1."The relationship of money to Free Speech is the issue of the 21st century." (Bill Moyers in Freedom of Speech for Sale).
a) In the light of this quotation, explain both the advantages and dangers of media ownership concentrated in only a few mega-corporations. Refer to specific readings to back up your thoughts.
b) According to Robert McChesney ("Corporate Media & the Threat to Democracy"), and the movie Free Speech for Sale, why is such a concentration of corporate ownership a "threat to democracy"?
c) Include in your discussion both what the function of the media should be in a democracy, and what the function of the media is in danger of becoming under the current system.
Use specific examples from the readings and the viewings.
2. a) How are the recording industry and the radio industry interdependent (that is, symbiotic)?
b) Explain how this relationship developed historically.
c) Will the Internet change this relationship significantly - why or why not?
3. a) How has the role of the Print media changed in present day society? Is it still important to be able to read?
b) Will the print media (Newspapers, Magazines, Books) be entirely absorbed and replaced by the Internet? What effect would this have on how human beings see/experience the world? (In other words, how is a print-mediated world different from an Internet-mediated world?)
c) What would be gained and what would be lost if this were to happen?