All very true, but really, I think we libs need to pause and take a close look at ourselves, our methodology, what we plan to do in the future and how we plan to do it. More about this in a later post.
I think we should constantly question what kind of candidate the GOP has, who required, what, $100 million or more(?) to hard-sell him to his own party, not by building him up so much as by trashing his opponents. And now, he's such a bitter pill to swallow, the Kochs have to sugarcoat him with $400 million, with other millionaires and billionaires pouring obscene amounts into the effort as well.
Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door. Try to sell a turd as a candy bar, you'd better be prepared to spend plenty on advertising. ;)
And they're doing just that. When push comes to shove, I hope the majority of Americans find this kind of money repugnant enough to vote the other way.
There is no longer any such thing a free speech. Unless you talk to yourself in a mirror. The media in our country is now controlled by 5 corporations, the largest and most divisive of which is owned by a foreigner.
I can go to any bookstore and find opinion magazines from a wide variety of companies.... far more than 5. Perhaps you are just referring to how national TV news is controlled by just 5 companies. That's true (but is it 6 counting C-SPAN).... but it is also a large percent increase from the only 3 we had in the 1970s.
First, C-span is not owned by a corporation nor is it a for-profit entity.
Through acquisitions and mergers sine 1971, the media (all aspects of it) have dwindled down to just a few large corporations. It can't be limited to just TV, or Cable, or print, or whatever. These companies cross-breed and in-breed like a bunch of horny toads. A lot of those magazines you pointed out are owned by the same companies, companies that own other media. Take GE, for example.
From Wikipedia: "C-SPAN is operated by the National Cable Satellite Corporation". So much for it is not owned by a corporation.
The chart is misleading because it does not include the vast majority of publishers, journals. etc.
"Whether it's 3, 5 or 10, the takeover of the media by giant corporations should be of serious concern to all of us."
Giant corporations have controlled TV since its creation. The situation has improved some, since there are more corporations.... and definitely because of public access cable shows. But you can't decry this as a new worsening trend, since it was always this way and in fact has improved.
And there's simply no control like this when it comes other media.
"C-SPAN is a non-profit organization, funded by a relatively small 6-cent per subscriber affiliate fee[1] paid by its cable and satellite affiliates, and does not carry advertisements on any of its networks, radio stations or websites, nor does it ever solicit donations or pledges."
It's hard to be a corporation and a non-profit all at the same time. As for the rest, we're just going to have to agree to disagree. IMVHO, and speaking as someone with experience in and very close ties to the media, I think you're totally off base.
And concentration of media control is not just an American phenomenon.
Where I am 70% of all news is controlled by Murdoch. In some areas the only choice is between the Murdoch national and the Murdoch metro.
The only serious alternative is a group called Fairfax. Currently the world’s richest woman, and queen of Australian mining (inherited wealth of course…), is attempting to get a seat on the board, to push her agenda, which is completely Right wing and mostly concerned with tax avoidance and raping the environment. (That’s in between fighting her own children in the courts over control of the family trust... 'family values' as it were...)
Murdoch's tentacles reach around the globe, strangling any semblance of truth. What an evil man. Your mining lady sounds like Arizona's Jan Brewer. Brrrr.
Just happened to find your blog - one link led to another... Oh MY! Look what I have been missing. Bravo for being so brave. My blog is focused on my need for serenity by comparison... but my Sunday Musings (private sending) sounds like we would get along real well. So glad I found you, am sharing your link with my friends who can handle it!
Hey, we all have equal access to free speech, but to play with Orwell's words the rich are more equal than anyone else.
ReplyDeleteWhat BB said.
ReplyDeleteIf it costs money to have it… it isn’t ‘free’ anymore.
ReplyDeleteAll very true, but really, I think we libs need to pause and take a close look at ourselves, our methodology, what we plan to do in the future and how we plan to do it. More about this in a later post.
