Media and the Ruling Class

The media serves the interests of the ruling class. Evaluate this view.

Key focus of the question: The idea that the media serve the interests of the ruling class is associated with Marxist theory. Good answers are likely to use the ideas of Marxist sociologists to explain the view expressed in the question. Contrasting perspectives will then be deployed to provide an evaluation of the claim that the media serve the interests of the ruling class.

Marxist sociologists argue that the content of the media is controlled by the owners of media conglomerates and, more broadly, by the capitalist ruling class. Interactionists would argue that only detailed study of individual instances of where decisions are made about media content would shed light on who controls the media and what interests are served. Feminist sociologists would highlight the extent to which the media are controlled by men and serve male interests predominantly. Pluralists argue that the media serve a diverse range of interests in society and no single group controls the media. Postmodernists would point out that the new digital media has created opportunities for more people to influence the media than was perhaps previously the case and this has taken some power away from elite groups.

Indicative content

For:
💥 Marxist sociologists argue that control of the media rests in the hands of owners of the media and companies that fund the media through paying for advertisements. Their interests are aligned with the capitalist ruling class as a whole and the media therefore are supportive of capitalist values and objectives. Others groups have little or no opportunity to influence the content of the media, in this view.
💥 Media conglomerates operate increasingly on a global scale and, arguably, this has extended their power to promote capitalist interests free from any controls or restrictions that national governments might seek to impose.
💥 Studies of the media by the Glasgow Media Group showed that the media represent power holders and other privileged groups in society in a favorable light. News coverage of industrial action, for example, tended to present owners and managers as reasonable and moderate while trade union officials representing the workforce were presented as aggressive, militant, and disruptive.
💥 Countries and regimes that reject the capitalist economic system are generally depicted by the Western media in a negative way, and their leaders are often ridiculed. This is the case currently with North Korea and was the case with Cuba and the Soviet Union in the past.
💥 Arguments that government💥controlled media outlets serve ruling class/elite interests.

Against:
💥 There are many cases where powerful lobby groups representing sections of society not directly linked to the capitalist ruling class have been successful in influencing the decisions taken by media organizations.
💥 In order to attract viewers and readers, media organizations must produce content that appeals to different sections of society. Not all of this content will reflect the interests of the ruling class.
💥 Government regulations often require some or all media organizations to operate in ways that allow scope for different groups in society to influence the media (for example, the BBC Charter). Government censorship may also act as a check on bias in the media that might favor the interests of one group over another.
💥 Digital optimists argue that the new media has provided powerful new means for individual citizens and protest groups to oppose established authorities (such as the ruling class) and argue for changes in society that benefit the less privileged and the poor.