Challenging the Media Monopoly SP11

Economics -> American Capitalism and Social Justice Spring 11

Introduction

Overview

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FAIR

Goals of Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR)

FAIR is a non-profit anti-censorship organization that was founded by Jeff Cohen in 1986. It provides criticism of media bias, and its main goal is to incorporate the First Amendment by increasing diversity in the press. FAIR works with journalists and activists, as they release their stories that are seldom told by the media. FAIR’s main objective is to create a new system that eliminates the large media corporations and create a more independent public broadcasting system.

FAIR analyzes the media business, concentrating on certain “issue areas” including: corporate ownership, advertiser influence, official agendas, telecommunications policy, the PR industry, pressure groups, the narrow range of debate, censorship, and sensationalism. It provides news articles, as well as studies and reports that relate to each of these topics, keeping the public informed about the media’s inaccuracies. FAIR also publishes a magazine called Extra! that provides media criticism, and it also has created a radio program called CounterSpin that tells the public about the news that goes on behind the scenes. These two media outlets FAIR has created allow the public to be updated on issues on an hourly to daily basis.

Ideologies of Domhoff, Alperovitz, Yates, Bowles, Edwards, and Roosevelt vs. Ideologies of FAIR

One of Domhoff’s ideas is that the large media corporations, which are owned by members of the upper class, is most powerful in the ways they present information through the media. FAIR’s main objective, which is to try to eliminate large media corporations, meshes with Domhoff’s idea because they also believe that the way in which the large media corporations presents its information has a huge effect on the public. However, one idea that Domhoff mentions, which is that journalists have reported stories that have played a role in creating “small bands of reformers”, is something that does not correspond to what FAIR believes. FAIR thinks that many stories written by journalists are never released; therefore it not only creates a media bias, but it also makes it hard for anyone but the large media conglomerates to have a serious impact on public opinion.

The idea of a pluralist commonwealth created by Alperovitz agrees with what FAIR is trying to accomplish. In a pluralist commonwealth, Alperovitz explains that it is important to create worker-owned and community-owned businesses, which will essentially decrease the corporate control of capital. FAIR supports this, as they want to break up the large media conglomerates and create an independent public broadcasting system. Alperovitz also exclaims that it is crucial to develop a more community-centered democratic market system, which is something that FAIR promotes. They feel that there is a media prejudice, as many stories written by journalists are never told, which is why they strongly support a media that is run by the people.

What FAIR is trying to accomplish meshes with the ideas of Bowles, Edwards, and Roosevelt. Fairness, which is one of the criteria for a successful economy, is supposed to recognize the equal worth of all human beings. FAIR, as it name stands for Fairness And Accuracy in Reporting, believes that the media is very biased, as everyone is not equally recognized. For example, FAIR thinks that the media does not release stories by journalists that are important for the general public to hear about.

When discussing the issue of the media, Yates exclaims in Why Unions Matter that the media tends to present unions in a negative light, making the public think that unions are harmful to society. This meshes with what FAIR believes, as they think that the media only tells one side of every story. For example, the media will reveal to society when union strikes and union violence occurs; however, they fail to mention that most of the time it is the employers who instigate the violence. Yates also articulates the idea that society is exposed to so much propaganda through the media, which over time makes society believe that everything they hear is true. FAIR wants to change this and make sure that the media tells both sides of every story in order for society to form unbiased opinions.

