Welcome!
We
are gathered here today to learn about how my world might work if I
ever make it happen...
Something
you may or may not be aware of that Peter Steven (2003) shares with
us is this piece of information: "Other capitalist media systems
around the world show the same patterns, whereby the ruling state has
encouraged, legislated or passively allowed a small number of media
groups... to control the various industries."
I don't know about you but I find that idea slightly frightening. Though, to be fair, when I think of the word 'empire' I do also think of power and leadership – good and bad.
I don't know about you but I find that idea slightly frightening. Though, to be fair, when I think of the word 'empire' I do also think of power and leadership – good and bad.
The Oxford Dictionary defines the word 'empire' as “an
extensive group of states or countries ruled over by a single
monarch, an oligarchy, or a sovereign state.” This definition isn't
particularly appealing to me but if
I had the chance to be some sort of media mogul I'd use that power
for my idea of 'good': helping people to connect with one another and
find information. Was that not the original purpose of the media?
I wouldn't do it in a forceful way; I don't want to be responsible for some gigantic culture clash. I don't want to dictate. I don't want a Murdoch-eqsue right-wing agenda. I wouldn't try to push physical flows or culture flows. I WOULD try to push media and information flows. Maybe even capital flows. Don't think I'm being Marxist. There's a difference between being Marxist and encouraging equality across all subgroups of the population.
I wouldn't do it in a forceful way; I don't want to be responsible for some gigantic culture clash. I don't want to dictate. I don't want a Murdoch-eqsue right-wing agenda. I wouldn't try to push physical flows or culture flows. I WOULD try to push media and information flows. Maybe even capital flows. Don't think I'm being Marxist. There's a difference between being Marxist and encouraging equality across all subgroups of the population.
I
don't want ownership. I understand that there are many different
cultures and ways of life. I don't want to impose any one ideal onto
all human beings but I do think it's important that we find a way to
connect to one another and open our eyes and minds to how the rest of
the world is living.
This probably sounds much too idealistic but I don't like the definition of an empire as it stands and I don't like the idea of capitalist media systems. I'm just enjoying envisioning a world where the media focus less energy on creating a biased influence over the information we receive.
This probably sounds much too idealistic but I don't like the definition of an empire as it stands and I don't like the idea of capitalist media systems. I'm just enjoying envisioning a world where the media focus less energy on creating a biased influence over the information we receive.
References
Steven, P 2003, The no-nonsense guide to the global media, New Internationalist, Oxford, p. 48
“empire”, Oxford Dictionaries April 2010, Oxford University Press, Retrieved July 23 2012 <http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/empire>
Steven, P 2003, The no-nonsense guide to the global media, New Internationalist, Oxford, p. 48
“empire”, Oxford Dictionaries April 2010, Oxford University Press, Retrieved July 23 2012 <http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/empire>
Your blog almost has a sense of humour to it. It is very relatable and you have connected well with me as you have been very blunt about what you do and do not want in your media empire. This is shown by your short sentences and constant periods. You introduced your argument quite cleverly, "you may or not be aware". It brings the blog back down to a personal level and I am intrigued- it feels as though you are speaking to me. Your constant use of 'you' keeps me engaged and I believe this is why I am interested. As this is a personal piece, you have done a great job of mixing scholarly referencing with your own argument to make it unique. Good job!
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