The media is the mirror of society. It sets social, political and economic agenda and amplifies development. The media is one of the most powerful institutions because of the control it exercises over the information transmitted to the masses. It’s role in shaping public opinion. A strong, fair, objective and independent media helps in development of vibrant democracies and progressive societies. But the ownership of media controls most of the media and their content. Media ownership Media ownership is a process whereby individuals or organizations control shares of media companies. Media ownership manifests itself in the form of private and public owned media. Privately owned media is owned by individuals or companies who invest in media companies, while publicly owned media are state funded media institutions. Control of media by owner Traditional Marxists argue that those who own the media also control it. They note that the media is owned by members of the bourgeoisie: very wealthy business owners. They argue that these bourgeois owners instruct editors and journalists to put across particular messages to the audience. These messages spread the dominant ideology which seeks to justify the power and privilege of the bourgeoisie. Through this, the media is able to contribute towards creating a false class consciousness. The editors and journalists in newspapers and other media organizations depend on the owners for their jobs and therefore will not use any apparent autonomy they may have to resist the dissemination of bourgeois ideology. In Bangladesh media owner control the media by the following ways:

1. 1
Question 4
Introduction
The media is the mirror of society. It sets social, political and economic agenda
and amplifies development. The media is one of the most powerful institutions
because of the control it exercises over the information transmitted to the masses.
It’s role in shaping public opinion. A strong, fair, objective and independent media
helps in development of vibrant democracies and progressive societies. But the
ownership of media controls most of the media and their content.
Media ownership
Media ownership is a process whereby individuals or organizations control shares
of media companies.
Media ownership manifests itself in the form of private and public owned media.
Privately owned media is owned by individuals or companies who invest in media
companies, while publicly owned media are state funded media institutions.
Control of media by owner
Traditional Marxists argue that those who own the media also control it.
They note that the media is owned by members of the bourgeoisie: very wealthy
business owners. They argue that these bourgeois owners instruct editors and
journalists to put across particular messages to the audience. These messages
spread the dominant ideology which seeks to justify the power and privilege of the
bourgeoisie. Through this, the media is able to contribute towards creating a false
class consciousness.
The editors and journalists in newspapers and other media organizations depend on
the owners for their jobs and therefore will not use any apparent autonomy they
may have to resist the dissemination of bourgeois ideology.
In Bangladesh media owner control the media by the following ways:

2. 2
Ownership of media by Political views
If we look at the top television stations ownership in Bangladesh then we easily
understand how political views control the media. Given below some television
stations ownership:
1. Channel I – Independent
2. ATN News – pro-government/AL
3. ATN Bangla – pro-government/AL
4. Ekattur TV- pro- AL
5. DBC- pro-AL and owned by AL media Advisor
6. Independent TV- Pro-AL and owned by the PM’s advisor
7. NTV- owned by top BNP (opposition party which held power) leader
now not in Bangladesh and banned from running the station
8. Bangla Vision – pro-BNP once but owners not active now
9. Ekushey TV – pro-AL/government. Ex-owner was pro-BNP and now in
jail
10. Desh TV – owned by AL MP
11. RTV- pro-AL MP
12. Somoy TV – owned by AL minister of last cabinet
13. Jamuna TV- owned partly by JP MP
14. News24 – pro- government hence pro-AL now
15. Nagorik TV- Owned by ex-Mayor’s family who was pro-AL
16. Machranga – independent????
17. Channel 24- pro-/government /AL
18. Deepto TV – independent
19. GTV- owned by AL MP
20. SATV- pro-government/AL
21. Boisakhi – pro-AL / independent
22. Asian TV – independent
23. Mohona TV – owned by AL MP
24. My TV – independent
25. Duronta TV – children’s TV owned by AL cabinet member

