Institutions is a term from sociology and the ways of analysing the world. Its particularity interested in structures within a society, including social, cultural, political and economic relations. Talking about institutions, these abstract qualities are made tangible and we are talking about principles, values rules that underly these. source of image:

When we talk about media institutions we think of things like (ABC, The news, Journalism, Newscorp, Cinema, Broadcast Television, Community radio). They are enduring and have to have a history that conforms and restrain them, this makes it difficult for them to change thus giving audience expectation. They regulate and structure activities, are collectivist and you are an individual and constrain some of that for the identity of the institution and their goal. They develop working practices (ethos), the employees and people associated are expected to share values and the public is aware of the status of the institution.