Flew, T. (2014) New Media. Sydney: Oxford University Press.
This innovative and almost brand-new book is one of the most important resources in this project. Providing a clear and easy explanation of the media theories combined with new media and contemporary case studies. The author explores the role of media in a globally networked society. It examines the social, political and economic impact of the new technologies in creativity, industry and culture from a cross-disciplinary perspective. It is definitely a step forward from the Hermann and Chomsky propaganda model, although part of its theoretical background has its roots in Hermann and Chomsky theory. Moreover, it provides a clear example of how to structure the critical analysis in the final project.
Hermann, E. and Chomsky, N (2002) Manufacturing consent: the political economy of the mass media. New York: Pantheon Books.
In this innovative work, Herman and Chomsky show that the media defend the economic, social and political agendas of the privileged groups that dominate the society, the state and the global order. Based on a series of case studies, including what will be described towards the end of the opera the agenda setting. The media’s treatment of ‘worthy’ and ‘unworthy’ news and how this phenomenon is influenced by government and ownership. Herman and Chomsky draw on decades of criticism and research to propose a Propaganda Model to explain the media’s behaviour and performance. In this book, they add a new introduction and updates to the Propaganda model originally elaborated by them, and they discuss several case studies and other applications. What emerges from this work is a powerful assessment of how propagandistic the U.S mass media are, how they systematically fail to live up to their self-image as providers of the kind of information that people need to make sense of the world, and how we can understand their function in a radically new way. The most important element of this resource is that it provides a theoretical and socio-political background, that enables the reader to develop a critical analysis towards any kind of public service broadcaster.
Thomas, P (ed) and Zaharom, N (ed) (2002) Who owns the media? Global trends and local resistances. London: Zed Books
This book covers the ownership of the media and issues related to the governance of global media institutions are of immense public significance. Not only are the cultural industries a major source of contemporary powers (economic, political, social) they are also the primary definers of consciousness in most parts of the contemporary world. This book focuses especially on media ownership and how this could influence agenda setting and the propaganda. The pro-war stance on Iraq, actively supported by mainstream media in the USA, is merely the latest example of the agenda-setting role of global media. Despite, it mainly focuses on US events, it is clear that the reader could use those examples as a template to analyse similar content in other countries. For instance, the work refers to cross-media ownership and similar initiatives in the United Kingdom and in other parts of the world. Explaining how fewer owners and greater concentration of media often result in the downgrading of plurality, diversity and access to a variety of opinion, and contribute to the hamstringing of democratic discourse.
Media ownership patterns and permutation today are a direct consequence of the globalisation of neo-liberal economics. While there are some regional variations in the ownership mix the trend, from South Africa to Argentina and India to East and Central Europe, clearly illustrated in the selection of writings in this book.
This book offers a collection of critical writing from different parts of the world, providing a richly textured reading of the political economy of contemporary media ownership. A perfect example on how to analyse and structured a research based on socio-political topics such as the media ownership and providing different case studies enable the reader to get a better and clear idea on how to develop his research.
Framing Public life. Perspectives on Media and our understanding of the Social world. (2001) Edited by Reese Stephen, Gandy Oscar H and Grant August. London: Routledge.
This volume offers a blatant example of what it means framing analyses. If all the previous cited resources were clear and easy to understand, even for readers with no socio-political knowledge, this book requires a sociological preparation. An interdisciplinary approach has been used to the study of conceptualising and examining media. It illustrates how texts and those who provide them powerfully shape or frame our social worlds and affect our public life. Embracing qualitative and quantitative, visual and verbal, and psychological and sociological perspectives, this book helps the reader to develop a multifaceted understanding of the media power, especially in news and current affairs. Moreover, it includes theoretical discussion and critical reviews of literature as well as a variety of case studies and research reports. It explores the ways in which the concept of framing can guide the reader through the shaping and effects of media messages. In conclusion, it provides an explanation of what it is framing analysis enabling the reader to understand the role of media in guiding the public thought and political behaviour and vice versa.
Hibberd, M. (2008) The media in Italy: press, cinema and broadcasting from unification to digital. Berkshire: Open University Press.
Part of the final project is focused on Italian media. This book provides an overview of the history of the Italian media, as well as analysing its main components and its influence on the public sphere and politics. The Italian media is one of the most controversial in Europe.
As previously said, in the introduction the author explores the key historical processes and events in the growth and development of Italy’s main media and considers it in the context of the economic, political and socio-cultural movement that have affected Italy. From the Unification in 1861 until former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s era, Hibberd analysis the media development through the years focusing on how the major events in the Italian history have been influencing the media. This book also addresses the key themes that showed how Italian media operate, such as: why there is a close relationship between political elites and media professionals or how governing parties have been able to influence the media. In conclusion, it provides a real and critical explanation of the public service broadcaster in Italy allowing the reader to understand the historical and socio-political background.
Zollmann, F. (2017) Media, Propaganda and the politics of Intervention. New York: Peter Lang Publishing,
According to Zollmann: “despite public controversies about fake news and misinformation, there has been a very little discussion on techniques of propaganda”. The author is considered a pioneer thanks to his studies and deep analysis of the propaganda model, created by Hermann and Chomsky. On the basis of an examination of more than one thousand newspaper articles, he investigates US, UK and German media reporting of the military operations in Kosovo, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Egypt. The book demonstrates how the humanitarian intervention is only evoked in the news media if so-called ‘enemy’ countries of the Western states are the perpetrators of human rights violations. In conclusion, all the resources analyse the Propaganda model, ownership and political influence on media using different ‘angles’. Also, providing different approaches and methodology examples.
However, Zollmann piece of work it is the perfect example of an excellent, modern, original and socio-political project, with background theories and an interesting critical analysis of the modern society.