Media, Culture & Society

For my last post, I thought I’d share this little video, produced by a former Chicago-area radio producer. Clearly, he’s not a fan of media consolidation–and he’s not alone…

http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2007/05/11/06

it’s a transcript where he was a guest expert– he talks about the founding father’s original intentions of a free press, and he also sees the inevitable battle for control over the internet… basically, he sounds like the same author we know and love from our text book.

This article from the New York Times details efforts by tv networks to keep the viewer engaged during commercials and to get them to put down the remote control. This includes adding short skits or trivia quizzes in between commercials to give the audience something to look foward to. The article also speaks about the many new devices viewers will be watching the new fall line up from and how big broadcasters are catering to that since its “what the people want”

Incisive commentary on the potential deal between Rupert Murdoch and the Dow Jones Co. owners of the Wall Street Journal.

This article talks about how prevalent fake news has become.  It also says that 70% of Americans rely on TV as there primary news source, so a problem arises when the news people are receiving are paid for by companies and created by PR firms.  The use of VNR’s are rarely ever disclosed so people people aren’t realizing the news they are receiving is really fake news.

This article, “The Real ‘Fake News’”, from The Nation, discusses the accusations of Fox News’s conservative bias. The article says that Fox “functions like a cog in the Republic message machine,” giving evidence that during the 2004 election, only 13% of panelists’ comments for John Kerry were positive as opposed the 50% of positive comments made about Bush. Also, many of Fox’s guests only criticize liberals and Democrats. The article addresses the issues of bias media’s detriment to society. By reading this article, we can gain perspective into the news we see daily and become more critical consumers.

Here’s a thoughtful essay on fake news and its discontents. This essay is part of an innovative media studies blog–in media res–that you might find of some interest. I’ve got an essay appearing sometime next week–stay tuned.

This article pretty much just restates facts about Net Neutrality, and says that if the proposed regulations are passed, the internet could cost American consumers more than $69 Billion over the next 10 years. Because of this, many lower income families could potentially lose broadband connections because frankly, they can’t afford it anymore. That would suck because having access is something that I know I take for granted, so if I was unable to afford it, I’d be pissed.

Check out the article, it’s not long and it’s pretty easy reading…

Consumer groups and local public access groups are fighting against the “Consumer Choice Act of 2007,” hoping the bill will be vetoed.  Louise Thompson, the executive director of the Tampa Bay Community Network says that if this gets passed, it will be the “beginning of the end of public access in Florida.”  Public access stations would be hit especially hard, meaning there would be nowhere left for common citizens to express issues and concerns.  To find out about more of the implications of this bill, click here. 

Unilever, who makes Skippy peanut butter among other things, has vowed to quit the use of models and actors in their campaigns that promote an unhealthy ideal body image.  We have discussed in class the negative effects, such as eating disorders, that can arise from all of the super-slim actresses we see in the media.  This is an example of one company trying to do what they can to combat body image issues among Americans.