political economy – media

These readings and video introduce issues of political economy, particularly in relation to media and big tech corporations. They raise questions about the relationship between democracy and corporate power.

WHILE IT MAY APPEAR TO BE A LOT OF READING, MOST ARE FAIRLY SHORT IN LENGTH.

Several of these readings are from the New York Times to which all UMass students have free access.  Follow this link for information on how to enroll:  https://websites.umass.edu/comm397ss-jsaxe/class-enroll-nyt/

  1.  What is Political Economy?  Media Studies 101, A Creative Commons Textbook.  December 8, 2013.
  2. Political Economics of Mass Culture.  Media Studies 101, A Creative Commons Textbook. December 6, 2013. First paragraph.
  3. Robert McChesney. Media, Markets, Policies. The Problem of the Media. Monthly Review Press. pp.18-24.
  4. Gene Chan. Big Tech Oligopoly. Seeking Alpha, May 14, 2019.https://seekingalpha.com/article/4263857-big-tech-oligopoly
  5. Emily Stewart. Two-thirds of Americans want to break up companies like Amazon and Google. Vox. September 18, 2019.
  6.  Mark Coatney.  We need a PBS for social media.  New York Times, September 24, 201
  7. Watch abridged version (37 minutes) of Digital Disconnect featuring Robert McChesney. Media Education Foundation. April 2018.

This requires logging in to UMass: Link to resource  to access Kanopy Streaming Services. Then search for Digital Disconnect.

Reading questions – written responses required 

  1.  What’s the story these readings and video tell?  What are some critical issues (take-aways) they address?  Reference at least two specific issues that seem important to highlight.  How

    https://www.businessinsider.com.au/these-6-corporations-control-90-of-the-media-in-america-2012-6

    do the issues raised in these readings relate to issues we’ve been discussing in class?

  2.  Your thoughts?   Ideas on how it might be changed?

Written assignments are single-spaced & typed in Times New Roman or Arial (size 12 font), 1-inch margins all around. Remember to proofread. Include a heading (single-spaced) that includes name, date, assignment title.  Turn in as a paper document.