Weapons of Mass Distraction?Weapons of Mass Distraction?The Media & DemocracyThe Media & Democracy

Craig Collins, Ph.D.Craig Collins, Ph.D.

What Roles What Roles SHOULDSHOULD the Media the MediaPlay in a Healthy Democracy?Play in a Healthy Democracy?

• Watchdog on the PowerfulWatchdog on the Powerful– Expose abuses of power by corporate, Expose abuses of power by corporate,

government & military elites.government & military elites.– Blow the whistle on fraud, corruption, public Blow the whistle on fraud, corruption, public

endangerment & white collar crime.endangerment & white collar crime.

• Clarify Electoral ChoicesClarify Electoral Choices– Provide ample information about candidates & Provide ample information about candidates &

plenty of time for debate.plenty of time for debate.

• Provide Policy Information & AccessProvide Policy Information & Access– Make sure the basic issues & policy options the Make sure the basic issues & policy options the

public must understand to make informed public must understand to make informed choices are well covered from many points of choices are well covered from many points of view.view.

– Give the public access to the airwaves.Give the public access to the airwaves.

What Keeps the Media from What Keeps the Media from Speaking Truth to Power?Speaking Truth to Power?

• The Media’s profits The Media’s profits come from delivering come from delivering large audiences of large audiences of potential consumers to potential consumers to corporate advertisers.corporate advertisers.

• Would this discourage Would this discourage them from exposing them from exposing corporate abuse, fraud, corporate abuse, fraud, corruption & public corruption & public endangerment?endangerment?

The Media Itself Is Controlled by a The Media Itself Is Controlled by a Handful of Giant CorporationsHandful of Giant Corporations

Their Concentrated Power Their Concentrated Power Overlaps Other Giant Overlaps Other Giant

CorporationsCorporations• These media giants often These media giants often

own, or are owned by, own, or are owned by, other corporations that other corporations that are big polluters and/or are big polluters and/or weapons manufacturers.weapons manufacturers.

• Will they be willing to Will they be willing to criticize & expose toxic criticize & expose toxic dangers or unnecessary dangers or unnecessary military spending?military spending?

Cheerleaders for MilitarismCheerleaders for Militarism

• During the first Persian During the first Persian Gulf War, two of the Gulf War, two of the major weapons makers major weapons makers owned two of the owned two of the major TV networks.major TV networks.

CBS was owned by Westinghouse & NBC by General Electric.CBS was owned by Westinghouse & NBC by General Electric.• • Westinghouse & GE made most of the parts for many of the Westinghouse & GE made most of the parts for many of the

weaponsweaponsin the Persian Gulf War.in the Persian Gulf War.

It was no surprise, then, that much of the coverage on those It was no surprise, then, that much of the coverage on those networks looked like a military hardware show. networks looked like a military hardware show.

Elite Theory SaysElite Theory Says The Media’s Political Functions Are The Media’s Political Functions Are

• News MakingNews Making– Deciding what’s Deciding what’s

newsworthy.newsworthy.

• InterpretationInterpretation– Putting their spin on the Putting their spin on the

story.story.

• SocializationSocialization– Teaching the masses elite Teaching the masses elite

values.values.

• PersuasionPersuasion– Convince the masses to see Convince the masses to see

issues their way.issues their way.

• Agenda SettingAgenda Setting– Deciding what’s important Deciding what’s important

& what to ignore.& what to ignore.

Compare This with Media’s Role Compare This with Media’s Role in a Healthy Democracy…in a Healthy Democracy…

HEALTHY DEMOCRACYHEALTHY DEMOCRACY• Watchdog on the PowerfulWatchdog on the Powerful

– Expose abuses of power by corporate, Expose abuses of power by corporate, government & military elites.government & military elites.

– Blow the whistle on fraud, corruption, Blow the whistle on fraud, corruption, public endangerment & white collar public endangerment & white collar crime.crime.

• Clarify Electoral ChoicesClarify Electoral Choices– Provide ample information about Provide ample information about

candidates & plenty of time for candidates & plenty of time for debate.debate.

• Provide Information & AccessProvide Information & Access– Make sure the basic issues & policy Make sure the basic issues & policy

options the public must understand to options the public must understand to make informed choices are well make informed choices are well covered from many points of view.covered from many points of view.

– Give the public access to the airwaves.Give the public access to the airwaves.

ELITE THEORYELITE THEORY• News MakingNews Making

– Deciding what’s newsworthy.Deciding what’s newsworthy.

• InterpretationInterpretation– Putting their spin on the story.Putting their spin on the story.

• SocializationSocialization– Teaching the masses elite Teaching the masses elite

values.values.

• PersuasionPersuasion– Convince the masses to see Convince the masses to see

issues from elite perspective.issues from elite perspective.

• Agenda SettingAgenda Setting– Deciding what’s important & Deciding what’s important &

what to ignore.what to ignore.

Can We Make the Media Serve the Can We Make the Media Serve the Public, Instead of Government Public, Instead of Government

Propaganda & Corporate Profit?Propaganda & Corporate Profit?

• What would media reform What would media reform look like?look like?

• Is it possible or hopeless?Is it possible or hopeless?

What Would It Take ToWhat Would It Take To Change This Picture? Change This Picture?