The document defines institutions as enduring structures that constrain and coordinate individuals according to shared principles and values. It discusses how media institutions produce media texts and how their ownership influences the concept of institution. Global media ownership is now highly concentrated, with a few companies controlling many outlets worldwide.

1. MEDIA INSTITUTIONS
L E S SON OB J ECT I V E : TO E X AMI N E T H E K E Y CONCE P T
O F ‘ I N S T I T U T I O N S ’

2. INSTITUTIONS ARE (ACCORDING TO KEY CONCEPTS IN
COMMUNICATION BY O'SULLIVAN, FISKE, HARTLEY & SAUNDERS 1983)
"Those enduring regulatory and organising structures
of any society, which constrain and control
individuals and individuality... the term more precisely
refers to the underlying principles and values
according to which many social and cultural
practices are organised and co-ordinated.“
• 'School' is a major institution, as is 'home'.
• In Media Studies, we are most concerned with the
institutions responsible for producing media texts.

4. Basically, understanding institution is about
understanding
•who produces media texts
•what their set of codes and values is
•their relationship to us as individuals

5. INSTITUTION HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH MEDIA
OWNERSHIP
As global patterns of ownership change, so does the
concept of Institution.
Media ownership is now concentrated in the hands
of a few companies worldwide, and these
companies own examples of many different media.

6. COMPETITION TIME
Who is this?

7. QUESTION
Who owns the media?

8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpfWKdCWRZI
As you watch the documentary, take notes about
Murdoch and the way he created his media empire
and how he made an impact on media institutions.