Press Ownership

Warm-up Task:

Should everyone be able to express their views, no matter what these views are?
Is social media causing a bit of a stir in how opinions are expressed?
What is the problem for a national newspaper, if they ‘express their views’?

Possible answers

On one hand, freedom of expression is a fundamental human right that is enshrined in many countries' laws and constitutions. This right allows individuals to express their opinions, ideas, and beliefs without fear of censorship or retribution. However, some views may be harmful, offensive, or hateful, and allowing them to be expressed without any consequences could lead to harm to others, including discrimination, harassment, and violence.
Social media platforms have given a voice to anyone with an internet and have enabled people to share their views with a global audience. However, social media also presents challenges in terms of managing and moderating content. The sheer volume of content and the speed at which it can be shared and disseminated makes it difficult to regulate and ensure that harmful content is removed quickly.
While newspapers have the right to freedom of expression and editorial independence, they also have a responsibility to ensure that their reporting is accurate, fair, and balanced. Expressing their views in a biased or unbalanced way could damage their reputation and credibility and could also be harmful to public discourse. Additionally, newspapers also have a responsibility to avoid spreading misinformation or harmful content, as directed by the IPSO which could have serious consequences for society as a whole.

KEY THEORY - HESMONDHALGH - cultural industries

Media industries function to minimise risk and maximise profits.
Cultural industries follow the normal capitalist pattern of increasing concentration and integration – cultural production is owned and controlled by a few conglomerates who vertically integrate across a range of media to reduce risk.
This means that the cultural industries rely on ‘big hits’ to cover the costs of failure. Hence industries rely on repetition through use of stars, genres, franchises, repeatable narratives and advertising.

What is vertical and horizontal intergation?

Vertical integration means that a newspaper organisation can produce, distribute and circulate their products ‘in house’ which helps to maximise profits because they are not having to pay outsourced companies.

Horizontal integration means that news organisation will either outsource or acquire other companies for their expertise. This can reduce profits if they have to pay them for their services.

Daily Mail and General Trust - conglomerisation through vertical integreation

Conglomerisation refers to the process of bringing together diverse businesses under a single ownership structure. In the case of the Daily Mail, the company has diversified its operations by acquiring other media companies and businesses that complement its core newspaper business.

The DMGT has thus far,

acquired the i newspaper from JPI Media in 2016.
acquired New Scientist, a UK-based science magazine, from Reed Business Information in 2021, further diversifying into the magazine field
launched the Mail Online, an online newspaper website for their print Daily Mail

Another example of conglomerisation: Reach PLC

Another contemporary example of a newspaper organisation conglomorising through vertical integration and diversification is Trinity Mirror and Northern & Shell. In 2018, Trinity Mirror acquired Northern & Shell, the owner of the Daily Express, the Daily Star, and OK! magazine, in a deal worth £126.7m. The acquisition made Trinity Mirror the largest newspaper publisher in the UK who are now known as Reach PLC.

The key benefits of this method of increasing ownership are:

Diversification: Conglomeration can enable Reach plc to diversify its revenue streams and reduce its reliance on its core newspaper business. By acquiring other media companies and businesses, such as local newspapers and websites, Reach plc can tap into new sources of revenue and growth opportunities.
Economies of scale: For example, Reach plc can consolidate printing operations, share resources across different newspapers such as journalists, and reduce duplication of effort. thus making them more profitable.
Cross-promotion: Conglomeration can enable Reach plc to cross-promote its different products and services to a wider audience.
Increased market share: By acquiring other media companies and businesses, Reach plc can increase its market share and become a dominant player in the media industry. This can provide the company with greater bargaining power with advertisers and other stakeholders.

Task: How do each of these concepts help newspapers maximise profit? Can you provide examples from The Guardian or Daily Mail?

