Sociology of the Media
Paper 4 – Media
In this topic area, candidates examine how the media is being transformed by recent developments, such as the growth of the new media, and the implications this has for the wider society. The aim is to understand where power lies in relation to the media and how individuals are influenced by media effects.
9 Ownership and control of media
Candidates will explore trends that are transforming the media today, such as the growth of the internet and digitalisation, and examine the question of who controls the media. Candidates will consider the influences on media content, the role of the state in media regulation, and the growth of the new media. The key concepts of Power, control and resistance, and Social change and development are important to these issues.
9.1 Traditional media and the new media
• Trends affecting the organisation of the media, including cross-media ownership, digitalisation, media conglomerates and social media.
• Debates about who controls the media.
• Differences between the traditional media and the new media.
• The debate about whether the traditional media has been undermined by the growth of the new media.
9.2 Theories of the media and influences on media content
• Pluralist theories of the media.
• Marxist and neo-Marxist theories of the media.
• Factors that influence the selection and presentation of news.
• The concepts of mass manipulation and hegemony as different ways of understanding the production of media content.
• The postmodernist contribution to understanding the media.
• Censorship as a factor influencing media content.
• How the media may influence the political process, including agenda setting, opinion polls, and news reporting.
9.3 The impact of the new media
• How the new media is contributing to globalisation.
• The new media as a challenge to existing power structures.
• The debate about digital optimism versus digital pessimism.
• The impact of the new media on social identities and interpersonal relationships.
10 Media representation and effects
Candidates will consider media representations, models of media effects, and how the media influences human behaviour. These ideas are linked to the key concepts Socialisation, culture and identity and Structure and human agency. Candidates will also consider studies that illustrate the impact of the media on human behaviour, which links to the key concepts Power, control and resistance, and Socialisation, culture and identity.
10.1 Media representations of class, gender, ethnicity, and age groups
• How different groups are represented in the media.
• Ways that the media contributes to gender socialisation.
• Moral panics around class, gender, ethnicity and age groups.
• The relationship between the media and popular culture.
10.2 Different models of media effects
• Direct effects models of media influence, including the hypodermic syringe model.
• Indirect effects models of media influence, including the uses and gratification model, the two-step flow model, the normative model and the cultural effects model.
• Debates about the strengths and limitations of the different models of media effects.
• Arguments and evidence about the extent to which human behaviour is influenced by the media.
10.3 The impact of the media on behaviour
• Arguments and evidence about the extent to which violent media leads to violent behaviour.
• The impact of the media on crime, including deviance amplification and moral panics.
• Ways in which the media might have a positive impact on human behaviour.
• Ways in which people may be affected by media sensationalism and stereotyping.
In this topic area, candidates examine how the media is being transformed by recent developments, such as the growth of the new media, and the implications this has for the wider society. The aim is to understand where power lies in relation to the media and how individuals are influenced by media effects.
9 Ownership and control of media
Candidates will explore trends that are transforming the media today, such as the growth of the internet and digitalisation, and examine the question of who controls the media. Candidates will consider the influences on media content, the role of the state in media regulation, and the growth of the new media. The key concepts of Power, control and resistance, and Social change and development are important to these issues.
9.1 Traditional media and the new media
• Trends affecting the organisation of the media, including cross-media ownership, digitalisation, media conglomerates and social media.
• Debates about who controls the media.
• Differences between the traditional media and the new media.
• The debate about whether the traditional media has been undermined by the growth of the new media.
9.2 Theories of the media and influences on media content
• Pluralist theories of the media.
• Marxist and neo-Marxist theories of the media.
• Factors that influence the selection and presentation of news.
• The concepts of mass manipulation and hegemony as different ways of understanding the production of media content.
• The postmodernist contribution to understanding the media.
• Censorship as a factor influencing media content.
• How the media may influence the political process, including agenda setting, opinion polls, and news reporting.
9.3 The impact of the new media
• How the new media is contributing to globalisation.
• The new media as a challenge to existing power structures.
• The debate about digital optimism versus digital pessimism.
• The impact of the new media on social identities and interpersonal relationships.
10 Media representation and effects
Candidates will consider media representations, models of media effects, and how the media influences human behaviour. These ideas are linked to the key concepts Socialisation, culture and identity and Structure and human agency. Candidates will also consider studies that illustrate the impact of the media on human behaviour, which links to the key concepts Power, control and resistance, and Socialisation, culture and identity.
10.1 Media representations of class, gender, ethnicity, and age groups
• How different groups are represented in the media.
• Ways that the media contributes to gender socialisation.
• Moral panics around class, gender, ethnicity and age groups.
• The relationship between the media and popular culture.
10.2 Different models of media effects
• Direct effects models of media influence, including the hypodermic syringe model.
• Indirect effects models of media influence, including the uses and gratification model, the two-step flow model, the normative model and the cultural effects model.
• Debates about the strengths and limitations of the different models of media effects.
• Arguments and evidence about the extent to which human behaviour is influenced by the media.
10.3 The impact of the media on behaviour
• Arguments and evidence about the extent to which violent media leads to violent behaviour.
• The impact of the media on crime, including deviance amplification and moral panics.
• Ways in which the media might have a positive impact on human behaviour.
• Ways in which people may be affected by media sensationalism and stereotyping.