Clear Channel and the Cultural and Socio-Political...

Clear Channel and the Cultural and Socio-Political Ramifications of Media Consolidation I.INTRODUCTION In 1996, Congress passed the Telecommunications Act thereby lifting restrictions on media ownership that had been in place for over sixty years (Moyers 2003; Bagdikian 2000: xviii). It was now possible for a single media company to own not just two radio stations in any given local market, but eight. On the national level, there was no longer any limit on the number of stations a company could own – the Act abandoned the previous nation-wide ownership cap of forty stations (20 FM and 20 AM). This â€Å"anti-regulatory sentiment in government† has continued and in 2004 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a new rule that†¦show more content†¦2004: 3; Chen 2003). While the phenomenon of rampant media consolidation made possible by the government’s deregulatory practices has been greeted with general enthusiasm by the corporate world, it has left others in society gravely concerned. Media critics and cultural studies observers have voiced concerns over the negative consequences they believe accompany the phenomenon. They see the erosion of the idea that radio is to serve the public interest; they see a stifling of diversity and less choice for the consumer; and they see a threat to American democracy in the form of a possibly insurmountable corporate media hegemony. And for many, Clear Channel is â€Å"the ‘poster child’ for what’s wrong with media deregulation† (Cornell Univ. 2004: 66). Unfortunately however, a February 2004 poll by the Pew Research Center found that â€Å"72 percent of the public has heard nothing about the media ownership [and consolidation] debate† (Connell 2004). Understanding how corporate mergers and consolidation affect the way in which the media function (especially in the realms of production and distribution) and how the media in turn directly impacts our society, our culture, our economy, and our politics – in short, our entire lives – is a necessaryShow MoreRelatedMarketing Management130471 Words   |  522 Pages21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Unit Title Marketing management – an introduction Marketing environment Marketing with other functional areas of management Market segmentation Market targeting and positioning Product management Brand management Pricing Channel design and management Retailing and Wholesaling Integrated Marketing Communication Advertising management Sales promotion Personal selling Public r elations Understanding individual consumer behaviour Understanding industrial consumer behaviour CustomerRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesDavid M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral SocietiesRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesorganization studies. Mihaela L. Kelemen, Professor of Management Studies, Keele University, UK An unusually rich and deep philosophical book on organization theory with several new thinkers and ideas. Pedagogically a well-structured book with many clear learning objectives, cases, examples and good summaries for every chapter. Professor Martin Lindell, Hanken Business School, Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration, Finland This book makes it easier to understand the current stand

The Taj-Mahal free essay sample

A symbol of Love In my opinion, The Taj Mahal would be a great place for a travel brochure. I visited Taj Mahal few years ago with my family. The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, close to the capital of India, Delhi. I had been hearing about the beauty and the story behind it since my childhood. After my visit to the Taj Mahal, I could see why it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is beautiful not just in daylight but at night also, especially in the moonlight. The Taj Mahal represents India the same way that the Eiffel Tower does for France. The Taj Mahal is also known as Taj in India. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. History says that it took almost twenty years and twenty thousand workers to build it. We will write a custom essay sample on The Taj-Mahal or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is made of a pure white variety of marble specially brought from Rajasthan and Iran and expert architects from France, Italy and other European countries with the chief architect Isha Khan from Iran. Legend also says that the right thumb of Isha was chopped off afterwards so that he could never recreate a similar peace of beauty. It was completed in 1648 C. E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. I, with my family, reached the Taj Mahal in the afternoon. The bright sunrays on the white marble make the Taj very brighter and attractive. As soon as we entered the main gate, there was a beautiful garden with green lawns, Cyprus trees and a fountain in the middle. I have heard from people that there are around 16 wells under the main construction of the Taj Mahal. It is actually build on the bank of the river Jamuna, India’s one of the largest rivers. The Taj was reflected in the water of the Jamuna. From outside if you look at the Taj, it looks small but when we saw it closely, we could see how large and solid it really was. Standing on the marble steps, we could feel the height touching the sky. Before climbing the steps to the tomb, visitors always remove their shoes as a mark of respect. As we went inside, there was a marble tomb decorated with precious stones. Mumtaz Mahal wanted to be buried in this grave. The real tomb of Mumtaz lies in a small room lower down which one can reach by descending some steps. The hall was so charming with the most beautiful patterns of marble-works. Everything inside is covered with engravings from the holy Quran. Also there are some floral designs inlaid with attractive stones of various colors. I was feeling amazing looking at the real beauty of the Taj Mahal that I had been hearing from others and seen on TV. It was more precious and beautiful than that. Visitors stay here all day, resting at the garden, visiting the whole place, walking around, reading and meditating. The Taj Mahal has different tone of beauty at different time of the day. We had chance to see the beauty of the Taj in the bright daylight, at sunset and also in the full moonlight. The beauty of the Taj really acts as a symbol of the love of a king for his wife. We stayed there for hours to see the beauty in the sunset and in the moonlight. One could never imagine how beautiful the Taj would look in the yellow and red rays of the setting sun. It is hard to describe in words. It was an honor and a dream come true kind of feelings to visit the Taj Mahal. This place is unbelievably gorgeous at sunset. We decided to stay there for a while and waited for the moon to show up. People there were talking about the Taj in full moon. Fortunately, it was a full moon night and we had a chance to see the Taj in the full moonlight. In the moonlight, the Taj looked like it was made of silver and pearls. The white and bright marble in the soft moonlight and the beautifulness of the Taj seemed like a great combination. There were hundreds of people who were waiting to see the place in the moonlight and it felt like a dream world. Anyone who has visited the Taj in moonlight can definitely describe the beauty of love. And can no longer doubt that the Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. If you have never visited the Taj Mahal, I would personally suggest everyone to visit it once in the life time, because it is truly a great place and the most beautiful monument in the history of an earth. As I am writing this essay, I felt like I was dreaming about my visit and sure would like to go once again and visit that piece of beauty sometime in future.