The Problem with US Media..

[justinsb]

Is not really bias (although you certainly don't want to offend sponsors) or conspiracy so much as profit. If your goal is to make as much money as possible, while spending as little as possible - it is in your interest to tell people what they want to hear. That is not a forumula for investigative journalism or informed analysis.

Ex: It is cheaper and more profitable to get your Iraq news from the Pentagon, and since it's always good news - alot of the audience likes it more

Ex: It is cheaper and more profitable to do in depth analysis of court cases than in depth analysis of policy - since the lawyers will be happy to give you all the info you want, the research costs go way down and fewer feathers are ruffled.

Ex: Opinions are cheaper than facts - very little research or travel is required to give an opinion - so most outlets - CNN/Fox etc have gone pundit happy rather than do investigative journalism.

It is better to - if you can - stay with media outlets that are not for profit and have a mandate to do investigative journalism and analysis - NPR, PBS, CBC, BBC, etc.

[el_gato]

1. You are wrong

The media plays an active role in manufacturing consent for the policies desired by those who own that media, which is the same people who control the military industrial complex. This is well documented.

I mean come on, do you think the active part played by Judith Miller during the build up to the invasion was a result of laziness?

[justinsb]

2. I have no doubt...

That they do this, but I think you may be misreading their motives for doing so. I don't think Rupurt Murdoch really cares one way or another about US politics, I think he wants money, lots of money and that's about it.

[el_gato]

4. Money is just a way of obtaining power

but when you have power money is unnecessary.

The media is part and parcel of the complex of corporations that are in control of our government. It is no accident that one of the largest defense contractors, GE, happens to own NBC.

[Minstrel Boy]

5. Then you don't understand what politics means to the Murdochs.

Politics, to such people, is money. The making, the taking and keeping of it.

[MadHound]

12. There are six major media companies,

They control ninety percent of the media. While some are owned by parent companies that have no interest in anything other than the entertainment field, most of them have vested interests in the war economy. GE, the parent company of NBC, is a big defense contractor, as are Viacom, Time Warner, Sony, and yes, New Corp. Most of these contracts are various telecom contracts, some are for simply for providing entertainment to the troops on foreign soil, but nonetheless, without these military contracts, the major media companies' bottom line would be a lot slimmer.

[el_gato]

3. William Colby

"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media."

William Colby
Former Director of the CIA

[Demit]

6. I hope you're not relying on PBS for too much inv. journalism & analysis

It has been reined in by the very political Corp for Public Broadcasting and is a shadow of its former self. Forget NewHour, they toe the WH line now. Bill Moyers, almost gone. Tavis Smiley, leaving soon. With Archer Daniels Midland and WalMart as PBS sponsors, I can't see much more room for journalistic independence than the commercial networks have.

[justinsb]

7. Well

I'm in Canada now, so I haven't actually seen any of those in awhile, I still keep an eye on Frontline though.

[LSparkle]

8. Watch the film "Network"

It says it all.

[McKenzie]

9. "our liberty depends on the freedom of the press

and that cannot be limited without being lost."

Thomas Jefferson to Dr. James Currie, January 28, 1786

[Nordic]

10. great quote. thanks for posting it

[breadandwine]

11. We must march against Fox and the rigged election.

Not talk. Action. STREET action. Action in the STREETS. Huge public protest. A joint protest against the rigged election and Fox right in front of Fox World Headquarters in New York with the chant, “Rupert Murdoch, tell the truth! Fascists rigged the voting booth!” Fox is headquartered in mid-Manhattan on the SECOND floor. We’re going to be right outside their windows by the thousands screaming our guts out where they can hear us. Bad vibrations? Too bad studio soundproofing isn’t perfect. We must deny them legitimacy at all costs. Bush didn’t win. His election is a fake. Vast numbers of Americans still don’t know this because Bush shills like Fox cover it up. Fox must be targeted. Their headquarters are in New York. The other papers and media in New York will cover this protest because they all hate Fox’s living guts in New York. See this blog:

A Call To March On Fox
For refusing to tell the truth about the rigged election! —

http://acalltomarchonfox.blogspot.com/

Read it. Read it all. Contact the blogger there to get involved.

Go to this thread and participate in the discussion — A call to march against the rigged election — includes extensive discussion about the planned march on Fox/rigged election:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2688242

Add your comments there, keep that thread kicked. There’s going to be a huge march in New York combining protest against the rigged election and the Bush shills like Fox who cover it up, a double whammy. After that, the cat will be out of the bag and Bush will have lost legitimacy.

Why is that important? Because legitimacy is essential for de facto power. Official or “de jure” power is not enough for a leader to maintain control. He has to also have the INTANGIBLES of legitimacy — de facto authority. That’s why presidents can become lame ducks in their second term. Bush must be denied LEGITIMACY. His whole presidency must be publicly DELEGITIMIZED. People in other countries will hear about the march too. This will add to his difficulties diplomatically overseas. To deny legitimacy we must march against the rigged election.

Where? At the number one shill covering it up — Fox. Fox Headquarters in New York. Fox may or may not admit we are in front of their New York offices but the other New York news organizations will because they hate Fox. See the above blog for full details on that and the whole march plan. See and post on the above thread to get involved. Keep that thread kicked.

[BonjourUSA]

13. Your analysis is the same than this one of the US media themselves.

A excellent French/German tv report has been made about this issue. The journalists of all the great US media were interviewed and said the same things about their lack of investigations :

1) Self-censorship because the fear to be accused with "anti patriotism".

2) Audience = sponsors. True or wrong news and comments... the important thing is the "entertainment". They were (are ?) tetanized by Fox, a real vaccum cleaner of the ad budgets