CLICKBAIT
ADVERTISING
ONLINE NEWS
CLICKTHROUGHS
EDITORS WITH SAME IDEOLOGY / AGENDA

Possible answers

Clickbait: Clickbait headlines are designed to entice readers to click on an article by making it sound interesting or sensational. This can help newspapers increase their online traffic, which in turn can lead to higher advertising revenue. For example, The Daily Mail is known for using provocative and sensationalist headlines to attract readers to its articles.
Advertising: Advertising is a key source of revenue for newspapers, both online and in print. By selling ad space to businesses and other organisations, newspapers can generate income while providing valuable exposure for advertisers. For example, The Guardian is known for its high-quality, thought-provoking journalism and its appeal to a socially-conscious, progressive audience. This has allowed it to attract advertising from brands that want to align themselves with the newspaper's values and appeal to its readership.
Online news: Online news has become an increasingly important source of revenue for newspapers, as more and more readers consume their news digitally - print income is negligible. By providing high-quality, engaging online content, newspapers can attract and retain readers and generate advertising revenue.
Clickthroughs: Clickthroughs are a measure of how many people click on a link in an online article or advertisement. Newspapers can use clickthrough rates to track the effectiveness of their online content and advertising, and adjust their strategies accordingly.
Editors with same ideology/agenda: Editors with a shared ideology or agenda can help newspapers appeal to a particular audience and build a loyal readership. By consistently providing content that reflects the views and values of their target audience, newspapers can establish themselves as a trusted source of information and build brand loyalty. For example, The Guardian is known for its progressive, left-leaning editorial stance, which has helped it build a loyal readership among socially-conscious, liberal readers.

Press Freedom

Press freedom is the principle that communication and expression through various media should be considered a right to be exercised freely.

It is the right to report news or circulate opinion without censorship from the government.

Some countries do not have the ability to report freely on anything they please, without the government input.
In some countries, the government are the ‘news gatekeepers’ and essentially control and mediate what is shown to the public.

Think: With passive audiences still being very much a thing - what problems may this cause?

Possible answers

Passive audiences can be vulnerable to the manipulative effects of government-controlled news.
When the government censors news, it can shape public opinion and influence people's perceptions of events and issues.
Passive audiences may not have access to the full range of information and perspectives, which can lead to a skewed understanding of events and issues.
If the government censors the news, it can suppress or downplay reports of corruption, abuse of power, or other wrongdoing by officials.

Examples of countries where press freedom is threatened…

UK Press Ownership

Ownership is the owner of the newspaper.

Concentrated ownership is when the media industry is owned by less and less people.

The Sun, The Times and The Sun on Sunday are owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.
The Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, The i are owned by Lord Rothermere's Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT).
The Guardian and The Observer are owned by Scott Trust Limited.
The Daily Mirror, The Sunday Mirror, and The People are owned by Reach plc.

The owners of newspapers can influence the editorial stance and agenda of a newspaper and such, it’s political affiliation and how stories are mediated to suit the agenda.

KEY THEORY - Curran and Seaton

Patterns of ownership and control influence how the media operate.
Media industries increase the concentration of ownership by conglomorising and ‘buying’ out smaller companies.
This in turn means that the ownership of the media is in fewer and fewer hands - leading to narrowing of opinions and a pursuit for profit at the expense of quality.
This increased concentrated ownership does not offer a level playing field for diverse voices to be heard. For example, news is controlled by a limited number of extremely powerful conglomerates and organisations.

Press baron is an influential newspaper publisher or owner who usually controls more than one widely circulated newspaper.

Task: Is the UK newspaper industry controlled by a limited number of the hegemonic elite?

Make a list of ideas using all the knowledge you've acquired thus far in this unit of work.

Possible answers

The UK newspaper industry is dominated by a handful of large media companies, such as News UK (owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp), Daily Mail and General Trust, and Reach plc.
The concentration of ownership in the hands of a few powerful media companies means that there is less diversity in the types of news and opinions that are presented to the public. This can limit the range of perspectives and viewpoints that are available, and can result in a homogeisation of the news.
The ownership of UK newspapers is often linked to the interests of wealthy individuals and families, who may use their media platforms to promote their own political and economic agendas. For example, Rupert Murdoch is known for his conservative views and his support of right-wing political parties.
The close relationship between the UK government and the newspaper industry has also been a cause for concern. Politicians have been known to court the support of newspaper owners in order to gain favorable coverage, and there have been allegations of undue influence being exerted by media moguls - e.g. the Tony Blair and Murdoch scandal which is to this day suggested to be the main reason for Labour's victory in in 1997.
However, the rise of digital media has also led to the emergence of new players in the UK news market, such as The Real News, which offer alternative perspectives and challenge the dominant narratives of the mainstream media.

