Corporate Media and the Threat to Democracy

Open Media

by Robert W. McChesney

"In this passionate and strikingly lucid essay, Robert McChesney makes clear why all of us should be alarmed about the effects of media mergers on the future of American democracy. This is a must reading for anyone who wants to get a quick understanding of this troubling trend."—Susan J. Douglas, author of Growing Up Female with the Mass Media

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Political Science

80 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 1997

About the author

Robert Waterman McChesney was an American professor notable in the history and political economy of communications, and the role media play in democratic and capitalist societies. He was the Gutgsell Endowed Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He co-founded the Free Press, a national media reform organization. From 2002 to 2012, he hosted Media Matters, a weekly radio program every Sunday afternoon on WILL (AM), Illinois Public Media radio.

Reviews

[Public Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Imagine if the federal government demanded that newspaper and broadcast journalism staffs be cut in half, that foreign bureaus be closed, and that news be tailored to suit the government's self-interest. There would be an outcry..."

To say the least. This book was so much better than I expected from what's essentially just an 80 page pamphlet. McChesney made me think about issues far beyond the main topic of corporate media. This whole book really made me think. I'm going to look for more work by McChesney after this.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

You are an idiot if you think the American new media has a liberal bias. The proof is in this book, along with suggestions for changing the media's conservative bias. The suggestions may work, but they are not practical in a free society. I highly recommend this books but only as a myth buster.

[Colin]

Found this gem for 15 cents.
“One Hollywood movie producer notes that media mergers accelerate the existing trend toward
‘greater emphasis on the bottom line, more homogenization of content and less risk taking.’”

[Rocio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful short book that explains how and why mainstream media still distort the truth in countries that are not overtly authoritarian.

Perfect rebuke to your naive neighbor who thinks that the press is free because the government isn't allowed to censor it and because this isn't a dictatorship.

Read this in late high school and explains well how even if most journalists are trying to report the truth as they see it, the news ends up being shaped by structural forces beyond their control that are favorable to powerful interests and the status quo.

[MM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for thinking about the role of political communication systems for participatory democracy, the role of journalism in general, and how corporate media structures clog these roles. A useful critique of the political economy of media.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tiny book with a powerful punch.

[Smith Johns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet. At times a little boring or pretentious or hard to understand but most of it is actually awesome. Too bad he didn't have a better editor. Many many great quotes from this book.