Since it’s inception, whether it be Print, Radio or Television, the Media has become a playground of personal agenda’s, profiteering, irresponsibility and a total lack of respect for the medium, that was initially seen as a way to inform, enlighten and create debate amongst society freely. This has since been replaced by Corporations intent on controlling content and the way it is portrayed to the public, all in the name of profits. Ensuing below is an argument that shoes – 1) How dramatically the industry has changed. 2) How public opinion is being manipulated by corporate interests, reporter bias’, loyalties, irrespective of the truth. 3) How Governments have allowed this to happen and are involved.
When Radio first appeared it was heralded as a huge advance in technology and communication. This new medium was to be used as a way to communicate, educate, and of less importance, was to have the radio entertain its listener’s. Alas, this was not to last, as the owner’s of these radio stations were already looking to ‘attract’ more listeners during the day. When the NBC was first launched in 1926 only a few programs were used to reveal sponsors and advertisements, by 1931, only six years later it had completely flipped over and now only a few were not. This was achieved in two ways, the first was that the radio drama was developed and the second was to use advertising and product placement within radio drama, to sell products and their airspace. By the late 60’s in America alone there were only three major companies with controlling interests in the industry, this was also to rollover into the Television industry. These three companies are still around today in slightly modified forms they are NBC, CBS and ABC. As with any business venture profits are of prime importance. Since big business had infiltrated and overtaken these two relatively new mediums, as soon as they had hit the public domain, they were being geared towards profit control and story control.
The ABC was not able to compete initially with its two major rivals during the early years, primarily of note the early sixties. Walter Cronkite over at CBS had established almost cult like status with his reports on Vietnam, whilst over at NBC their team of Chet Huntley and David Brinkley were very popular in their own right. For years it could be said that that the ABC felt inferior and had itself a complex. The ABC was mainly concerned with keeping costs to a minimum in regards to the news, and would rely on old Hearst Telefilm newsreel services to provide film for their news broadcasts. This did however fit in with the conservative political leanings of the owners. (Soap Opera Paradigm, ch 1, pg 18, James H. Wittebols)
There was an article during the lead up to the last Australian Federal election published by one Gerald McManus on August 31, 2004 in the Herald Sun titled, ‘Greens Support Illegal Drugs’. This article was straight out of Propaganda 101. It made a string of claims against the Greens and their ‘Policies’ that would prove to be almost entirely false factually, but this article was still published, at a crucial time into the public domain, when it was clear and obvious what effect such an article would have just before millions of citizens decided on the fate of the current government.
This article was published in a Rupert Murdoch owned Newspaper, the Herald Sun is Australia’s largest newspaper with a daily circulation averaging over 500,000 copies. Mr Murdoch owns around 60% of Australia’s newsprint media. So it was of no coincidence that this article would either appear in full or in excerpts throughout his media empire around the country. Senator and leader of the Greens Mr Bob Brown made a complaint to the APC (Australian Press Council), this was upheld by the APC with the body referring to the article as ‘irresponsible journalism’ full of ‘false claims’. (Loosened Cross-media ownership means more media bias- a tale from the 2004 election, by Myriad Mint) It is hard to believe that such a blatant piece of propaganda can still be reported, published and barley questioned. Since this unethical article first appeared neither Gerald McManus nor the Herald Sun have apologised despite the findings of the APC. Could this have something to do with the Herald Sun and all Murdoch newspapers endorsing Mr John Howard on Election Day? With what seems to be a blatant alliance and partnership between Mr Howard and Mr Murdoch, which must be based on their embracement of unethical and immoral conduct for their own personal gain. This wouldn’t of hurt Mr Murdoch’s chances of the Prime Minister looking at relaxing the cross media ownership laws now would it?
It would appear that Mr Howard is looking at relaxing the media laws in this country for the state of regulation and better services for the community. When we now know that with these ‘reforms’ that Mr Murdoch would benefit immensely. He would be free to own television and other media, alongside his newspaper outlets, in every major city. Going back to Mr McManus’ piece in the Herald Sun, what if that had been also run on Murdoch owned Television stations throughout the nation. The article was damaging enough to the Greens who looked highly likely to win the majority in the senate at this election. With Mr Howard saying that some of the Greens policies and ideas were ‘Kooky’, the factually void article in question magically appears in a Murdoch owned paper the very next morning. It may not surprise you to know that the Greens lost a lot of voter confidence and any chance they had of grabbing the majority of the upper house, which of course ended up as a liberal majority.
I believe in a freedom of speech, thought and idea’s. I find it hard to believe that all of these rights have been compromised by big business and agenda’s set by fat cats in suits who care for nothing more than their profit margins and fancy yacht. Long ago these ideals were let go, and the public seems to have their head in the sand or choose to ignore or not believe they have been and still are being duped every single day, by what they see, hear and read. People have forgotten to question, ask why. Ask how. Think for yourself, as these questions, don’t believe everything you see hear or read, because chances are it is false, and being said by someone with their own personal agenda. Above all question authority, because that is where it starts.
By Ryan Musgrave.
Bibliography.
- Books
• Soap Opera Paradigm – Television Programming and Corporate Priorities. James H. Wittebols.
• Malice in Media Land. David Flint.
• Politics and Propaganda. Adam Hibbert.
• Propaganda in War and Peace. Simon Adams.
- Articles
• Fewer Media Owners, More Media Choices. By Jim Rutenberg. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E5DD1E38F931A35751CA9649C8B63&sec=spon=&pagewanted=print
• News Drifting Left? By Timothy Karr. http://mediacitizen.blogspot.com/2006/01/fox-news-drifting-left.html
• Speaking with one voice: Does media cross-ownership stifle diversity? Special to Freedom Forum Online.
http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=3183
• How Media Has Changed Since the Day that ‘Changed Everything’. By Danny Schecter. http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/views03/0911-05.htm
• Loosened cross-media ownership means more media bias – a tale from the 2004 election. Blog – Myriad Mint. http://yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/node/1041
• Australian Greens. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Greens
- Films
• Weapons of Mass Deception. By Danny Schecter. http://www.wmdthefilm.com/mambo/index.php
• Loose Change, Version 2.0. By Dylan Avery, Korey Rowe and Jason Bermas. http://www.loosechange911.com/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment