Post 3

The ownership in the media industry has become more and more consolidated throughout history. Regulations that aimed to prevent this have become increasingly more lenient and even today the FCC is considering voting on making these regulations even more lenient. Why would the FCC want to make it possible for conglomerates to absorb more of the media industry?

Some of the members of the FCC were formerly involved with the conglomerates that dominate the media industry like Julius Genachowski, the chairmen who was once involved with fox news broadcasting. Now serving the FCC, members like Julius have a conflict of interest. Regulating an industry you are involved in may motivate you to make decisions that do not serve our democracy.

           

What is the problem with media consolidation? If only a few different companies dictate the content presented by the media, it really restricts what kind of content the public will receive. Instead of getting a variety of points of views and innovative ideas, the public will only have access to limited amounts of diversity. This in turn affects the consumers who are now being influenced and conditioned by what a small number of conglomerate owners want to release to the public.

Who owns the media? Five conglomerates own the majority of the media and the different forms media can take. News Corporation, General Electric, Viacom, Disney and Time Warner are the media giants that have been absorbing the majority of the media industry. Coincidentally white rich men head all of these conglomerates. If all of the point of views presented through the media outlets are based on the perception of rich white men, where does that leave the perceptions of the rest of the population?

This causes a major issue especially when it comes to minorities and women. In Debra Zimmerman's article, Women Makes Movies, she says, "A major problem, even today, is convincing men that films by and about women are important." Those in power of the media fail to offer proper representation of women and minorities and more often feed off stereotypes for profit. Sex sells, and woman have been increasingly sexualized over the years. People love stereotypes and find humor in it. Stereotypes sell, and that’s why these men in power who would not know how to properly portray the images of minorities and women regardless lean on what has worked for them and what will continue to work for them, the exploitation of woman and minorities. They express that the proper representation of woman and minorities is not important.

An alternative media organization that counteracts these messages and images the media giants have perpetuated is “Cinewomen NY”. Founded in 1994 its focus was to nurture and encourage women’s projects and artistic vision. They were multicultural and multiracial and became a non-profit organization in 1996. They would hold networking events, educational programs, and other opportunities for women’s work to be seen. In 2008 the organization joined forces with “New York Women in Film and Television”, another New York organization with the same focus and message. The organizations continue to develop the range of opportunities for woman in the entertainment industry and deliver the message mainstream media fails to produce.

 For More Info on NYWIFT & Cinewomen NY, see the link below.

www.nywift.org/article.aspx?id=2629