Media Conglomerates, Mergers, Concentration of Ownership

by Anup Shah
This Page Last Updated Sunday, April 29, 2007
This page: http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/Media/Corporations/Owners.asp.
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Some nations can influence and control their media greatly. In addition, powerful corporations also have enormous influence on mainstream media.
In some places major multinational corporations own media stations and outlets. Often, many media institutions survive on advertising fees, which can lead to the media outlet being influenced by various corporate interests. Other times, the ownership interests may affect what is and is not covered. Stories can end up being biased or omitted so as not to offend advertisers or owners. The ability for citizens to make informed decisions is crucial for a free and functioning democracy but now becomes threatened by such concentration in ownership.
The idea of corporate media itself may not be a bad thing, for it can foster healthy competition and provide a check against governments. However, the concern is when there is a concentration of ownership due to the risk of increased economic and political influence that can itself be unaccountable.
Table of contents for this page
This web page has the following sub-sections:
Media Conglomerates, Mega Mergers, Concentration of Ownership
Vertical Integration
Interlocking Directorates
Disney
Concentration of ownership is where the problem largely lies
The Quest for the Public Airwaves
The Quest for the Internet?
More Information on Ownership issues

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