Critique of the Political Economy of the Media

Critique of the Political Economy of the Media is an approach to the critical analysis of the media’s role in contemporary society. It is based on Karl Marx’s theory of capitalism, using a combination of critical social theory and empirical social research for studying what role the media has in capitalism.

It introduces a theoretical framework that engages with important themes including the crisis-ridden structural transformation of the media industry, media economics in the age of digital communications, media concentration, science communication and open access publishing, media technologies, the role of advertising in capitalism, and the contradictions of alternative media in capitalism.


“Over a quarter of a century Manfred Knoche has swum against the prevailing tides of German scholarship to develop a distinctive critical analysis of communications under capitalism grounded in new readings and applications of Marx’s essential insights.

Borrowing from the famous subtitle of Capital, the book combines theoretical depth with analytical rigour to throw new light on core issues of technological change, media concentration, private ownership, advertising finance and the commodification of media products, and to grapple with the problems of creating non-commercial alternatives.

This book is a treasure trove of insights and provocations that belongs on the bookshelf and reading list of anyone seriously interested in developing a critical political economy of communication. Almost unknown until now to English readers, Manfred Knoche can finally take his place among the founding figures.”
Professor Graham Murdock, Loughborough University.