Step 1
Write a 2-paragraph post in which you address the following question.
Most material on media mega-mergers focuses on the detriments of media conglomeration instead of the benefits. Do you agree or disagree with this approach? In either case, use at least one example or statement from the Lotz article in your response. You response may also bring in information from previous readings or lecture.
Amanda Lotz, “AT&T-Time Warner, net neutrality and how to make sense of the media merger frenzy”
Step 2
Write a one-paragraph response to one of your classmate’s posts. This response needs to engage with what was said. “This is very interesting” is not an acceptable response.
You will be graded on how well you complete both parts of the assignment.
Step 3
Answer the following questions
Note that this article appeared earlier this year. Since then, Disney’s path to buying Fox is much clearer, and the merger should be completed in early 2019.
Why did the US Department of Justice try to prevent the AT&T and Time Warner merger?
Why, according to Lotz, is the AT&T and Time Warner merger so significant?
Why is the government usually more concerned about horizontal integration than vertical?
How does infrastructure matter in media mergers?
What is the relationship between net neutrality and these recent media mergers?
What does Lotz mean by “abandonment of the separations principle?”
2 attachments
Slide 1 of 2
attachment_1
attachment_1
attachment_2
attachment_2
UNFORMATTED ATTACHMENT PREVIEW
Media Mergers Why media corporations seek to merge Greater profits · slimmed-down operations · synergy Horizontal integration— multiple similar companies Vertical integration— companies in different stages of production (many companies doing the same things) · Adapt to changes in industry shifts in media habits new technologies, ex: Netflix · Global marketplace a multinational corporation is better positioned than a local one. Why are people critical of media mergers? · Fear of monopolies/oligopolies belief that competition and diversity are goof for society · Concern that a media giant will control the flow of information ex: Sinclair Broadcasting’s openly partisan practices ex: Sinclair “must run” Classmate’s posts Even though many articles focus on the negative side of media mergers rather than the positive aspects, I don’t think that this is inherently a bad thing. Even in the best examples of journalism, a bias can be present. And sometimes in journalism, a bias can even be extremely important and informative for the audience. We saw this in lecture when we discussed Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite. Although it is usually in a journalist and the audience’s best interest if the information covers both sides of an argument, the audience is commonly just concerned with the negative sides of things. For example, in the case of media mergers and net neutrality, people are most concerned with the consequences to their lives, television shows, and wallets. That is why most of the reporting done on this subject is about the detriments. In the article, Lotz uses her knowledge as a media scholar to write about how media mergers and net neutrality will affect American consumers. Because she knows that many Americans fear incoming media changes due to horizontal and verticle integrations and policy changes, she uses her platform to warn consumers of what is to come. She explains some complex media terms such as vertical and horizontal integration so that everyone can understand them. She presents the information in a way that is extremely helpful to those who are worried. For example, Lotz explains as a specific warning, “AT&T will be able to treat its own content favorably – for example, HBO won’t have to pay to receive fast-lane access on AT&T’s internet service – but AT&T will likely require competing services such as Netflix to pay up. AT&T might also make HBO very expensive for those who do not receive its internet service in order to encourage subscribers to switch providers.” To conclude, just because most material focuses on the bad side of media mergers, does not mean that those materials are not informative and have the audiences best interest in mind. Because of this, I agree with this approach.
Purchase answer to see full attachment
Tags: media and culture meida and culture mega-mergers