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Corporate Media and the Threat to Democracy (Open Media Pamphlet Series) | 
 enlarge | Author: Robert W. Mcchesney
Publisher: Seven Stories Press
Category: Book
List Price: $9.95
Buy Used: $1.10
You Save: $8.85 (89%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 650618
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 79
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.3
ISBN: 1888363479
Dewey Decimal Number: 302.2
EAN: 9781888363470
ASIN: 1888363479
Publication Date: July 1, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Paperback. Cover shows light wear. 79 numbered pages. Copyright 1997. Free delivery confirmation and tracking email.
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Amazon.com Review
If we believe that an informed populace is an integral part of a successfully active democracy, writes Robert W. McChesney, then the commercial basis of U.S. media, in which a substantial number of media outlets are owned by a handful of corporations, is definite cause for concern. When corporations control the flow of information, he suggests, they will inevitably do so in a way that promotes their own interests over those of the citizenry. From an analysis of the corporate influence over the 1934 Communications Act to a discussion of how media convergence might kill off hope of the Internet bringing about a revolution, he debunks the myth of an objective, liberal media and emphasizes the belief that issues of media ownership should be treated as matters of public policy rather than strictly business.
Product Description
The tremendous growth of the so-called information superhighway has opened countless new channels for media, but only a very few opportunities for control of these channels. In this book, the author of Telecommunications, Mass Media, and Democracy traces the emergence of the global media monopoly, describes what the main players are up to, and details how the Internet is being brought under their control.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Give the advertisers (not he people) what they want May 26, 2008
For R. McChesney `democracy has to respect individual freedoms, but these freedoms can only be exercised when the citizenry is informed, engaged and participating.'
A commercial basis of the media has negative implications for the exercise of political democracy. It permits business and commercial interests - already top heavy political lobbyists - to have inordinate influence over media contents. Moreover, conservative groups attack free journalism and public (non-profit) broadcasting, which actually possess still some kind of autonomy.
The ultimate result of the impact of all those pressure groups is a Pravda-like (Chalmers Johnson) media landscape, where (self-) censorship, yodlers and Tinsel town newscasters govern.
The private media retort that they `give the people what they want'. For R. McChesney this is a blatant lie. Their primary goal is `to give the advertisers what they want', with commercial messages permeating all TV programs all day long.
Since this book has been published (1997), the media privatization and consolidation continued at full speed. However, a new and unstoppable free news stream burst through the heavy controlled gates: internet. The call for its control has already been shouted loud and clear. It is one of the main reasons for today's take-over wars.
Robert McChesney book is still very actual, indeed. It is an utmost necessary and courageous pamphlet.
A must read.
I wish I could rate higher than 5! July 5, 2006
Why is there such a narrow range of debate today? Why was the Telecommunications bill of 1996 which will mold the shape of the internet for generations to come not even discussed? What happened in 1934 that changed the formats of radio, tv, cable, the internet, etc. These are good questions, and cogent to the point questions for today's world. Rush out and buy this little book; it'll have you thinking for days. If you're a better braver man than me, possibly acting. I know one thing I will not listen to news or read it uncritically!
best intro to media reform February 10, 2004
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is the best short introduction to the need for media reform in the United States that I have seen. For someone completely new to the topic, it will be shocking, surprising, and perhaps in places a little too brisk, but all-in-all the best place to start. For someone who has looked at the topic before, it will provide additional insights and a remarkable summary of the major issues.
good, but theres more.... November 8, 2000
15 out of 17 found this review helpful
this book is brief and covers some of the basics of the corporate controlled media issue. for more in-depth coverage of controlled media as related to its social implications, read the authors "rich media, poor democracy." For those with short attention spans, this book will suffice.
A great book, if you can handle the truth. August 8, 2000
25 out of 26 found this review helpful
While most media criticism looks at the personal politics of reporters and editors or other such nonsense, McChesney's terrific little book examines the news industry as an industry. Out of this analysis comes eye-opening revelations about why we get such a narrow perspective in the mainstream news, and why there is so little news reporting available that could serve to upset the corporate status quo. McChesney is not a conspiracy theorist. This book is loaded with solid data and analysis that shows how our news providers are owned and organized and allowed to operate. And it is written in plain, clear language that anyone can understand. The book might be hard to accept for people who think they already have it all figured out, but for everyone else it goes a long way toward explaining how our news and politics can remain so static when virtually everyone is unhappy with what they are getting from both. Get it, read it, and lend it out to everyone you know.
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