POLITICAL ECONOMY OF MEDIA

POLITICAL ECONOMY OF MEDIA

In week 2, we explored both broad and narrow understandings of political economy. For
this assignment, we will be applying the narrow definition, “the study of the social
relations, particularly the power relations, that mutually constitute the production,
distribution, and consumption of resources, including communication resources” (Mosco,
pg.2), to the analysis of a given media industry.

To structure your investigation, this assignment ask you to consider five specific questions
regarding how your chosen industry is and has come to be organized:

1) Who are the main players in the industry today?
2) How is the industry organized in terms of different aspects of production, distribution
and consumption?
3) Who are its primary customers?
4) What sort of changes has the industry gone through over the last 25 years?
5) What role do governments play in

Be sure to clearly define the media/communication industry you are investigating, and be
aware that the linkages between the answers to the above five questions are as important
as the answers themselves.

Your assignment requires a minimum (i.e. it can use more) of FOUR sources, TWO of
which must be scholarly in nature (i.e. from academic books or articles from scholarly
journals).

Some Appropriate Media/Communication Industries
– the American, Indian or Nigerian film industry
– the Canadian, American, Chinese or European wireless telecommunication industry
– the Mexican television industry
– the global Internet backbone industry
– and many more

MDSB25H3 POLITICAL ECONOMY OF MEDIA
Winter, 2015
Dr. Lewis Kaye [email protected]
Industry Analysis Assignment
15% of final grade
DUE DATE Week 7, February 25
ASSGN. LENGTH 3 – 3.5 pages, double-spaced PLUS bibliography
In week 2, we explored both broad and narrow understandings of political economy. For
this assignment, we will be applying the narrow definition, “the study of the social
relations, particularly the power relations, that mutually constitute the production,
distribution, and consumption of resources, including communication resources” (Mosco,
pg.2), to the analysis of a given media industry.
To structure your investigation, this assignment ask you to consider five specific questions
regarding how your chosen industry is and has come to be organized:
1) Who are the main players in the industry today?
2) How is the industry organized in terms of different aspects of production, distribution
and consumption?
3) Who are its primary customers?
4) What sort of changes has the industry gone through over the last 25 years?
5) What role do governments play in
Be sure to clearly define the media/communication industry you are investigating, and be
aware that the linkages between the answers to the above five questions are as important
as the answers themselves.
Your assignment requires a minimum (i.e. it can use more) of FOUR sources, TWO of
which must be scholarly in nature (i.e. from academic books or articles from scholarly
journals).
Some Appropriate Media/Communication Industries
– the American, Indian or Nigerian film industry
– the Canadian, American, Chinese or European wireless telecommunication industry
– the Mexican television industry
– the global Internet backbone industry
– and many more…