I was always taught that "the press" was supposed to be part of the checks and balances for a democratic system of government. Freedom of "the press" was envisioned as a means to keep the people of a democracy properly informed, so they can take action in the event their government starts to do things that are against the fundamental principles of their constitution. And, as such, "we the people" have (over time) developed a trust for "the press"; that they will keep us properly informed. In fact, I think the trust for "the press" is advocated in the earliest levels of public education.
I travel internationally for my job. And, from 2004 through 2009 I spent a considerable amount of time in Europe. I used to enjoy the different points of view I would get from the different media channels in Europe. I felt privledged and even enlightened to be exposed to such a diverse range of cultures. I began to consider myself a citizen of the world, rather than just an American citizen.
I can still remember the debates I had with my international friends over things like the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, George Bush, and America's position as the hegemonic force in the world. I have to admit that some of their perceptions (or arguments) of American arrogance were beginning to gain ground with me.
Then, something happened. I can't put my finger on it precisely. But, I began to feel less enamored with the international media. I realized that things were being said that were simply not based on actual facts. I can still remember sitting in my hotel room watching one of the international media channels, and thinking to myself "are they seriously putting this dribble on television".
Then, it occurred to me: I was hearing "themed" messages. Messages within a message intended to plant impressions. And, the themes I was hearing were the themes I recognized from my discussions with my international friends. In fact, they were practically identical.
Of course, I went through the classic denial: why would the media want to manipulate the message? It just did not make sense. Then, it occurred to me that the media had been very effective in getting their message through to my friends, because my friends were parroting the message back to me and amongst themselves during our lunch time debates. And, it occurred to me that the media had been quite effective in shaping the perceptions of my friends.
Imagine: an organization you trust to give you accurate information is actually giving you a crafted message. So, why? Why would the media want to deviate from just giving the facts? Why would the media want to advocate a "position", by embedding messages within their reporting of the facts? Well, if the public trusts the media to keep them informed, then the public is likely to believe whatever the media says. And, if I wanted to manipulate or control public perception, what better way to do this; than via a media that is already trusted by the public at large.
Yes, I know that this is a classic conspiracy theory. But, before you stop reading, I'd like a chance to make my case. If you have been following my blogs, you know that I use a very logical approach to make my points. I'm not your classic conspiracy theorist - I'm an independent thinker. And, if you will allow me, I would like to share some of that independent thinking on this topic.
So, what would motivate a journalist in general, or the media at large to begin advocating specific themes? Have you read my "Masters or Servants" blog? In this blog, I talk about the psychology behind the elitist frame of mind. If you haven't read that blog, you really should (I'll save your place here for you).
Seriously, anyone out there that believes our current media personalities are humble servants of society? Well, maybe some of them are, but, what about the vast majority? What do you think motivates them to do their job each day? Money? Fame? The power of being able to shape the perception of millions (even billions) of people? Are our media personalities striving to be Masters or Servants?
For the purpose of proving our conspiracy theory, let's just say that we don't believe that the majority of today's media personalities are motivated by a sense of public service. And, I think it is safe to say that media companies are big businesses; which means they are likely motivated by money and power. Convinced yet?
What's your favorite football team? Basketball team? How dedicated are you as a fan? Do you watch every game on TV? Go to every game in person? Wear merchandise that advertises your loyalty to the team? Do you get into heated arguments about your team?
We all like to belong; it's part of the human psyche. And, we tend to manifest our need to belong in different ways. Some join gangs. Others join political parties. And, still others adopt a sports team.
We all need to belong. But, more importantly, we like for our memberships to be exclusive. And, even better, we like to be unique or elite within an elite organization. It's the rush of power, that only membership in an elite organization can deliver.
So, if I'm a member of a particular political party with a particular ideology, wouldn't I talk about my ideologies; much the same way I cheer for my favorite football team? Wouldn't I do what I could to help my party to gain influence; much the same way I wear clothing promoting my favorite team? In particular, wouldn't I want and strive for influence within my political party?
Who was it that said "I would not want to be a member of a club that would have me as a member"?
Have you noticed that our media personalities have become more "dramatic" in the way they present the news. They seem to particularly like to report on events where there's lots of human suffering; like the most recent tragedies in Japan.
I guess some of that is the public's fault, as we do like to slow down in traffic to see the carnage of an accident. But, the media seems to thrive on human tragedies - to the point were they will play the same clip over and over again, trying to come up with new ways to describe the visuals. And, of course, they have to be "the best", so they add a little drama to distinguish themselves from the other media personalities who are reporting the same story.
The entertainment factor in the news is becoming more prevalent. And, it would seem that the entertainers are not above using their fame to advocate their political positions. Personally, I miss the true journalists.
So, what do you think? Do we need to worry about journalists and a news media that are politically biased and/or motivated by money and power?
And, what about all the drama? I heard a song on the radio that inspired me to write this blog. The song asked: "is the head dead yet". I immediately thought about the current day media's lust for human tragedy, and their desire to dramatize everything.
I started to think about my experiences with my international friends, and I realized that the media is key to being able to manipulate public opinion. Thus, the media is a valuable resource for today's "Masters". If that does not convince you, I don't know what will.
Actually, I probably should mention how the media can manipulate public opinion. We humans have lots of fears. And, the media likes to exploit these fears. For example, we are so afraid of dying in a terrorist attack, "we the people" are willing to give up our liberties, and right to privacy, to gain some level of security. And, the media recently used these fears to advocate a position in support of the new virtual strip search machines we travelers now have to deal with every time we fly.
I might be unique, but I do not fear death. It gives me the ability to focus on what I am losing as a result of everyone else's fears. It also gives me the ability to be unemotional regarding the role the media is playing in the manipulation of public perception.
It seems to me that the media has become a tool for propaganda and entertainment. I miss the simple truth. And, I am really tired of all the drama.
Sent from my iPad
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