brookes77, Herman and Chomsky

Herman and Chomsky's reading about the power and control the mass media has over our society was a powerful reading. The reading broke down the process of the media's influence and explained the factors involved. Also the reading illustrated exact names of the major media giants in the media. These media giant companies own much of what we read, hear, watch, it is scary to see how so few "giants" control such a big industry.

" The elite domination of the media and marginalization of dissidents that results from the operation of these filters occurs so naturally that media news people frequently operating with complete integrity and goodwill, are able to convenience themselves that they choose and interpret the news "objectively" and on the basis of professional news values.( 258) To me this quote stuck out because it explains how the the select higher class completely control the media, they are those who have the money, and even people who work for these high corporations and know what is going on, and the dominating process of the media, such as news casters, choose to disregard this and deliver the corrupt information in a passive manner. They take an "absent minded" stand in the process.

" In short the mass media are interested in attracting audiences with buying power, not audiences per se." This is a very valid point that is overlooked. The media, (advertisements) are displayed for all classes, and mainly for the working class population, yet these people are not who the media is trying to attract, although it seems this way, they are trying to attract those who can afford their product. The media attracts all classes, if he working class can not afford it, it becomes a desire, a dream, and ideology, which is just as important as when someone who can afford the product buys it. This quote exemplifies the images of the Mercedes and the General Motors signs that we discussed in class. The example with the Mercedes, it is a very well known brand because the media portrays the brand in a positive popular light, although this is is too expensive for the working class to buy, it is still advertised to them making them desire the Mercedes, when really the advertisements are relying on the upper class to buy the product, the Mercedes so they can become desired.