Ideological production, print media and the Internet: the case of the British monarchy in 2012

Abstract

Much scepticism exists about the transformative effects of the Internet, frequently seen to replicate existing patterns of finance and control, including of the media. Yet there is evidence, not least at international state level, of awareness of the potential for divergence or dissent from ideologies reproduced by older media. Using chiefly the instance of the representation of the Royal Jubilee of 2012 in the United Kingdom as its central example but also mediation of the gay marriage debate in the same period, this article explores the question of ideological production in the context of change in delivery platforms. It asks two questions in particular: One is whether, alongside the leakage of revenue as media organizations move activities online, there also occurs ideological leakage. The second question is to what extent the ideological world is significantly augmented by online news and current affairs-related production and comment. Through analysis of media coverage of these two cases from 2012, the article argues that the ideological production of Internet news sites and other online news and opinion sources need not be written off as doomed to subordination to a larger pattern of ideological dominance.