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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMedia Control and Indoctrination in the United States
This is an excerpt from the just released 2nd edition of Noam Chomskys OCCUPY: Class War, Rebellion and Solidarity published by Zuccotti Park Press.
Catherine Komp: Its been twenty- five years since the publication of your and Edward Hermans acclaimed book Manufacturing Consent. How much do you think has changed with the propaganda model, and where do you see it playing out most prominently today?
Noam Chomsky: Well, ten years ago we had a re-edition and we talked about some of the changes. One change is that we were too narrow. There are a number of filters that determine the framework of reporting, and one of the filters was too narrow. Instead of anti-communism, which was too narrow, it should have been fear of the concocted enemy. So yes, it could be anti-communismmost of that is concocted. So take Cuba again. Its hard to believe, but for the Pentagon, Cuba was listed as one of the military threats to the United States until a couple of years ago. This is so ludicrous; you dont even know whether to laugh or cry. Its as if the Soviet Union had listed Luxembourg as a threat to its security. But here it kind of passes.
The United States is a very frightened country. And there are all kinds of things concocted for you to be frightened about. So that should have been the filter, and [there were] a few other things, but I think its basically the same.
. . .
So, some progress.
Yes. On the other hand, the indoctrination system has gotten incredibly powerful. The examples that I mentioned, like the right-to-work lawsit is pretty shocking that that can succeed. So, Id say its about the same inequality entered the national dialogue with the Occupy movement, but the wealth gap for black and Latino families rarely generates debate or headlines. What role should the mediaparticularly independent mediaplay in ensuring critical public interest issues like these are at the forefront?
Independent media ought to be telling the truth about things that matter. Thats quite different from the task of the commercial media. They have a task. Theyre supposed to be objective, and objectivity has a meaning in the world of journalism. In fact, its taught in journalism schools. Objectivity means reporting honestly and accurately whats going on within the Beltway, inside the government. So that sets the bounds. There are Democrats and there are Republicans. Report honestly what theyre sayingbalance and so onand then youre objective. If you go beyond that and you ask a question about the bounds, then youre biased, subjective, emotional, maybe anti-American, whatever the usual curse words are. So thats a task and, you know, you can understand it from the point of view of established power. Its a distorting prism with enormous impact. Even just the framework of whats looked at.
Noam Chomsky: Well, ten years ago we had a re-edition and we talked about some of the changes. One change is that we were too narrow. There are a number of filters that determine the framework of reporting, and one of the filters was too narrow. Instead of anti-communism, which was too narrow, it should have been fear of the concocted enemy. So yes, it could be anti-communismmost of that is concocted. So take Cuba again. Its hard to believe, but for the Pentagon, Cuba was listed as one of the military threats to the United States until a couple of years ago. This is so ludicrous; you dont even know whether to laugh or cry. Its as if the Soviet Union had listed Luxembourg as a threat to its security. But here it kind of passes.
The United States is a very frightened country. And there are all kinds of things concocted for you to be frightened about. So that should have been the filter, and [there were] a few other things, but I think its basically the same.
. . .
So, some progress.
Yes. On the other hand, the indoctrination system has gotten incredibly powerful. The examples that I mentioned, like the right-to-work lawsit is pretty shocking that that can succeed. So, Id say its about the same inequality entered the national dialogue with the Occupy movement, but the wealth gap for black and Latino families rarely generates debate or headlines. What role should the mediaparticularly independent mediaplay in ensuring critical public interest issues like these are at the forefront?
Independent media ought to be telling the truth about things that matter. Thats quite different from the task of the commercial media. They have a task. Theyre supposed to be objective, and objectivity has a meaning in the world of journalism. In fact, its taught in journalism schools. Objectivity means reporting honestly and accurately whats going on within the Beltway, inside the government. So that sets the bounds. There are Democrats and there are Republicans. Report honestly what theyre sayingbalance and so onand then youre objective. If you go beyond that and you ask a question about the bounds, then youre biased, subjective, emotional, maybe anti-American, whatever the usual curse words are. So thats a task and, you know, you can understand it from the point of view of established power. Its a distorting prism with enormous impact. Even just the framework of whats looked at.
THE REST:
http://www.truth-out.org/progressivepicks/item/19815-media-control-and-indoctrination-in-the-united-states
This article struck me as particularly apropos since I had just posted about some pretty damn blatant propaganda I heard on NPR tonight: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024060757
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Media Control and Indoctrination in the United States (Original Post)
Triana
Nov 2013
OP
Judi Lynn
(160,219 posts)1. Outstanding. Thank you. n/t
Laelth
(32,017 posts)2. k&r for exposure. n/t
-Laelth