UK News Ownership Essay
Newspapers are produced in many different ways which influence their ownership and regulation. In this essay, I will refer to The Guardian and The Daily Mail as key examples.
Britain has one of the most concentrated media environments in the world; a lot of power in a very small number of owners. There are three main companies, these are News UK (Also called News Corp), Daily Mail Group and Reach, they dominate up to 83% of national newspaper circulation.
When online readers are included, just five companies dominate nearly 80% of the market, these are News Corp, Daily Mail Group, Reach, Guardian, and Telegraph. This could be a bit worrisome as there is a lack of media plurality.
The Guardian is owned by an independent trust called ''Scott Trust'', this was created in 1936 with the aim of securing the editorial independence of The Guardian. Scott Trust operates under a unique ownership structure, meaning its free of commercial pressures. Scott Trust consists of a group of different people from different backgrounds, who all have an equal foundation in the trust. They also operate under a Reader Funding Model; if you pay for a subscription you can not only avoid adverts but interact via comments as well. The Daily Mail is owned by a large conglomerate. Ownership is concentrated in the hands of very few powerful individuals such as Lord Rothemere who owns the Daily Mail. As there are only a few Newspaper groups who own the UK market, we can refer to this as an oligarchy. Daily Mail differs to The Guardian, Daily Mail is more likely to choose popular pieces rather than in-depth political pieces, or celebrities' news. Daily Mail is skeptical of the European Union, for Brexit, they support a free market economy and British traditions such as the royal family
Curran and Seaton would argue that there is supported by Daily Mail. In the UK newspapers are owned by a small number of rich white men who want to make money and influence people but lack responsibility; Curran & Seaton state that if these men have that power of people's opinions they should be able to use it responsibly. Curran and Seaton suggest that newspapers don't take responsibility for what they put out there, for the world to read. Newspapers are more reliant on profit which is irresponsible because journalism should be about telling the truth.
Scott's Trust is evidence that not all newspapers are about profit, that some can be about taking responsibility. The Guardian has liberal values which are reflected in academics, charity workers and filmmakers. The Guardian refuses theory and regulates its own journalism in order to be more responsible. They reject what they consider to be unethical and irresponsible however they do lose a lot of profit/interest while doing so.
To conclude, The Guardian and The Daily Mirror operate in two heavily different ways. The Guardian operates in a more liberal independent way which mimics their support of left-wing values; equalism, etc. While The Daily Mirror is more on the right-wing economically side; all about profit.
If a country has free press it means in the newspaper the publishers are allowed to express the opinions they want, even if these opinions criticize the government. In the UK the press is free; when we look at the news, whether it be online or a physical paper copy, it will be opinionated and we are able to break down. This differs from television/media who have to express both sides whereas newspapers can express whichever they want.
When online readers are included, just five companies dominate nearly 80% of the market, these are News Corp, Daily Mail Group, Reach, Guardian, and Telegraph. This could be a bit worrisome as there is a lack of media plurality.
The Guardian is owned by an independent trust called ''Scott Trust'', this was created in 1936 with the aim of securing the editorial independence of The Guardian. Scott Trust operates under a unique ownership structure, meaning its free of commercial pressures. Scott Trust consists of a group of different people from different backgrounds, who all have an equal foundation in the trust. They also operate under a Reader Funding Model; if you pay for a subscription you can not only avoid adverts but interact via comments as well. The Daily Mail is owned by a large conglomerate. Ownership is concentrated in the hands of very few powerful individuals such as Lord Rothemere who owns the Daily Mail. As there are only a few Newspaper groups who own the UK market, we can refer to this as an oligarchy. Daily Mail differs to The Guardian, Daily Mail is more likely to choose popular pieces rather than in-depth political pieces, or celebrities' news. Daily Mail is skeptical of the European Union, for Brexit, they support a free market economy and British traditions such as the royal family
Curran and Seaton would argue that there is supported by Daily Mail. In the UK newspapers are owned by a small number of rich white men who want to make money and influence people but lack responsibility; Curran & Seaton state that if these men have that power of people's opinions they should be able to use it responsibly. Curran and Seaton suggest that newspapers don't take responsibility for what they put out there, for the world to read. Newspapers are more reliant on profit which is irresponsible because journalism should be about telling the truth.
Scott's Trust is evidence that not all newspapers are about profit, that some can be about taking responsibility. The Guardian has liberal values which are reflected in academics, charity workers and filmmakers. The Guardian refuses theory and regulates its own journalism in order to be more responsible. They reject what they consider to be unethical and irresponsible however they do lose a lot of profit/interest while doing so.
To conclude, The Guardian and The Daily Mirror operate in two heavily different ways. The Guardian operates in a more liberal independent way which mimics their support of left-wing values; equalism, etc. While The Daily Mirror is more on the right-wing economically side; all about profit.
Mainly excellent. You understand the different ownership models and you touch on how this might link to politics. This is an area for development. You could expand on regulation and IPSO, and the links to the free press. however overall you understand ownership well. 8/10
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