What role will the media

play in the dowfall of this country? Is not the media's role to protect the citizens from the scoundrels in gov't? Yet they protect the scoundrels. Has it been this bad in the past with the media? asking those people here who have kept up with media and politics over the years.

The overriding factor in any discussion of American media from 2000 forward is the vast influence of corporations on the communication process. I don't think you can find a single other period of time when virtually everything the public sees, hears and/or reads has been controlled by five corporations: TimeWarner, General Electric, Disney, Viacom and News Corp Ltd (Fox).

Each of these entities owns at least one TV network. The hell of it is that each of these entities owns so many more businesses. Everything from jet engines to disposable diapers to food to banks to magazines to music companies to shoestrings to automobile parts. Any action by any one unit of the corporation is undertaken with the aim of producing the most favorable results for all other units of the corporation.

The inter-connectedness of corporations operating "in" the US is absolutely mind-boggling. You can get some idea of it at
www.cjr.org/tools/owners/

The evil part of the modern media equation is this: information is just another tool to increase profits. Everything that is transmitted in this country is filtered toward the interests of five corporations. bu$h's policies are favorable to big business. Therefore, the Media is staunchly pro-bu$h.

Well, this is just a PITIFUL attempt at an explanation, but it's the best I can do--even after 30 years in the media. Good luck in your search for answers!

:hi:
dbt