Is manufacturing consent still going on?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing_Consent
Is there a place in the US where this is more so? Present very little? Are there countries where this is not an issue (perhaps business conglomarates do not run the media companies there?) Is the BBC afflicted by this too? Any way to add a sysytem of checks and balances so the US companies are ‘encouraged’ to give a better coverage than the crap I see everynight in Fox News, ABC, CBS and all?
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8 Answers
Of course. As long as news sources remain a part of the free-market economy there isn’t much we can do about it. Plus, objectivity does not exist. Everything we experience, and therefore report, is filtered through our egos. There is no such thing as unbiased news coverage.
@tinyfaery: I agree with your answer, but I have a question. Do you think that the proliferation of blogs, and the easy availability of blogging to everyone who has access to a computer might be a pressure towards a more democratic media that covers a broader spectrum of viewpoints, as well as events?
Yes, but I doubt blogs will ever be considered a reputable news source.
We are all “biased” in the sense that we do things in a particular way that is natural to us. However, it is the nature of some people to observe and report certain things objectively.*
All news reports are “biased” toward the sensibilities of the reporter, but that doesn’t mean all people have equally valid sensibilities and it’s hopeless to seek out reliable sources.
*and, of course, everyone thinks this is them
@tinyfaery: it seems to me that the blogosphere is already a big mover and shaker in political news. They break a lot of stories. They give voice to an incredible arrange of opinions. The “mainstream” news pays attention to them, because they have to. They’ll miss a lot of stories if they don’t.
And, once people are educated, they’ll realize that the mainstream news is no more reputable than anyone else. So most people won’t know the difference, and the big news businesses can fulminate all they want, but they will be the victim of their own rash policies.
I think there have always been folks, educated or not, who get their opinions from others, be it network news or blogs. Then there is a smaller percentage who look up sources and try and verify what the above have said or reported. I myself have all kinds of news I look at, mostly on the internet…I read papers from the BBC, I have a Turkish and Palestinian newpaper bookmarked [they are translated of course]. Plus an Israeli paper and others . It’s amazing what makes it as news there and not here regarding us.
If there is any doubt just turn on CNBC—pure propaganda.
More than ever. Here is the video version on Manufacturing Consent. Great Flick.
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