2. What is an institution?
• A media institution is an (often profit based) establishment that is in charge of
distributing, marketing and producing different media products.
• For example, Bauer Media Group, a German publishing group which operates in 15
different countries around the world, distributes ‘Q’ magazine.
3. Bauer
• Including Q magazine, the institution owns and publishes many different magazines. The main categories of
magazines they own are women’s weekly’s, TV listing magazine and music magazines. Some magazines include
Takeabreak and TV choice. The other music magazine they publish along with Q is Kerrang.
• As the Bauer Media Group has a few different kind of genres of product, means they can gain different types of
advertisers to interest the different types of products they publish.
• Q for example, has also been expanded from a magazine to TV and radio which can also be used to advertise
for profit but also advertise their other products they own. The magazine also has a website which informs
people with news and also has a shop and links to other products.
• The music area is a big part of the institution as they have a stake in many music video channels, such as 4Music
and Smash Hits TV. These TV channels will contain many advertisements between its videos which gain much
profit as they are popular channels for the younger audience, which most advertisements will be.
• The institution can control its distribution so, for example a magazine is advertised in their other media products
plus on main channels. It’s sold in big stores to so the magazine has to try and appeal to as many people as it
can to make more profit. The products have to media conventions so people can easily recognise the product
and continue its popularity and keep its regulars who buy/watch/listen etc.
• All these media products that are part of the Bauer Media Group will gain most of their profits from the
advertisers they get to appear in their media products.
