Media Monopolies- one message, different voices
Far be it from me to criticize a media monopoly. Last week, it actually got me quoted in over 14 different newspapers across the country, including the thriving metropolis of Saskatoon. I put the link at the bottom.
So is the Canwest chain (nee Southam) the Wynand Papers? Gail Wynand sold his integrity for power, I am not sure Lord Black can say the same thing. Wynand sold smut, to the lowest common denominator. At least the Financial Post offers something new and interesting from time to time.
I have always been very critical of the way that the media manufacturers news. The way they report a story has a way of shaping (what ultimately becomes) the truth. Tragically, because of the way that the media reports stories (short, 30 second bursts) the details are often lost in the flashy sound bite. Media monopolies compound this problem. They take the same flashy little sound bite and repeat it twenty times.
Of course suggesting that anything other than a free market should drive ownership would be in clear opposition to the objectivist view. An Equalization of Media Opportunity Bill; this is probably the only time I will ever be on the side of the looters.
But, does that mean that the ownership interests should be limited? Lord Black (incidentally, possibly the wickedest name for a comic book villain ever) owned newspapers in several countries, and let me assure you, the editorial content of the National Post never came close to that found in its Jerusalem equivalent, and the post has even denounced israel. In fact, in London, he sold the same kind of smut Wynand did. It was only when he started to get investigated that he used his soapbox(es) to advance his own political causes.
Why? Because he understood sales. He knew that not everyone cared what his opinions were on issues, and that force feeding them a biased perspective would drive readers away. So, what about the CBC?
In Rand world, the media is seen as a vivid participant in the public discourse. Only the truly insipid do not understand this to be a criticism of the media, and that they have failed in the role to report the news, rather than create it. Rand documented the rise and fall of Wynand because of the editorial choices he made.
The difference between rand world and ours is that there was a form of democracy associated to it. Wynand fell out of favour and people stopped reading his paper, and advertisers stopped selling in it. I can’t remember the last time that happened in Canada. Frank does not count.
Personally, I am very particular about most of what I read and watch. I find myself screaming at the television when an issue is misreported, or simply a fluffy human interest piece that no one in their right mind cares about. Kind of like reading Hi & Lois is every city (or, as my friend says For Better or for Worse). Of course, that has to do with syndication, not monopolies.
Theoretically, having competition for media stories would improve the quality of journalism. It would certainly contribute the diversity of editorial opinion. Without Lord Black, that diversity has arrested itself.
So is the Canwest chain (nee Southam) the Wynand Papers? Gail Wynand sold his integrity for power, I am not sure Lord Black can say the same thing. Wynand sold smut, to the lowest common denominator. At least the Financial Post offers something new and interesting from time to time.
I have always been very critical of the way that the media manufacturers news. The way they report a story has a way of shaping (what ultimately becomes) the truth. Tragically, because of the way that the media reports stories (short, 30 second bursts) the details are often lost in the flashy sound bite. Media monopolies compound this problem. They take the same flashy little sound bite and repeat it twenty times.
Of course suggesting that anything other than a free market should drive ownership would be in clear opposition to the objectivist view. An Equalization of Media Opportunity Bill; this is probably the only time I will ever be on the side of the looters.
But, does that mean that the ownership interests should be limited? Lord Black (incidentally, possibly the wickedest name for a comic book villain ever) owned newspapers in several countries, and let me assure you, the editorial content of the National Post never came close to that found in its Jerusalem equivalent, and the post has even denounced israel. In fact, in London, he sold the same kind of smut Wynand did. It was only when he started to get investigated that he used his soapbox(es) to advance his own political causes.
Why? Because he understood sales. He knew that not everyone cared what his opinions were on issues, and that force feeding them a biased perspective would drive readers away. So, what about the CBC?
In Rand world, the media is seen as a vivid participant in the public discourse. Only the truly insipid do not understand this to be a criticism of the media, and that they have failed in the role to report the news, rather than create it. Rand documented the rise and fall of Wynand because of the editorial choices he made.
The difference between rand world and ours is that there was a form of democracy associated to it. Wynand fell out of favour and people stopped reading his paper, and advertisers stopped selling in it. I can’t remember the last time that happened in Canada. Frank does not count.
Personally, I am very particular about most of what I read and watch. I find myself screaming at the television when an issue is misreported, or simply a fluffy human interest piece that no one in their right mind cares about. Kind of like reading Hi & Lois is every city (or, as my friend says For Better or for Worse). Of course, that has to do with syndication, not monopolies.
Theoretically, having competition for media stories would improve the quality of journalism. It would certainly contribute the diversity of editorial opinion. Without Lord Black, that diversity has arrested itself.
posted by Atlas Hugged at
2:07 p.m.
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