Daily Mail - Proprietor Ownership

The Daily Mail is owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT). The largest shareholder in DMGT is the Harmsworth family, who have a long history of ownership and control of the newspaper.

Lord Rothermere, a member of the Harmsworth family, is the chairman of DMGT and the controlling shareholder, with a stake of around 30% in the company.

Proprietor ownership allows individuals to exert a significant influence over the news and information that is disseminated to the public through their media outlets.

Advantages

It provides a clear and consistent editorial vision, as the proprietor can set the agenda and ensure that it is followed.
A strong brand identity and a loyal readership as the ideological stance is re-affirmed with every edition of the paper.

Disadvantages

Can also lead to a concentration of power and a lack of diversity in the media landscape.
Proprietors may use their media outlets to promote their own political interests, and may be less willing to publish views that conflict with their own.
Limiting range of opinions and perspectives that are presented to the public which can lead to the views of the hegemonic elite made stronger.

The Guardian - Trust Ownership

The Guardian newspaper is owned by The Scott Trust Limited, which is a trust set up to secure the long-term financial and editorial independence of The Guardian and its sister paper, The Observer. The trust was established in 1936 by John Scott, a former editor of The Guardian, and is now chaired by Alexander Scott, his grandson.

The Scott Trust is governed by a board of trustees, who are responsible for ensuring that The Guardian and The Observer remain free from commercial or political interference, and that they are run in the best interests of their readers. The trustees are drawn from a variety of backgrounds, including journalism, business, and academia, and are appointed for their expertise and experience.

The Scott's trust has a ethos of fearless independent journalism and want to promote investigative journalism to its affluent ABC1 audience.

Advantages

As a trust-owned newspaper, The Guardian is able to maintain its independence from commercial and political interests. This allows it to pursue stories and viewpoints that may be unpopular with a more politically-affiliated newspaper.
The Guardian sees itself as a public service, rather than simply a business. This is reflected in its commitment to investigative journalism, its support for public causes, and its willingness to take on powerful interests.

Disadvantages

The Guardian has struggled financially in recent years, and has had to make significant cuts to its staff and operations. This has led to concerns about the paper's long-term viability as the circulation rates are relatively low for the newspaper.
The Guardian is owned by a trust, rather than a wealthy individual or corporation. This means that it may have limited resources to invest in new technologies or to compete with larger media organisations.

The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty - Series 1: 1. KingmakerFamily, money and power intertwine in the inside story of Rupert Murdoch’s global empire.

Your task: Does the press have an impact on electoral elections?

Watch the documentary from the BBC and then research examples to support both sides of the argument. Then, answer the following question in two paragraphs:

Does the press have an impact on electoral elections?

You might want to focus on the following:

1992 general election and Conservative's win
1997 general election and The Sun's impact on Labour's landslide win
2010 general election
2016 Brexit referendum

Possible answers

The 1992 general election: The right-wing press, including The Sun and The Daily Mail, ran a series of front-page headlines attacking the Labour Party's leader Neil Kinnock in the lead-up to the 1992 UK General election. This coverage may have contributed to the Conservative Party's victory in the election.
The 1997 general election: The 1997 UK General election is often cited as an example of how the press can have a positive impact on a political campaign. During the campaign, the press was largely supportive of the Labour Party and its leader Tony Blair, with many newspapers endorsing the party's platform and policies. In particular, The Sun newspaper, which had supported the Conservative Party in every election since 1979, switched its allegiance to Labour in the lead-up to the 1997 election. The paper famously ran the headline 'The Sun Backs Blair' on its front page, with an editorial endorsing the Labour Party and its vision for the country.
The 2010 general election: The press heavily criticised the Labour Party and its leader Gordon Brown and this coverage may have contributed to the party's defeat and the formation of a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.
The 2016 Brexit referendum: The press played a significant role in shaping public opinion during the 2016 EU membership referendum campaign. Pro-Brexit newspapers, including The Sun and The Daily Mail, ran a series of front-page headlines attacking the European Union and its policies, most notable of which were The Sun's 'BeLeave in Britain' headline.

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