Theories of Media Power: Concentrated or Diffuse?

About the lecture

In this module we explore two key approaches to media power, focusing in particular on: (i) liberal pluralism and a more optimistic perspective on media power as relatively diffuse and tending towards democratisation and decentralisation; (ii) the concept of the ‘marketplace of ideas’ and the role played by the media in democratic life; (iii) possible effects of the mass media, e.g. on representation; (iv) radical criticism and a more pessimistic perspective on media power as tending towards becoming more concentrated over time; (v) Curran and Seaton’s arguments concerning media power.

About the lecturer

Dr Justin Schlosberg is Reader in Journalism and Media at Birkbeck, University of London. His work is concerned with questions of media ownership, ethics and justice in a post digital, post consensus world. He recently co-authored ‘The Media Manifesto’ (2020) and has researched digital agenda-setting and media political economy.