Disadvantages of media that it chairs democracy
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The risks of any media in a society that values a free exchange of ideas is that the media itself is co-opted to the point where it is capable of drowning out or rendering alternate messages/messengers mute.
An optimal situation would be the often used term “free marketplace of ideas”. Where all possible viewpoints are within reach and available, but all are subject to evaluation, criticism, challenge and review allowing the “consumers of that marketplace” to then make informed decisions about the wide variety of options being offered.
Unfortunately, there’s a flaw in the concept of “media as a marketplace”. In the idealistic version of it, it is a level playing field, and the consumers are able to review and decide what offerings are the most accurate, helpful, and informative. The flaw is two-fold.
The consumers would rather be entertained than informed.
The providers realize that there is more money/power in offering an entertaining story than there is in providing a factual report or analysis. That their customers tend to “feel rather than think”.
And so, we have themes where politics is not much different than professional wrestling leagues, scripted “reality shows” and where news reporters don’t ask interview subjects “what do you think about ____?” but rather they run up to the first bystander at a tragedy, shove a microphone in their face and ask “how did you feel when you saw _____?”
An optimal situation would be the often used term “free marketplace of ideas”. Where all possible viewpoints are within reach and available, but all are subject to evaluation, criticism, challenge and review allowing the “consumers of that marketplace” to then make informed decisions about the wide variety of options being offered.
Unfortunately, there’s a flaw in the concept of “media as a marketplace”. In the idealistic version of it, it is a level playing field, and the consumers are able to review and decide what offerings are the most accurate, helpful, and informative. The flaw is two-fold.
The consumers would rather be entertained than informed.
The providers realize that there is more money/power in offering an entertaining story than there is in providing a factual report or analysis. That their customers tend to “feel rather than think”.
And so, we have themes where politics is not much different than professional wrestling leagues, scripted “reality shows” and where news reporters don’t ask interview subjects “what do you think about ____?” but rather they run up to the first bystander at a tragedy, shove a microphone in their face and ask “how did you feel when you saw _____?”
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