Who Rules the Media?

[Snappy]

Please add your own views and/or links.

Who Rules America?

(and . . . Who Controls The U.S. Media?)

There is no greater power in the world today than that wielded by the manipulators of public opinion in America. No king or pope of old, no conquering general or high priest ever disposed of a power even remotely approaching that of the few dozen men who control America's mass news and entertainment media.

Their power is not distant and impersonal; it reaches into every home in America, and it works its will during nearly every waking hour. It is the power that shapes and molds the mind of virtually every citizen, young or old, rich or poor, simple or sophisticated.

The mass media form for us our image of the world and then tell us what to think about that image. Essentially everything we know -- or think we know -- about events outside of our own neighborhood or circle of acquaintances comes to us via our daily newspaper, our weekly news magazine, our radio, or our television. It is not just the heavy-handed suppression of certain news stories from our newspapers or the blatant propagandizing of history-distorting TV 'docudramas' that characterizes the opinion-manipulating techniques of the media masters. They exercise both subtlety and thoroughness in their management of the news and the entertainment that they present to us.

For example, the way in which the news is covered: which items are emphasized and which are played down, the reporter's choice of words, tone of voice, and facial expressions; the wording of headlines; the choice of illustrations -- all of these things subliminally and yet profoundly affect the way in which we interpret what we see or hear.

On top of this, of course, the columnists and editors remove any remaining doubt from our minds as to just what we are to think about it all. Employing carefully developed psychological techniques, they guide our thought and opinion so that we can be in tune with the "in" crowd, the "beautiful people", the "smart money". They let us know exactly what our attitudes should be toward various types of people and behavior by placing those people or that behavior in the context of a TV drama or situation comedy and having the other TV characters react to them in the Politically Correct way.

http://www.realnews247.com/rule_america.htm

[AlinPA]

1. Well written. Your following para. is so true:

"For example, the way in which the news is covered: which items are emphasized and which are played down, the reporter's choice of words, tone of voice, and facial expressions; the wording of headlines; the choice of illustrations -- all of these things subliminally and yet profoundly affect the way in which we interpret what we see or hear."

This is so noticeable on CNN Headline News and MSRNC.

[420montana]

2. Well...

"The mass media form for us our image of the world and then tell us what to think about that image. Essentially everything we know -- or think we know -- about events outside of our own neighborhood or circle of acquaintances comes to us via our daily newspaper, our weekly news magazine, our radio, or our television. It is not just the heavy-handed suppression of certain news stories from our newspapers or the blatant propagandizing of history-distorting TV 'docudramas' that characterizes the opinion-manipulating techniques of the media masters. They exercise both subtlety and thoroughness in their management of the news and the entertainment that they present to us."

This is when knowing the problem is half the solution, "they" and "our" are not "us" IMO....

[Snappy]

3. A partial solution.

Once the Dem candidate has chosen a VP both must go on every show that is humanly possible and lay out the Democratic vision for the future in straight forward terms and not allow the RW to push their agenda on them. Since the Media cannot be changed due to Corporate control, the Dems must utilize the Mdiea in their favor. The most important thing is my view is to avoid any defensive posture. The Democrats must be on the offensive while being positive with hope for America past the dark hours that we have been going through for the past years.

[SharonAnn]

4. Too anti-semitic for me. Jews control everything?

Not my cup of tea.

[Snappy]

5. , I didn't write the article.

I forgot to place " on the paragraphs. I don't believe the Jews control the media but I do believe the Media is being consolidated in very few segments.

[pacifictiger]

6. check out

the Murdoch empire. This is just one article.
http://www.moderateindependent.com/v1i3mediawatch.htm

and this http://www.moderateindependent.com/v1i4axis.htm

http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-8-92-1492.jsp

[Snappy]

7. Aussies

Seems like they have an even bigger problem than the USA re: Media Conglomeration.

[pacifictiger]

9. the thing is that

Murdoch's ever growing attempt to control his native Aussie media has only been kept somewhat under control because of regulations. His foray into the fertile US corporate media market with its LACK of regulation should make us all very very concerned.
(In 1950s NZ, Murdoch's aussie media was always known as a total joke for its sensationalistic tone and gross inacuracies way back then!)

[H2O Man]

8. Much of the media is owned

by a few ultra-conservative snakes. And that clearly creates problems. However, with public libraries and the internet, there is no excuse for being uninformed. And, if you are informed, there is no excuse for not informing other people. Take a disadvantage, and turn it into an advantage. I mean, look at Fox News: we should have lots of fun with some of the things that are reported as "news" on Fox!

[swinney]

10. google search will answer the question

www.google.com who owns the media?
www.cjr.org/owners

1983--50 firms owned the TV media
1987--29
1990--23
1992--14
2000--5



General Electric
Time Warner-AOL
Walt Disney
Viacom
NewsCorp

columbia journalism(www.cjr.org) review has many details of ownership.

Most get information from TV. All Republican owned. 100%.

Yes! Reporters may vote liberal but the bosses tell then what to say.

Owners and Producers are the POWER not reporters.

clraence swinney burlington nc