What are institutions?

Firstly they’re often concerned with structures within an organised society including the police, local governments, unions and journalism. Marriage is often referred to today as an institution as there are many expectations and values encompassing the tradition, and it also forms apart of a legal institution. An institution can be defined as ‘an organisation founded for a religious, educational, professional, or social purpose’, in other worlds they are practises in which a societies expectations and values are upheld. The religious aspect of institutions is fairly thought provoking; if institutions are meant to reflect a community’s values should gay marriage naturally form apart of the marriage institution?

The group activity today was to explore the benefits and values of community media. The main consensus was that community media could offer differing and contrasting opinions; it is very accessible and low budget while also very beneficial to the local economy.