Center for Media Democracy

The Center for Media & Democracy (CMD) is an independent publisher dedicated to informing the public on not only what is happening in the background of what we are told, but also on what we can do about it. It is their firm belief that those in positions of power should be held accountable, truth always matters (no matter how it is found), and promoting the openness of information as an alternative to mainstream media outlets. This organization goes out and observes and reports on decisions being made and how to be involved in the process, investigating various campaigns by big corporations and such to counter them when they involve matters such as health, opportunity, etc., and many other such projects. Some front page stories on the website in May 2011 included coverage of the Wisconsin protest, the promotion of a Pennsylvanian tax law that would assist in the funding of religious and private schooling, and the rollback of state bills due to the guise of fiscal austerity. Pluralist commonwealth idealism can be associated with the goals and intentions of the Center for Media & Democracy. Alperovitz’s thought decentralization of power within various areas can be seen within the organization’s attempt to avoid government and for-profit organizations; because they are not associated with anyone but themselves, they are allowed to communicate as they please without censorship; this plays into the democratic aspect of Alperovitz. This style of communication allows for the reader to question the integrity of the media given to them by profitable organizations, creating a rift and questioning of where wealth is being allocated and where liberties are being denied. The lack of censorship that CMD offers its reader allows to create a more balanced mentality so that they may be more educated when participating in decision-making processes like voting. Only then can a community thrive and be successful. Domhoff’s class-dominance theory is once again challenged by this organization. Domhoff’s argument that the upper class does not influence society through the medium of media is proven false; the opinion-shaping process plays a big role within communities and CMD recognizes that it has been overrun by bias corporations. Because CMD has no affiliations with grander scale companies, they do not fear putting out information that could be potentially hazardous to others; free speech reigns supreme. Yates’ thoughts on the construed view of unions become more apparent within this organization. Within the various reports posted on the website, there is more information on how unions are attempting to overcome the obstacles put forth by the protested rather than stories on anything negative they could be doing (observations based on articles posted about the Wisconsin protests). With more people having access to the information needed to be well informed, rather than being biasdly-informed, it is possible for there to be true debate on the issues at hand. Bowels, Edwards, and Roosevelt’s shortcoming are being overcome by the center of Media & Democracy. Efficiently, more information is being provided to the public rather than being censored by media monopolies. The idea that all inputs must be considered when calculating efficiencies plays to a great effect. In term of fairness, CMD makes certain that the truth is told and that all voices are heard when they are normally blockaded. Because such stories are not inhibiting the freedom of others, it allows for freedom in fashioning their lives and others. CMD relies heavily on democratic principles in terms of accountability, civil rights, and equal access to political resources; all should be entitled to being educated and informed. The Center for Media & Democracy prodes itself on offering an ‘open ended’ approach to its readers by allowing them to see all sides of an argument (when available). The community at large has been denied truth for too long, and this organization had done brilliant work to ensure that truth is set forth for those looking for it. On a social justice standpoint, The Center for Media & Democracy has become a grand stepping stone in the battle against censorship and, in a very general landscape, the basic civil right of freedom of speech. Media conglomerates have slowly begun filtering what the people sees to not bring into question the very foundations that fund them; such organizations fear that social mentality will change and they will topple due to inconsistencies. CMD has worked to see that this does happen. The public has become blind to the curtain media mongols have cast on the community, and organizations such as CMD are now working to raise that veil. These workings have contributed greatly to the ideals of social justice at large; creating an equal plane for society where are have equal opportunity to be educated and assist in decision-making processes. Without this, we topple carelessly into mindlessness.

Project Censored

Project Censored is an organization devoted to informing people about the role of free press in a free society; as stated in their mission statement, they want “to tell the News That Didn’t Make the News and Why.” In recent generations, a movement of modern censorship has erupted in which certain news stories are not being told to the public. Reasoning’s behind such censorship come from political, economic, and legal pressure. Project Censored believes that all stories should be told regardless of consequence because it is unjust for the public to be uninformed or misinformed. They attempt to make those stories not told by big media to counteract anything not allowing them to be told in the first place. In May 2011, the top censored stories included global plans to replace the dollar, accusations towards the US Department of Defense being the worst polluters on the planet, and human rights abuse continuing in Palestine.

The ideal of pluralist commonwealth that Gar Alperovitz explores in his work American Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth, Our Liberty, and Our Democracy, fits into the ideas Project Censored is communicating. The belief that the economy should belong more to the public, in areas such as community-owned institutions and municipal ownership structures (i.e. taking a more democratic stance in smaller scales to contribute to the bigger picture), are a small piece of the decentralization of media that is being pushed for. If organizations are buffered before they are allowed to conglomerate in the manner that is seen today, it would allow for a more free-flowing media outlet allowing all news to be posted to the people. In terms of wealth, this system would allow more of the general public’s voice to be heard and more input would be given on spending. Because wealth would be held on behalf of small community-centered enterprises and such, wealth would be more appropriately dispersed and represented within a growing nation such as the United States.

Class-domination theory in G. William Domhoff’s Who Rules America? Challenges to corporate and Class Dominance suggests that the upper class, composed of many of the corporate community, has a great deal of influence within different areas due to its large distributive power. In terms of mass media, Domhoff believes that the upper class does not play a big role in the opinion-shaping process or in class-dominance theory. Project Censored would argue the opposite; media is heavily influenced by big corporate names. If a news story were to come out that would tarnish a corporate name, the company would do anything within its power to assure that it does not. Tactics used can be but not limited to threat of lawsuits, cutting of funding (if those connections are had), and government pressures. Michael D. Yates’s Why Unions Matter adds to this argument by explaining the misinterpretation of unions in media. The work that is done by these unions is left untold and only the more viscous headlines such as ones involving a violent outbreak in a protest make the front page. This in a sense could be a tactic used by big business tycoons to ensure that the organizations (unions) attempting to topple them are obliterated and put against to avoid issues.

Three shortcomings of capitalism defined by Bowles, Edwards, and Roosevelt in Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command, and Change are being overcome within Project Censored. In terms of efficiency, all work would be considered well used rather than wasted since unrecognized work is going noticed. By allowing these voices to be heard, we allow for more people to create ‘useful goods and services’ that can be appreciated. In fairness, it goes without question that all news will be treated as such with equality; no story can be turned down for implicit reasons. Democratically, the idea of free speech, being a guaranteed civil right, is being unhealed. With media being as influential as it is within this generation, the importance of free speech is crucial to having a well-rounded society. Project censored strives to assure that all voices are heard and that the American idealism of freedom is being upheld while mega companies attempt to mask such attempts.

