A Necessity?

Perhaps the best way to address the topic of corporate power in the current media atmosphere is to first look at the present state of corporate influence on the internet and silmultaneously envision an alternative state of affairs that eliminates any semblance of corporate control over either content or network structure. While this approach focuses heavily on online content it is not intended to ignore the role of corporations in determining content in other mediums, such as cable, radio, or print. These issues will be examined separately.

At one time the internet was imagined as a purely academic resource, a crucial purpose of the technology was the dissemination of peer reviewed information. However, during the web’s proliferation into the home it became abundantly clear that the content produced was not purely academic or in many cases accurate. This fact begs the question of whether or not corporately produced content was a driving force behind the adoption of the internet by individuals. Did corporations fulfill a niche for professionally produced content? And furthermore, if true, does this indicate that the internet is subject to the same types of concerns that consumers have about any media technology (i.e. the quality of the content, the number of users, etc)?

Many times the role of corporations in cyberspace is classified as detrimental in regards to the ability of smaller users to produce relevant content, but if we can demonstrate that corporations have an important role in the adoption of a media technology, such as the internet, it adds a layer of complexity to our investigation. This proves important with respect to our overall goal since we are not attempting to make normative statements about corporations and media technology but rather observe and document the ways corporations change and shape new media.

Before we delve into the ways that corporate power presents itself today online I would like to ask if you think this point is valid. Could the internet be what it is today without the investment of private entities? And if not, in what way would it be different? Clear answers to these questions will help direct us towards a better assessment of the most prominent uses of corporate power on the internet and why it proves effective given the historical context. What do you think?

-Eamon