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How do the set theorists Curran and Seaton and Hesmondhalgh explain the workings of media industries?

The set theorists for industries: Curran and Seaton on power, ownership and the press, and David Hesmondhalgh on the cultural industries, risk, vertical integration and the formatting of products.

A focused answer to the AQA A-Level Media Studies set theorists for industries, covering Curran and Seaton on power, ownership and the press, and David Hesmondhalgh on the cultural industries, the management of risk, integration and the formatting of products.

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  1. What this dot point is asking
  2. Curran and Seaton
  3. David Hesmondhalgh
  4. Using both theorists together

What this dot point is asking

AQA names Curran and Seaton and David Hesmondhalgh as set theorists for industries. You must know their named ideas and apply them to set products and industry contexts, because questions can require a specific theorist by name. Knowing who said what is essential.

Curran and Seaton

James Curran and Jean Seaton argue that the media are increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few large companies driven by the pursuit of profit and power. They argue this concentration narrows the range of opinions represented and limits creativity and quality, because a small number of owners shape what is produced and circulated. Their work focuses particularly on the press and on the relationship between media power and political power. However, Curran and Seaton are not wholly pessimistic: they note that new technologies and changing patterns of ownership can also create opportunities for greater diversity and democracy, so the picture is contested rather than fixed.

David Hesmondhalgh

David Hesmondhalgh argues that the cultural industries are unusually risky, because it is hard to predict which products will succeed and most lose money. To manage this risk, companies use a set of strategies: concentration and integration (vertical and horizontal) to control the market; formatting, relying on stars, genres, franchises and known formulas that are likely to sell; and building large catalogues so that the hits cover the cost of the many failures. For Hesmondhalgh, these are rational responses to unpredictability, not arbitrary choices, which is why the same strategies recur across very different cultural industries.

Using both theorists together

Curran and Seaton give the political picture (ownership, power and plurality), while Hesmondhalgh gives the economic logic (risk and how companies manage it). Together they explain both why ownership concentrates and how that concentration shapes what gets made: profit and power push towards fewer owners, and risk pushes those owners towards safe, formatted, franchised output. A strong answer can use Curran and Seaton to discuss the consequences of concentration for plurality and Hesmondhalgh to explain the commercial strategies that produce a narrow, risk-averse range of products.

Exam-style practice questions

Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.

AQA 20209 marksExplain how Hesmondhalgh's theory of the cultural industries can be applied to one media industry you have studied.
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A Paper 1 question weighting AO1 and AO2. Markers reward applying Hesmondhalgh's named ideas to a real industry, not summarising the theory.

Explain Hesmondhalgh: the cultural industries are unusually risky because it is hard to predict which products will succeed, so companies manage risk through concentration and integration, formatting (relying on stars, genres and franchises), and large catalogues so hits cover failures.

Apply to the industry: give examples of each strategy in practice, and conclude that almost every industry decision follows from the need to minimise risk and maximise audiences.

AQA 20214 marksExplain Curran and Seaton's argument about ownership and power. Use an example to support your answer.
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A short AO1 plus AO2 response. State that Curran and Seaton argue the media are increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few large companies driven by profit and power, which narrows the range of opinions and limits creativity.

Add the nuance: they also note that new technologies and patterns of ownership can create opportunities for greater diversity and democracy, so the picture is contested. For four marks, support with an example of concentrated ownership and its effect on plurality.

AQA 201810 marksDiscuss the view that the workings of the media are best explained by the pursuit of profit.
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An evaluative question weighting AO2. Use both set theorists to build a balanced argument.

For the view: Hesmondhalgh shows that risk and profit drive integration, formatting and reliance on proven formulas, and Curran and Seaton show that profit and power concentrate ownership and narrow voices.

Against, or qualifying: Curran and Seaton note new technology can open diversity, public service broadcasting follows a remit rather than profit, and regulation constrains the pure profit motive. Reach a judgement on how far profit explains the workings of the media, with evidence.

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