Concept
society-centric
A view that sees the media mainly as a reflection of political and economic forces and media theory as a special application of broader social theory (McQuail).
Society-centric (socio-centric) theory sees the media mainly as a reflection of political and economic forces; media theory becomes a special application of broader social theory. On McQuail’s distinction it is the opposite of the media-centric view.
The structural approach (coming from sociology and focused on media systems, organisations and their relation to society) has a society-centric starting point. Together with the culturalist or materialist axis it yields four perspectives: the social-materialist view, for example, takes a critical stance towards media ownership and control.
Example
A study of how commercial and public media systems shape the balance of news and entertainment differently.