

  That it is a tool used by the dominant group to control the masses and justify inequalities
• What phrase did Miliband use to describe the mass media?

  The "new opium of the people"
• What are the key aspects of the manipulative approach to media according to Miliband?

  • Media owners directly control media content
  • They manipulate content for profit
  • They spread the dominant ideology
  • They control editors and journalists for biased work
  • They produce content favoring the dominant class
  • They undermine threatening groups
• What evidence did Curran and Seaton find regarding media owners?

  They found evidence suggesting media owners interfered and manipulated newspaper content
• What did Rupert Murdoch admit regarding his control over the media?

  He exercised editorial control on major issues in the Sun
• How did former Times editor Harold Evans describe Murdoch's influence?

  He suggested Murdoch undermined editorial independence and pressed for right-wing views
• What assumption does the manipulative approach make about media audiences?

  That they are passive and easily manipulated
• What type of content does the theory argue media audiences are fed?

  A dumbed-down media diet of trivial and uncritical content
• What is the purpose of the trivial content fed to media audiences?

  To prevent them from focusing on serious issues
• What is a legal requirement for TV and radio news reporting in the UK?


  They must report news impartially.
• Why do Neo-Marxists criticize the manipulative approach to media?

  They argue that bourgeois owners do not micromanage media content.
• What do Traditional Marxists believe about media owners?

  They believe owners have a clear political view and economic interests.
• How do media owners' business interests affect their control over media content?

  Owners can only control the big picture, leaving content control to editors and journalists.
• What assumption does the manipulative approach make about audiences?

  It assumes that audiences are passive and easily manipulated.
• What do critics argue about audience behavior in relation to media messages?

  Critics argue that audiences can reject dominant readings and create new interpretations.
• What are the main criticisms of the manipulative approach to media?

  • TV and radio in the UK must report news impartially.
  • Neo-Marxists argue owners do not micromanage content.
  • Traditional Marxists believe owners project their political views.
  • Owners control the big picture, not specific content.
  • The approach assumes audiences are passive.
  • Critics argue audiences can reject dominant readings and create new interpretations.