for those who think differently…
The relationship between the media and its audience is driven by only one thing – trust. But that relationship today is strained because much of the mainstream or corporate media still think that they have a monopoly on the truth. The indomitable 24 hour news cycle was launched so broadcasters could continue to control the […]
Neoliberalism is a toxic economic dogma that has serious social and political consequences. In Britain and the US, mainstream media have a long record of selling neoliberalism to the public and political lawmakers. Recall Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s slogan, “There is no alternative” (TINA). As I document in my new book, Real Fake News (Red Pill Press), elites throughout history have always used information to control the thoughts and actions of the public. But the modern project has stretched itself to the limit, and people are starting to say No.
George Orwell famously said journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations. In a world festooned with PR exercises and reputation management, was Mr Orwell overly cynical, or was he well ahead of his time? With print media’s business model in free fall, newspaper proprietors are increasingly desperate to find ways to ensure financial viability. The problem with this approach is that corporate interests can and often do trump the interests of readers. Joining us to discuss how free the UK press really is are the lecturer in journalism and media studies at Birkbeck College, Justin Schlosberg, and the editor of Open Media at openDemocracy, James Cusick.
Influencing hearts and minds at home to achieve foreign policy objectives abroad isn’t anything new, but many people have become increasingly skeptical of half-truths in the mainstream media that help promote regime change in other countries. As public trust wanes and more critical questions are being asked about the real agenda around intervention, are we becoming more aware of modern day propaganda?
For many years the British tabloid press has had a monopoly on how the working class perceives themselves and their communities. But tabloid power is waning, creating an opportunity to tell a different story. One that’s more human and intricate. Not designed to divide, fool and rule. Joining us to work out if we are wiser to media manipulation or complicit in it are Aaron Reeves, associate professorial research fellow at the International inequalities Institute at the London School of Economics and Dr James Alan Anslow a writer and researcher in depth psychology, and former tabloid journalist.