Calling Out Corporate Control of US Media, Sanders Campaign Launches 'Bern Notice' Newsletter

[Uncle Joe]

Last edited Thu Aug 15, 2019, 09:01 AM - Edit history (1)

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"The elite corporate media promoted the lies that led to the Iraq War and ignored the truth about Wall St. fraud that led to the financial crisis," Sirota added on Twitter. "Bernie Sanders is not wrong to distrust an elite media culture that helped create those disasters that ruined so many people's lives."

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"We've said from the start that we will have to take on virtually the entire media establishment in this campaign, and so far that has proven to be true," Sanders tweeted on Wednesday. "Ok. Fine. We are ready."

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Marty Baron, executive editor of the Post, quickly responded by accusing Sanders of peddling a "conspiracy theory." MSNBC, which is owned by Comcast, soon piled on, accusing Sanders of echoing President Donald Trump's attacks on the free press.

But progressives were quick to argue that—far from Trump-like rhetoric or a "conspiracy theory"—Sanders' critique of the U.S. media landscape is on target.

Writing for Common Dreams on Wednesday, RootsAction.org co-founder Norman Solomon argued that Sanders is not attacking the free press, but offering a critique of a media system controlled by corporations whose interests are antithetical to the progressive agenda at the heart of the senator's presidential bid.

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https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/08/15/calling-out-corporate-control-us-media-sanders-campaign-launches-bern-notice

This is a good read.

Concentration of media ownership

Concentration of media ownership (also known as media consolidation or media convergence) is a process whereby progressively fewer individuals or organizations control increasing shares of the mass media.[1] Contemporary research demonstrates increasing levels of consolidation, with many media industries already highly concentrated and dominated by a very small number of firms.[2][3]

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As of 2018, the largest media conglomerates in terms of revenue rank Comcast, The Walt Disney Company, AT&T, CBS Corporation and Viacom per Forbes.

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Freedom of the press and editorial independence

On the local end, reporters have often seen their stories refused or edited beyond recognition. An example would be the repeated refusal of networks to air "ads" from anti-war advocates to liberal groups like MoveOn.org, or religious groups like the United Church of Christ, regardless of factual basis. Journalists and their reports may be directly sponsored by parties who are the subject of their journalism leading to reports which actually favor the sponsor, have that appearance, or are simply a repetition of the sponsors' opinion.[unreliable source?][10][11][12]

Risks for media integrity

Media integrity is at risk when small number of companies and individuals control the media market. Media integrity refers to the ability of a media outlet to serve the public interest and democratic process, making it resilient to institutional corruption within the media system, economy of influence, conflicting dependence and political clientelism.[9] Media integrity is especially endangered in the case when there are clientelist relations between the owners of the media and political centres of power. Such a situation enables excessive instrumentalisation of the media for particular political interests, which is subversive for the democratic role of the media.

Elimination of net neutrality

Net neutrality is also at stake when media mergers occur. Net neutrality involves a lack of restrictions on content on the internet, however, with big businesses supporting campaigns financially they tend to have influence over political issues, which can translate into their mediums. These big businesses that also have control over internet usage or the airwaves could possibly make the content available biased from their political stand point or they could restrict usage for conflicting political views, therefore eliminating net neutrality.[8]

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentration_of_media_ownership

[brooklynite]

1. Point to some actual evidence of media unfairness?

[Uncle Joe]

4. It's most apparent in the critical issues affecting the American People

Last edited Thu Aug 15, 2019, 10:54 AM - Edit history (1)

that the corporate media conglomerates simply don't cover.

When was the last time that you can remember them covering in-depth and on a sustained basis the high cost of prescription drugs or poverty in the U.S.?

So long as the stock market goes up, they're okay with it as representing the entire U.S. economy and that's simply not the case.

They don't cover massive income and wealth disparity and how that is undermining the strength of our nation.

They post partially accurate employment figures with no focus on long time wage stagnation.

When was the last time they covered our crumbling infrastructure unless a major crisis hits as in Flint or the bridge that collapsed in Minnesota?

They don't cover how much the cost of a higher education has gone up since the 60s or 70s.

They continually post right wing talking points in regards to surveys or polls covering Medicare for All.

I can't remember when they covered the threat of dangerous monopolies or trusts gaining too much power in any industry, no doubt because that hits too close to home.

They don't cover the cost of eternal war or the bloated military industrial complex.

It took forever for them to finally start covering climate change and even that is somewhat sporadic considering the magnitude of the threat to life as we know it.

Their primary focus during election/nominating seasons is on trying to create self-sustaining polls, frames and the "horse race" while critical issues of substance to the people are relegated to a secondary at best role if not altogether ignored.

It's all "bread and circuses" with them.

All of the above primarily benefits the Republicans.

