The Moment Has Come for Media Reform

[Q]

Published on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 by CommonDreams.org

The Moment Has Come for Media Reform

by Robert W. McChesney


"...The frustrations of millions were echoed in Jon Stewart's no-nonsense critique of corporate media for "hurting America," shown live on CNN's Crossfire. People are tired of the media's partisan hackery, celebrity obsession, failure to hold government accountable, narrow range of debate, unchecked commercialism, and lack of investigative journalism.

Corporate media's failures constitute what legendary journalist Bill Moyers describes as the greatest threat to our nation: "Democracy can't exist without an informed public." Most Americans don't know that the presidential candidates and allied groups shattered all campaign finance records in 2004, spending $2 billion. That's right: billion. Most of that money bought political ads from the biggest media companies ... who gave us back deplorable election coverage.

The gap between rich and poor continues to widen, and more than 45 million Americans are living without health insurance, while Congress guts the critical programs that are the fabric of our democracy. Public education, Social Security, environmental protection, affordable housing, and accessible health care are all at risk.

Most Americans don't know the consequences of our ballooning $521 billion deficit and $7.1 trillion national debt. The media are silent as Congress dishes out some $125 billion every year in corporate welfare. We aren't told that global terrorism has continued to rise each year since the attacks of 9/11, while a full 49 percent of Americans still believe that Iraq had WMDs, and 52 percent believe Saddam Hussein was actively supporting Al Qaeda.

Is it any surprise that surveys showed many Americans went to the polls lacking the facts to evaluate the most important issues of our day? There is something terribly wrong when Americans know more about Martha Stewart's prison stay than they do about the torture scandals at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay.


Continues: http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0105-20.htm

[blondeatlast]

1. Tucker's gone, "Crossfire" will follow soon.

Indeed, the time is long overdue.

I remember the press in the Nixon era.

I'd gladly keep W.rong if we just had that same kind of journalists; yes, I really mean that.

OTOH, if we did have that same kind of press, we wouldn't have W.rong in the first place.

[Q]

2. Half of America wonders how Bush 'won' in 2000 and 2004...

...and the answer is that Corporate Government and Corporate Media work hand in hand to keep voters ignorant of the true state of the union.

There is no such thing as an 'informed voter' when the state controls the free press.

[blondeatlast]

5. Don't I know it. I just finished "The Republican Noise Machine"

and I'm still reeling at the revelations in it.

Hillary was dead to rights, there is a vast RW conspiracy.

I'm no tinfoiler, but there's no doubt about this one.

It's time to bring the bastids to their knees.

[Rockerdem]

8. We're ultimately responsible

We buy the products. We watch the political shows that we claim to hate. We make occasional peeps to the sponsors.

Instead, what about marching on certain targeted corporate HQs, rather than meeting on the DC mall lawns where we have little impact? Corporate lizards react to threats to their bottom line. We could mount a great showing of force that would scare the bejesus out of them. Now, we're spinning our wheels, gathering in generic feelgood political rallies that the corporate whores either dont report, or report it as a bunch of hippies and malcontents. After years of no impact, why are we still locked into the old ways?

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Yep

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Election reform can help save this country!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[CWebster]

4. It is in the media's best interest

to keep government off its back and consolidate power to keep it that way. The government who supports their dominance is the one they will install.

So much for the theory of the free market. What kind of choice is there when there is no choice?

[Q]

6. Yet another reason for public financing of national campaigns...

...is that most of the money raised for candidates comes from corporations (2 billion this time around) and goes right back in the pockets of many of the same corporations in the form of 'advertizing'. This is nothing more than a racket.

But what are we to think of a free press that actually helps to install those who promise less media regulation? Isn't this a conflict of interest or a kickback at the very least?

[CWebster]

7. Sort of like how a bribe

came to constitute free speech.

[Mountainman]

9. This is the key to our future. "you have the power" as Dean says

Screw the idea of hoping our elected officials will stand up to Bush. Stand up to him yourselves in the streets. Unite with a cause and march march march!