Friends, we have a Federal Election going on in Australia and the media is on fire as they carry the latest poll results, the latest gossip and all the gaffes. Those who comment on politics are having a field day and many of them, filled with conceit, actually tell their viewers and readers what to think.
I don’t know about where you live but in my country the media, in the main, is owned by Media Barons amongst whom Rupert Murdoch is prominent (as is the Packer Empire). Murdoch owns many newspapers and has interests in television as well so it’s difficult to avoid the bias that he brings. What bias, you ask?
Well obviously, Murdoch is primarily a businessman and, as such, his main preoccupation is profit and to achieve that he has media bases all around the world (much like America has military bases). So what, you say! It’s a free world.
Let me urge you to forget the old idea that the media should be presenting the facts and allowing the readers or viewers to make up their own mind about issues. That time has long gone!
No, as a businessman, Murdoch and other Media Barons want to see elected a pro-business party because they know they will make more money if such a government is in power. As well, such a party will have a sympathetic ear to lobbyists from large corporations be they in media, mining, tobacco, making armaments, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, etc,. And such a party will typically favour lower taxes for businesses and the rich.
So obviously, it follows that Murdoch will put a pro-business, anti-labour bias into his media during election time. Of course, he won’t write the stories for the journalists but, subtlety, he will make it known that any journalist who knocks business or free markets or complains about the fact that most of the wealth is in the hands of a small percentage of people or points out that global warming is destroying the world, etc, will soon be out of a job.
And it’s the stories that aren’t published or shown that also have an impact. In the U.S. the media ensures that most Americans don’t know about what is really happening in Iraq or Afghanistan or what is really happening to the Palestinians.
This dumbing down of the population combined with biased reporting makes it difficult for democracy to work properly and, as such, it should be a crime and those who engage in it should be jailed.
There is only one answer. Break up the Media Empires and encourage the growth of smaller, competing media organizations who try to do what the media once did: present all the facts without bias!
Media monopolies are bad news but Governments are too scared to act against them.
Here in America back in the mid 60s the major media had over 80 different owners, thus there was a wide variety of views on the news. Not anymore, just 6 different owners cover all the major networks. Even PBS and NPR is now corporate owned. Thats why the government seeks control of the internet where truth escapes their grasp. I really agree with you, American news has not and will not tell the truth about the Palistinian conflict. It is so rediculous I seldom read a newspaper or watch the (main stream media). Sites like yours David allow people to discuss items the corporate news will not touch. The lack of honest media is destroying our culture and it seems to becoming a world problem.
Reply
David G Reply:
August 9th, 2010 at 2:01 am
Excellent comment, 76-water! It is a major world problem and the power that the media exert over Governments is immense. In Australia, some media outlets are quite clearly trying to ensure which government we have and hence are subverting democracy!
Reply
76-water got it right! The MSM here in the US is simply government/corporate propaganda, not news.
Without the internet it would be much more difficult to get the truth about what is happening in the world. Sadly so many people don’t bother and just beleive the garbage they are feed by the MSM. Even worse many think the MSM is too liberal and turn to far right-wing blowhards who tell them how to think.
I am afraid about where this will all lead.
Reply
Dear David
You said “There is only one answer. Break up the Media Empires and encourage the growth of smaller, competing media organizations who try to do what the media once did: present all the facts without bias!”
then you said
“Media monopolies are bad news but Governments are too scared to act against them.”
The first sentence is a good solution, but the second sentence is a fact representing why the solution cannot be applied.
so, how to solve this issue while both MSM and governments are in the same bed?
Reply
Great comments from all , The media like everything thing else of influencing the masses gets concentrated into the hands of the elite to keep the livestock in line and dumbed down .There is hardly any real news in the mainstream media at all .Wouldnt really want anybody to think now would we ? Government and the media owned by the elite corporate criminal class .
Reply
Jeannie, I guess where it will lead is more and more friction between the ‘peasants’ and the manipulators. Hopefully, this will lead to an uprising and positive change.
Helmy, people can break the power of the MSM by not buying or viewing their products. That will send them bankrupt and break their monopoly.
Jeff, thinking is the key to changing our world, getting people to question the status quo which favours the few. Of course, people don’t want to give up their pet beliefs but they will if they can see that their beliefs are controlling them instead of visa versa!
Cheers to all.
Reply
“This dumbing down of the population combined with biased reporting makes it difficult for democracy to work properly” … I’m an Aussie too and it’s actually quite a shock to see just how ‘dumbed’ down most of us are… You only have to look at ninemsn or yahoo7 to see just what is being reported. The biggest shame is that these are sites most people get their daily dose of news. The ABC still has some credibility with it’s reporting, but all other local channel’s news in Australia is nothing more than brainwashing the sheep. It’s difficult to discuss politics with anyone these days….they either just don’t know or they don’t care…they would much rather know which celebrity did what… You just need to see the full interview with Tony Abbott to realise he has no idea what he is talking about…but most people don’t have the attention span for that (sorry my rant is over)
Reply
The saddest thing of all, Billykat, is that most Australians think because they’ve been to the indoctrination factory (schools, colleges, etc) that they are educated.
If humans were truly educated the world would be at peace and all our efforts would be directed towards solving health problems and ensuring that there was equality and freedom for all.
Reply