[Uncle Joe]

2. Democracy on Deadline

Like all reliable watchdogs, the media are expected to bark, but when its many-faceted voice is owned by a small number of corporate masters, concerns about its willingness to keep barking arise.

The trend of media conglomeration has been steady. In 1983, 50 corporations controlled most of the American media, including magazines, books, music, news feeds, newspapers, movies, radio and television. By 1992 that number had dropped by half. By 2000, six corporations had ownership of most media, and today five dominate the industry: Time Warner, Disney, Murdoch's News Corporation, Bertelsmann of Germany and Viacom. With markets branching rapidly into international territories, these few companies are increasingly responsible for deciding what information is shared around the world.

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But even those publications are subject to the conglomerate machine, and many see the “corporatizing” of media as an alarming trend. Ben Bagdikian, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, former Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley and author of The New Media Monopoly, describes the five media giants as a “cartel” that wields enough influence to change U.S. politics and define social values.

Internet Ownership

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What we should be most concerned about, Bagdikian says, is the narrowing of choices, because that removes from voters the full spectrum of views and information with which to choose its government—a dangerous trend that threatens democracy itself.

https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/democracyondeadline/mediaownership.html

[SouthernProgressive]

3. Who said it?

"We've said from the start that we will have to take on virtually the entire media establishment in this campaign, and so far that has proven to be true,"

"The Fake News Media works hard at disparaging & demeaning my use of social media because they don't want America to hear the real story!"

[LongtimeAZDem]

7. Yep; the similarities keep piling up

[Gothmog]

5. Who is going to read this news letter other than sanders supporters???

The only people who will be reading this news letter are sanders supporters. sanders is merely preaching to his base

[ehrnst]

9. Well, you won't find any mean, unfair and just BIASED reporting on his staffs labor disputes.

It will always be fair and balanced.

[SidDithers]

6. ...

I see this being about as successful as The Sanders Institute.

Sid

[ehrnst]

8. +10000

[comradebillyboy]

10. The Bern Notice, a perfect example of preaching to the choir...

The Sanders campaign really seems bad at any kind of outreach to people who aren't already on board for Bernie.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Practical tips for recruiting new singers to your choir

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Perform
Every time your choir performs, new people are going to hear about you. Even if they’re not singers, they might mention the choir to friends and family members who are. Performance raises your profile in your community, attracts singers and grows your choir, which in turn enables you to perform more frequently. It’s a virtuous circle. Consider prospective performances not only in terms of what they will cost or earn, but in terms of their wider impact on your profile.

Encourage word of mouth
In any community, word of mouth is a powerful way of reaching out to people. Encourage your choir members to help you attract new singers. Involving your existing membership in recruitment gives them a sense of ownership. You could also consider an “introduce a friend” discount in subs or fees.

Target local marketing
Local newspapers, magazines and websites are usually crying out for copy. Send them a timely, succinct, well-written piece about what your choir’s up to and it will probably be published. Focus on community work and personal stories. Have you supported a charity or taken part in a local event? Has an individual choir member achieved something notable?

Website/social media
Don’t assume that everyone you reach online is in some far-flung place. Most people’s Facebook connections include friends and family who live in their area. Ask them to ‘like’ your Facebook page or follow you on Twitter.

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https://www.totalchoirresources.com/practical-tips-for-recruiting-new-singers/

[Gothmog]

14. I've reported on Bernie Sanders for years. A free press won't give him what he wants.

This is an interesting article https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/02/26/ive-reported-bernie-sanders-years-free-press-cant-give-him-what-he-wants/

Though Sanders understands the problem, his solutions leave something to be desired. The way the senator sees it, the job of a journalist is merely to transcribe his diatribes unchallenged and broadcast his sermons unfiltered.

“He would not be happy with anything that did not basically publish his press release in its entirety — word for word, quote for quote,” said Graff, who spent nearly three decades reporting in Vermont for the AP.

Back when Sanders held regular news conferences in Vermont — it’s been a few years — he typically refused to answer questions unrelated to his chosen topic of the day. That’s problematic for local reporters, who rarely have the opportunity to quiz the members of Congress they cover without spokespeople running interference.

At a 1985 forum on the media, the late Vermont political columnist Peter Freyne complained to Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington, that he had reneged on his promise to hold regular press conferences, pointing out that “When asked a question you don’t want to answer, you leave the room.”

[Cha]

13. Yes.. in fact just the opposite.

[Uncle Joe]

15. Thanks for kicking this thread Cha, check out posts 2 and 4.

[Fresh_Start]

12. Come and get your BERNIE FOX NEWS

If the free press isnt' working for you (like they did in 2016), lets denigrate the Free Press.
Something both Trump and Sanders are currently doing.