Philosophy Now Forum

I read a letter in an alternative newspaper that stated: “We need to rely on our own analysis based on the massive factual material available, rather than rely merely on a narrative driven by partisan politics and corporate interests because it’s easy and readily available. What happened to free thought and critical analysis?”
To paraphrase (at least at one time) profound and prolific linguistics professor and news-media critic Noam Chomsky: The news-media is to a democracy what a baton is to a tyrant. Yes, obviously I have Manufacturing Consent in mind.
Admittedly, the book is dated in some of its specifics and generalities; however, its thesis statement remains accurate, if not even more so.
These days, many news-media professionals, most notably editors, do enough spin-doctoring of their own with the interests of their corporate masters behind sometimes blatantly, though often insidiously, tainted coverage—namely of issues involving very large fiscal benefits for the corporate news-media’s owners.
One can only try to name a single “free-world” metro-daily newspaper that allowed its senior editor(s) openly admit to a conflict of interest, regardless of the fact that its editors’ corporate masters had billions to gain by the election of a political party promising large corporate tax cuts—a potential government party that the newspaper editorially, officially endorsed, besides granting favorable coverage.

FrankGSterleJr wrote:I read a letter in an alternative newspaper that stated: “We need to rely on our own analysis based on the massive factual material available, rather than rely merely on a narrative driven by partisan politics and corporate interests because it’s easy and readily available. What happened to free thought and critical analysis?”
To paraphrase (at least at one time) profound and prolific linguistics professor and news-media critic Noam Chomsky: The news-media is to a democracy what a baton is to a tyrant. Yes, obviously I have Manufacturing Consent in mind.
Admittedly, the book is dated in some of its specifics and generalities; however, its thesis statement remains accurate, if not even more so.
These days, many news-media professionals, most notably editors, do enough spin-doctoring of their own with the interests of their corporate masters behind sometimes blatantly, though often insidiously, tainted coverage—namely of issues involving very large fiscal benefits for the corporate news-media’s owners.
One can only try to name a single “free-world” metro-daily newspaper that allowed its senior editor(s) openly admit to a conflict of interest, regardless of the fact that its editors’ corporate masters had billions to gain by the election of a political party promising large corporate tax cuts—a potential government party that the newspaper editorially, officially endorsed, besides granting favorable coverage.

Your question is 'loaded'. Please rephrase.

It was a rhetorical question, Melchior.

Frank, you are right on!!

You have a good sense of values, and you tell it like it is. Maybe the prose is a little inflated, when you speak of "masters" but then again there is truth in that choice of words. I am reminded of a classic (1956) little book by Sociologist/Philosopher C. Wright Mills, entitled THE POWER ELITE.
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Elite-C-Wri ... ower+elite

I would venture the thought that in his wildest fantasies Mills did not expect that one day the U.S.A. would become an oligarchy or a plutocracy in which the middle-class was pushed into the lower-class; one in which the penitentiary would become the new cotton-fields - since men of color are sent there ...1 in every 4 American males - mostly those of African descent, whose ancestors were held in bondage as slaves - or those who who have a dark skin - or fellows who originate in the lowest economic class - may expect to land in jail sometime in their life.

We spend far more on prisons than on schools. What a sense of values we have! And the super-wealthy individuals seem to like it that way -- based upon the way they allocate their funds. and how fervently they avoid paying taxes.

Amen!

prof wrote:It was a rhetorical question, Melchior.

Frank, you are right on!!

You have a good sense of values, and you tell it like it is. Maybe the prose is a little inflated, when you speak of "masters" but then again there is truth in that choice of words. I am reminded of a classic (1956) little book by Sociologist/Philosopher C. Wright Mills, entitled THE POWER ELITE.
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Elite-C-Wri ... ower+elite

I would venture the thought that in his wildest fantasies Mills did not expect that one day the U.S.A. would become an oligarchy or a plutocracy in which the middle-class was pushed into the lower-class; one in which the penitentiary would become the new cotton-fields - since men of color are sent there ...1 in every 4 American males - mostly those of African descent, whose ancestors were held in bondage as slaves - or those who who have a dark skin - or fellows who originate in the lowest economic class - may expect to land in jail sometime in their life.

We spend far more on prisons than on schools. What a sense of values we have! And the super-wealthy individuals seem to like it that way -- based upon the way they allocate their funds. and how fervently they avoid paying taxes.

Newspapers have since their inception been subject to various influences. Nothing new about this.