3. 3
26. Bijoy TV – AL minister
The list shows TV ownership and affiliation with ruling party is highly positive.
It’s inevitable of course since the license is given by the Government on several
considerations including political risk. But it’s not just loyalists of conviction or
convenience but ruling party MPs and cabinet members who are owners, full or
part, of many such stations.
The issue is about regime friendly ownership. It doesn’t matter which regime it is.
NTV and Banglavision licenses were granted under the BNP regime and were/are
owned by top notch leaders of that party. The AL regime has been in power for a
decade and this period also means that those with enough resources to invest in a
non- profit sector like media have grown over a decade with connections with the
ruling class.
Pressure of advertisers
Advertising is the primary source of revenue for media. Advertisers funding for
everything that commercial media producer do. For this reason media owner
control the media and its content.
Pressure of laws
There are more than 10 laws related to the media in Bangladesh. Among these
important laws are The Special Power Act, 1974, The Official Secrets Act, 1923,
Bangladesh Television Authority Ain, 2001, The Press Council Act, 1974, The
Printing Press and Publication Act, 1973, The Censorship of Films Act, 1963 etc.
Most of the time, we trail to realize that free some can never. Be absolute Almost
the media system are subject to certain basic statutory controls.
Government policy
The government has a long indicated that it is dissatisfied with the existing media
ownership restrictions.

4. 4
1. GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP This describes a situation
whereby
government constitute the major financial either totally or partially of media
organization. The important thing is that such government must have control
of
major share of the media institution. The effect of this type of ownership is
that the
government determines and influence the contents of the media, a
phenomenon
that emanates out of government ownership, the suppressed and endared
journalist
will find it difficult to fill the leader that the is easy if actually he is made.
2. PRIVATE OWNERSHIP: This is a situation whereby an individual or a
group of people or corporation who wither completely own or has a larger
share in the financial up keep of the medium, for the purpose of information
dissemination and is able to finance dissemination and is able to finance
such medium adequately. These independent individuals and corporation run
a single media enterprise and nothing else, however, the Nigeria society does
not permit the private without the consent of the president of the federal
republic of Nigeria. The federal Government started giving such consent in
1992 and today we have quite a sizeable number of private owned radio and
television stations. Examples are Muritala International Television (MITV)
Cool FM (RADIO) and a lot of others in Lagos and outside Lagos.
Private ownership consists of three other ownership patterns these are: Chain
ownership, Cross ownership and conglomerate.
1. CHAIN OWNERSHIP: This is a situation where an individual err
corporate body owns possessed by an individual or group, Doris A. Garber
says it is multiple owners brand of ownership, such that the individual
control several radio station or several newspapers. The Zik press of 1930s
was an example.

5. 5
2. GROSS MEDIA OWNERSHIP: Suggest the possession of a combination
of
several media. The interference is that both^broadcast and print media ownership.
Example, of which Doris Harbor says, is the radio corporation of America. The
major effect of conglomerates is that any issues that oppose the operation of the
other branches of the conglomerates of business will not be examined” open ‘
mindedly”
3. CORPORATE OWNERSHIP: The corporate ownership is the one that
allow a
joint venture or partnership between the government federal or state and the
individual citizens of the nation. In this joints venture, emphasis focused on equal
participation from both parties informs of financial involvement in induction that
none of either parties should have pronounced power of dominance over the
organization.
4. PARTY OWNERSHIP: This describes the ownership power are exercised
by the political party (ies) existing in the country concerned as a result of the
parties’ financial control over and the funding of the media organization.
Ownership can be discussed in two levels Viz.
5. Party ownership in a society one party state
6. Party-ownership in a democratic multiple state,
7. PARTY OWNERSHIP IN A SOCIETY ONE PARTY STATE:
Is
synonymous with government for ownership this is so because the only
party
existing is the ruling party and his ruling party owns the media of
communication
by virtue of its political ideology; the detent USSR comes to mind as an
example
of a state where the media belong to the party and the government at the
same
time. The influence here is that the Soviet Union operated a one party state.

6. 6
8. PARTY OWNERSHIP IN DEMPCRATIC MULTI PARTY STATE: In
democratic multi party state where the exists many political parties each of
which
wants to rule the nations, the creation of a channel of communication that
will function as a math organ at such party that ordered it could be forced