[...] However, these arguments depict opposing positions towards the equation that
Marx sketches “Having money means controlling the public and constructing a
dominant ideology.” This is not always the case in the media. Currently, many media
corporations whether independent or financially dependent do create a dominant
ideology, but this does not necessarily mean that the dominant ideology has to be
created only by those who have the fiscal means. To explore the extent to which this
statement is valid, this essay will first shed light on how the two globally known news
corporations (the BBC and Fox news channel) function. Then, a comparison and contrast will be drawn to see if each one of them plays a role in constructing a
dominant ideology in the recent Iranian Election.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
2.0 How does the BBC work?
3.0 How does Fox News work?
4.0 The BBC and Fox News portrayal of the Iranian Election
4.1 The News Headline
4.2 Hossein Mousavi
4.3 Ahmedinejad (the current government)
5.0 Conclusion
6.0 Bibliography
7.0 Appendix 1 (Fox News)
8.0 Appendix 2 (the BBC)
Objectives & Core Themes
This essay investigates whether media ownership—specifically within the BBC and Fox News—determines the construction of a dominant ideology, using the coverage of the 2009 Iranian election as a comparative case study.
- Theoretical examination of Marxist media control versus pluralist approaches.
- Comparative analysis of editorial framing and headline selection.
- Portrayal of political figures, specifically Hossein Mousavi and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
- Assessment of the influence of news outlets on public perception and "false consciousness."
- Evaluation of whether both independent and state-dependent media facilitate dominant ideologies.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 The News Headline
The headline in Fox News is stated differently from that of the BBC. Fox News puts it as “Ahmedinejad Takes Big Votes Lead as Rival Warns of Possible Fraud” (Appendix 1), whereas the BBC states it as “Ahmadinejad wins Iran presidential election” (Appendix 2). The Fox headline does not simply use the verb “win” the same way as the BBC does; instead, it uses the verb “take.” Although the two verbs can be fit into Action Process, which associated with a physical action in the process of election, “take” and “win” imply relatively different meanings. In Fox News, “take” appears less direct and perhaps indicates unfair procedures behind winning the election. On the other hand, the BBC only uses “win” to indicate that the process of winning the election was normal. Fox News also adds an intensifier “big” to suggest the abnormality of “Vote Lead”, which in turn offers an element of skepticism in the reader’s mind about the mechanisms in which the election was run. Also, the dependent clause “as Rival Warns of Possible Fraud” gives the reader a hint that the result of the election might be “illegitimate.” However, the BBC does not give much detail in the headline. It appears as though it is objective at the first sight as it hands the reader the precise information “Ahmadinejad won the election” with no further detail. However, this picture changes to some extent when reading the details of the story.
Summary of Chapters
1.0 Introduction: This chapter reviews scholarly debates regarding the influence of the bourgeoisie on media content, contrasting Marxist perspectives with liberal-pluralist theories.
2.0 How does the BBC work?: This chapter outlines the operational structure and funding of the BBC, highlighting its public service mission and autonomous status under a Royal Charter.
3.0 How does Fox News work?: This chapter examines the business model of Fox News, focusing on its private ownership by Rupert Murdoch and the resulting criticisms regarding political bias.
4.0 The BBC and Fox News portrayal of the Iranian Election: This chapter provides a comparative analysis of how both media organizations covered the 2009 Iranian election results.
4.1 The News Headline: This section analyzes linguistic differences in election headlines, demonstrating how specific word choices frame the perceived legitimacy of the outcome.
4.2 Hossein Mousavi: This section explores how both news outlets constructed ideological narratives around the political figure of Hossein Mousavi.
4.3 Ahmedinejad (the current government): This section discusses the portrayal of the incumbent government’s actions and the framing of political oppression.
5.0 Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes findings, concluding that both autonomous and dependent media corporations can successfully construct a dominant ideology.
Keywords
Marxism, Bourgeoisie, Dominant Ideology, Media Ownership, BBC, Fox News, Iranian Election, Hossein Mousavi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Journalism, Editorial Framing, Pluralism, Public Service Broadcasting, False Consciousness, Political Bias.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work investigates the validity of the Marxist theory that ownership of media resources determines the dissemination of a dominant ideology by comparing the BBC and Fox News.
What are the central themes discussed?
The themes include the relationship between media ownership models and editorial independence, the framing of international political events, and the role of language in constructing ideological perspectives.
What is the core research question?
The research asks whether the ownership of material resources by a ruling class or specific individuals is always the necessary condition for creating a dominant ideology in media output.
Which methodology is employed?
The author employs a comparative textual analysis of news coverage, specifically focusing on headlines and descriptive reporting during the 2009 Iranian election.
What does the main body cover?
The main body covers the structural and financial foundations of the BBC and Fox News, followed by a comparative case study of their reporting on the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include Marxism, Media Ownership, Ideology, Editorial Framing, and Political Bias.
How does the author distinguish between the BBC and Fox News?
The author distinguishes them by their funding models—public license fees versus private billionaire ownership—and examines whether these differences result in different ideological outputs.
What is the author's conclusion regarding the Marxist approach?
The author concludes that Marx was partially right, as both independent and dependent media organizations were shown to construct dominant ideologies despite their different operational structures.
- Quote paper
- Arafat Al Jameel (Author), 2009, Is Marxism the Base for Spreading a Dominant Ideology in the Media?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/145195