The accomplishments and workings of Project Censored greatly play into the social justice issues faced in the country today. As the world takes further steps into a future of overflowing streams of information, those with power are attempting to keep their power within themselves to control what the public is told and ergo what they think. Project Censored has become one of many stepping stones attempting to create a more open environment in which freedom of speech is upheld and big corporation does not affect what people are being told. With this group and many others creating this safe space, it creates tension within society which then forces its inhabitant to think crucially about what their media is telling them; why is it that we hear only of victory but not of the suffering of another human? Why is it that we are assisting the poverty of other countries but not of our own? Without organizations such as Project Censored, society becomes nothing more than a brainwashed community of one-sided mentality.

Center for Digital Democracy

Goals of Center for Digital Democracy (CDD)

The Center for Digtial Democracy (CDD) is focused on keeping the public informed, protecting the privacy of the public, and increasing the transparency of the online advertising industry. Digital media has become a major source of interactive advertising and marketing. Websites and social networks are closely analyzing individuals’ behaviors in order to essentially target them so that they buy the company’s products. Interactive marketing is a form of new media that engages individuals in what is being sold, which can put the general public at risk. CDD’s main concerns are making sure that that online advertising works to guarantee privacy for consumers, as well as making sure that the online advertising industry is held accountable to the public. In addition, they want to ensure that negative features of interactive marketing will not put the public in great danger. CDD is also seeking to promote global public health in the digital media. Although the digital media allows the public to obtain positive information regarding drugs and lifestyle choices, it also gives marketers the ability to promote the consumption of substances that could damage an individual’s health.

CDD is extremely focused on informing the public on digital health issues, digital marketing, and digital privacy issues. In order to reach the public, CDD posts numerous articles and press releases so that they can read up on what is occurring in the digital media world. In addition, CDD observes and analyzes new media marketplace developments, which allows them to keep the public updated on new events that are taking place. CDD also acts as an “early warning system” that alerts the public, journalists, and policymakers about new public interest issues. Lastly, CDD has been very involved with the Federal Trade Commission to promote both new policies that will oversee online privacy.

Ideologies of Domhoff, Alperovitz, Yates, Bowles, Edwards and Roosevelt vs. Ideologies of CDD

Domhoff

What CDD is trying to accomplish meshes somewhat with the ideas of Domhoff. The class-domination theory of power is Domhoff’s main idea in Who Rules America. The class-domination theory suggests that the upper class, which is comprised of many members of the corporate community, is a dominant class because it has large distributive powers that can persuade most Americans to consent its policies. However, Domhoff explains that the mass media, which is owned by members of the corporate/social upper class, does not play a major role in the class-domination theory. He states that the mass media is “shaped by forces outside of them,” which includes corporate leaders, politicians, and policy experts. In addition, Domhoff states that the media has very little influence in shaping the public’s opinion. CDD would agree with the fact that the digital media is completely controlled by the corporate/social upper class; however, where they would disagree is on the issue that the corporate/social upper class does shape public opinion, as CDD believes that the corporate/social upper class are the people who do in fact determine what information and stories are released to the public. Another idea in Domhoff is that the opinion-shaping network is a system in which the corporate/social upper class can promote its policies. In the opinion-shaping network, there are public relations firms and public affairs department that have a significant impact on the way information is released to the public. The public relations firms, which are controlled by large advertising companies that are owned by executives in the corporate community, look to target specific audiences whom they think could potentially threaten the image and profits of their clients (executives of corporations). CDD would agree with this, as they believe that the interactive marketing and advertising industry of the digital media allows individuals to be exploited. The members who run and own this industry are trying to shape the public’s general opinion so that individuals will buy the company’s product.

Alperovitz

In America Beyond Capitalism, Alperovitz illustrates the idea that it is imperative to develop a more community-centered democratic market system corresponds with what CDD is trying to accomplish. CDD really wants the public to be informed about how the interactive marketing industry is putting their privacy in great danger, and explains the ways in which they can protect themselves. In addition, CDD wants to essentially create a democratic media system in which the interactive marketing industry is held accountable.

Yates

In Why Unions Matter, Yates articulates the idea that the media only tells one side of the story; for the most part it relays the opinions of the large corporations<ref name= “Yates”> Why Unions Matter, Monthly Review Press, 2009. </ref>. Although CDD primarily wants to change the digital media and increase transparency of the online advertising industry, Yates’s idea coincides with what CDD believes because it wants to guarantee that the public is informed on issues from more than one point of view. In the online advertising industry, companies try to entice the public into buying their products, but the public is unaware of the dangers that exist when they interact with these companies online. This relates to Yates’s idea, as he states that when the public only hears one side of a story, they think that what they are hearing is true and do not realize that they are being tricked by the online advertising industry<ref name= “Yates”> Why Unions Matter, Monthly Review Press, 2009. </ref>.

Bowles, Edwards, and Roosevelt

Democracy is said to be on critera of a successful economic system in Understanding Capitalism by Bowles, Edwards, and Roosevelt, which allows citizens basic civil rights and personal liberties. This idea strongly correlates to what the Center for Digital Democracy is trying to accomplish. CDD wants to protect the privacy of each consumer, as the online advertising industry constantly monitors consumers’ actions without them even knowing. CDD therefore believes that consumers’ rights have ultimately been violated because of these tactics performed by the online advertising industry, and they are seeking to ensure that consumers’ liberties are being protected.

Notes

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References

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