My Theory on The Media...

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

Or: A Possible Question on Why They Suck So Noticibly, Like They Are Trying To Suck.

It's because they are trying. Aciduously.

When the whole media deregulation nonsense started, the first thing they did was deregulate radio as a "test case". This was by no means instituted as a test case: It was Carrot and Stick.

By putting radio deregulation out there, full and largely unfettered, they created the carrot. Said carrot was allowing these companies(most noticibly Clear Channel, but others as well...) to roll up market share and profits. To be sure, this caused no end of painful tumescence on the part of pricipals in other media areas.

The stick is the promise of deregulation of other media segments. Notice, if you will, that the deregulation of these segments seems to take two steps forward, then three back. This is not just the warp and woof of Washington. This is tactics. This is intended effect. By holding out the possibility of deregulation to the other media forms, they keep them right where they want them: printing stenography as news, so as not to anger the very people who hold their deregulatory future in their hands.

It has, to this point, been a very effective strategy. Needless to say, you certainly are not going to read about this in your local paper or see it on your local TV station. They are too busy holding their breaths and working their little fannies off, in the hope that nothing they print, show, write or produce doth offend those who have their fiscal balls in their hands.

[swinney]

1. Who owns the Media is key.

Comservative Republicans own--

abc
cbs
nbc
cnbc
msnbc
cnn
fox
1200 radio firms

Nonsense about Liberal reporters. They have no power over what is reported. They follow scripts. Scripts are created by Producers and Owners. Directors direct. Reporters read scripts.

Wonder why people have no idea of current events?

Few read books.

Info comes off TV for most americans.

Shameful but true.

[KyDemocratJake]

2. Which one is best though?

Yeah, no doubt that the "liberal media bias" is really a bunch of bull. Which one do you all find the most neutral though? Obviously Fox is by far the most skewed to the right, but which network do you think does the fairest job?

[newyawker99]

3. Hi KyDemocratJake!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[laura888]

4. Ok - so the remedy is....?

If our media is all "hoping that nothing they print, show, write or produce doth offend those who have their fiscal balls in their hands" - then we have absolutely no free media.

how can we ensure that our media is above politics?

Perhaps a 10 year license? Like appointing a judge or granting tenure - those on-the-air are free from partisan scrutiny?

[never cry wolf]

5. I agree with you

Randi Rhodes has been saying this forever. Another factor she brought up yesterday that I hadn't thought about is the advertisers. She asked us to take note of the advertisers on the "news" and talk shows. Corporations like Boeing, GE Defense, Halliburton, etc.

Are you going to buy a 747 or a tow missile? Of course not. So, why are they advertising? So they have some control over the content by hanging the threat of pulling their ads off those shows.

But, you are right, deregulation is the BIG carrot, worth countless billions.