I think that the media, once nominally accepted as the informational hot spot, is in a state of disarray. I feel that it is important to understand the nexus between the political and economic arena and the media in order to comprehend the media as a whole. We live in a capitalist society(definition: driven by money). The media system is not owned by the state, like those of communist countries, instead it is run by a few enormous conglomerates. This corporate control of the media enterprise has ensured that the elite administer the media in a fashion that would suit them, however subtle or inadvertent that might be. In Smart Mobs, Howard Rheingold mentioned citizens "becoming the reporters." (pp 168-169) While I do believe that this social take over of the news was a step in ther right direction, I feel as though this may have created more problems as well.
Here's how:
In the article, “Bad News,” Richard Posner argues that the conventional news media are besieged for a few reasons.
1. The corporatization of the media has much to do with the failure to accurately report a great deal of important business dealings (or scandals if you will). See documentary, Orwell Rolls in his Grave, to learn how "lies become the truth."
2. New media (i.e. Blogs, cable news) have caused an explosion of consumer choices, thus a grapple among media to secure a larger audience.
3.Hard news (homelessness, the economic degradation of the lower class of America, the real issues in the war in Iraq) does not sell. Soft news (Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s new baby, Tom Cruise’s latest outburst, Police chases) sells, so the media give the people what they want—entertainment (mixed with tidbits of information here and there).
Posner acknowledges the fact the emergence of new media sources has placed pressure on both owners of news media and journalists alike. With a quickly diminishing budget, the owners are forced to let go of some of the reporters. Now, there are five journalist pulling the same work load as ten before and these journalist are still trying to beat the bloggers to the punch on stories. These factors have led to accidental inaccuracy as well as the blatant erroneous reporting of late. Posner argues that the struggle for a greater viewing base has had a sensationalizing effect on the media and has amplified partisan reporting.
Corporate power, wage disintegration, growing inequality between the rich and the poor, and the disappearance of the middle class are just a few many core issues of class that have completely fallen off the media map.
Million dollar question:
If something happens and it's not reported, did it happen at all???