ReplyDeleteI think we should constantly question what kind of candidate the GOP has, who required, what, $100 million or more(?) to hard-sell him to his own party, not by building him up so much as by trashing his opponents. And now, he's such a bitter pill to swallow, the Kochs have to sugarcoat him with $400 million, with other millionaires and billionaires pouring obscene amounts into the effort as well.
ReplyDeleteBuild a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door. Try to sell a turd as a candy bar, you'd better be prepared to spend plenty on advertising. ;)
And they're doing just that. When push comes to shove, I hope the majority of Americans find this kind of money repugnant enough to vote the other way.
DeleteThere is no longer any such thing a free speech. Unless you talk to yourself in a mirror. The media in our country is now controlled by 5 corporations, the largest and most divisive of which is owned by a foreigner.
ReplyDeleteSadly true, and the MSM is beginning to sound a lot like Fox - maybe just being a bit more subtle about it.
DeleteI can go to any bookstore and find opinion magazines from a wide variety of companies.... far more than 5. Perhaps you are just referring to how national TV news is controlled by just 5 companies. That's true (but is it 6 counting C-SPAN).... but it is also a large percent increase from the only 3 we had in the 1970s.
DeleteFirst, C-span is not owned by a corporation nor is it a for-profit entity.
DeleteThrough acquisitions and mergers sine 1971, the media (all aspects of it) have dwindled down to just a few large corporations. It can't be limited to just TV, or Cable, or print, or whatever. These companies cross-breed and in-breed like a bunch of horny toads. A lot of those magazines you pointed out are owned by the same companies, companies that own other media. Take GE, for example.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assets_owned_by_General_Electric
This is a bit out of date but it has a chart showing very vividly how corporations have taken over the media:
http://www.corporations.org/media/
And this is from Wiki, which may be more up to date, if not more accurate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentration_of_media_ownership
Whether it's 3, 5 or 10, the takeover of the media by giant corporations should be of serious concern to all of us.
From Wikipedia: "C-SPAN is operated by the National Cable Satellite Corporation". So much for it is not owned by a corporation.
DeleteThe chart is misleading because it does not include the vast majority of publishers, journals. etc.
"Whether it's 3, 5 or 10, the takeover of the media by giant corporations should be of serious concern to all of us."
Giant corporations have controlled TV since its creation. The situation has improved some, since there are more corporations.... and definitely because of public access cable shows. But you can't decry this as a new worsening trend, since it was always this way and in fact has improved.
And there's simply no control like this when it comes other media.
You should have read the Wiki piece further:
Delete"C-SPAN is a non-profit organization, funded by a relatively small 6-cent per subscriber affiliate fee[1] paid by its cable and satellite affiliates, and does not carry advertisements on any of its networks, radio stations or websites, nor does it ever solicit donations or pledges."
It's hard to be a corporation and a non-profit all at the same time. As for the rest, we're just going to have to agree to disagree. IMVHO, and speaking as someone with experience in and very close ties to the media, I think you're totally off base.
And concentration of media control is not just an American phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteWhere I am 70% of all news is controlled by Murdoch.
In some areas the only choice is between the Murdoch national and the Murdoch metro.
The only serious alternative is a group called Fairfax.
Currently the world’s richest woman, and queen of Australian mining (inherited wealth of course…), is attempting to get a seat on the board, to push her agenda, which is completely Right wing and mostly concerned with tax avoidance and raping the environment. (That’s in between fighting her own children in the courts over control of the family trust... 'family values' as it were...)
Murdoch's tentacles reach around the globe, strangling any semblance of truth. What an evil man. Your mining lady sounds like Arizona's Jan Brewer. Brrrr.
DeleteJust happened to find your blog - one link led to another... Oh MY! Look what I have been missing.
ReplyDeleteBravo for being so brave. My blog is focused on my need for serenity by comparison... but my Sunday Musings (private sending) sounds like we would get along real well.
So glad I found you, am sharing your link with my friends who can handle it!
Thanks "possum." I hope you'll come back.
Delete