Mickey Mouse is going to take over the Media World

What is the first thing you think of when you hear Disney? I think of Mickey Mouse, happily ever afters and happy family moments. Most people grew up as a kids watching Disney or dreaming of going to the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. Clouded by all these so called happy memories you do not see The Walt Disney company as being a giant global corporation. If I say Mickey Mouse would you think ESPN or Automotive Industries magazine? The Walt Disney Company owns shares in every single type of media. These include anything from Walt Disney Pictures to SOAPnet. The complete list can be found at http://www.cjr.org/resources/?c=disney.

So why does Disney own so many different media companies? According to journalist Robert W. McChesney it is because the major media companies want to establish powerful distribution in the U.S. and Globally. All of these global media markets are dominated by eight companies, one of these being Disney. Recently Disney and Time Warner have tried to become global players, causing a growth in the abroad markets. Even though these companies are very successful in their major market in the U.S, there is still worry about the evolving market they will be over powered by other U.S companies.

Though it is said that we live in a democratic society, we are still controlled by the media. These days our opinions are very much shaped by the media and Public Relations representatives. Cross media ownership is a very good thing for companies looking to connect with every demographic. Disney owns 50% of U.S Weekly, so if they want to they can print an advertisement for a new movie or a review of a new DVD release. They are able to control what is written and sway the opinion of the subscribers. Most people don't know who owns these different media companies so the trust what they believe to be a respectable magazine or newspaper to be accurate information. The more a media company owns, the more people it can reach and manipulate into buying into their companies.

Sources:

CJR. "Who Owns What." Columbia Journalism Review. 30 July 2008. 22 Nov. 2008 .

Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media. Dir. Mark Achbar and Peter Wintonick. Brightcove. 10 Sept. 2002. 22 Nov. 2008 .

McChesney, Robert W. "The New Global Media." The National. 11 Nov. 1999. 22 Nov. 2008 .