Our Media, Not Theirs: The Democratic Struggle against Corporate Media

by Robert W. McChesney, John Harrison Nichols, Noam Chomsky (Forward)

Our Media, Not Theirs! The Democratic Struggle Against Corporate Media examines how the current media system in the United States undermines democracy, and what we can do to change it. McChesney and Nichols begin by detailing how the media system has come to be dominated by a handful of transnational conglomerates that use their immense political and economic power to saturate the population with commercial messages. Further, the authors provide an analysis of the burgeoning media reform activities in the United States, and outline ways we can structurally change the media system through coalition work and movement-building: the tools we need in order to battle for a better media.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

140 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2002

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

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title is quite honest. The text isn't. "Our" is about a few academic leeches living off the taxes who travel all expenses paid by "their", the people who work to gain the money that gets taxed so "we" can tell "them" what to do. McChesney is very upset as the tax payers are starting to think they could run the show, and that should not happen.

[Erick Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much better version of a book that these two authors came out with a few years earlier. This had all the relevant information the previous one had but with less repetition and redundancy. Sometimes the message can get in the way of itself if it's not delivered properly.

Though this work is 14 years old, it isn't obsolete at all. I'm looking forward to update myself on the current data and trends of the dominance of the corporate media and compare it to what it was then. I am more interested, however, in what solutions have been presented to give the power of the media back to the people. The book only dedicated the last 20 pages to solutions we could apply in this country, though I valued the section on how other nations around the globe have dealt with media reform.

By now, I believe more of us are aware of problems with the media, but I am not quite sure if there are a whole lot of folks who feel like we can do anything about it. Maybe reading the last chapter of "Our Media, Not Theirs" would assist in channelling that energy in a useful direction.

[CaliforniaGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book after hearing John Nichols on Democracy Now and was so happy to hear him campaign for Bernie Sanders. Remember the town hall when Sanders said he wanted to be in charge of CNN so he could transform the media (if he couldn't be in politics)?
Even before but especially after this election I hope everyone sees the importance of having an independent media system. This book highlights how the media manufactures consent* by how they cover stories (or don't cover stories) citing the 2000 election (how they just gave the election to Bush) and the war in Iraq (not questioning the WMD story and refusing to cover the protests). If this book is updated it could easily include the billions given to Trump in media coverage, the Bernie blackout & the complete lack of coverage of the torture of the water protectors at Standing Rock. Read this book & support independent media!
*Noam Chomsky

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas and some interesting/amusing facts: Like that Pres Eisenhower used the term "military-industrial complex" and there was a Senator with the first name Gaylord.

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

So for an eyeopener of the practices that influence your way of thinking this small book packs a wallop. I read this as part of my Uni research and found the tone and style just right, to get across the book's powerful message that now is the time to take control of the information I receive.

Evaluating the source of the news is just as important as staying up to date and I wonder how this book could be updated for those who use Social media as their only source of news.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's an important topic - corporate media conglomerates and why they don't report on themselves. duh. you probably know most of what's in this book and just need reminding. what little you don't know can be upsetting. it makes me hate myself a bit. it's worth the quick read.

[MM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great essay -- problems with corporate media ownership are laid out well and includes valuable approach to media activism.