Extreme Commercialism

Hi Class!

I just realized that my post from two days ago has an incorrect link to the article I intended to post. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Thank you for your time,
Sim

Here is the article:

https://www.thenation.com/article/the-problem-with-our-media-is-extreme-commercialism/

With its impoverished public broadcasting, the US media system stands out among democracies for its commercial excesses. Many sectors are dominated by corporate oligopolies, producing content with hardly any public interest protections. Is this the system Americans wanted?

This article from The Nation brings to light how the divide between journalism’s business and public serving missions is quick dissolving, especially following Trump’s ascendance. Diminishing revenues from hard news lead to a growing emphasis on sensationalism, further degrading journalism and misguiding the people. The author lists three approaches for uncoupling journalism from commercialism.

Prevent market concentration by breaking up media monopolies
Build and fund public media infrastructures
Closely regulate monopolies in sectors where competition is impractical.

The author hopes that these reforms provide the basis for an alternative media system dedicated to democracy instead of profit.

Here are some related quotes that I found interesting and worth pondering over:

“Our economy is based on spending billions to persuade people that happiness is buying things, and then insisting that the only way to have a viable economy is to make things for people to buy so they’ll have jobs and get enough money to buy things.”
― Philip Slater


“We're developing a new citizenry. One that will be very selective about cereals and automobiles, but won't be able to think.”
― Rod Serling


“The schedules are crammed with shows urging us to travel further, drive faster, build bigger, buy more, yet none of them are deemed to offend the rules, which really means that they don't offend the interests of business or the pampered sensibilities of the Aga class. The media, driven by fear and advertising, are hopelessly biased towards the consumer economy and against the biosphere.”
― George Monbiot


“I remember a time when a cabbage could sell itself by being a cabbage. Nowadays it’s no good being a cabbage – unless you have an agent and pay him a commission. Nothing is free anymore to sell itself or give itself away. These days, Countess, every cabbage has its pimp.”
― Jean Giraudoux, The Madwoman of Chaillot