Why Does The American Media Lie?

Question

Is The Independent Media: A Myth?
The role played by the corporate structure of the Mass Media in the “manufacture of consent”, as a means of population control, is reflected in its faithful propagation of the established opinion that Western policy is fundamentally benevolent in intention, is an issue of paramount importance. What role has the media played in clarifying the real principles and motives of Western policy to the public, and what does this entail for the nature of Western democracy and the role of the population in the formulation of policy? Is the business of the journalist of today to destroy the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, fall at the feet of Mammon and sell themselves for their daily bread?. Especially when it comes to the counter-democratic role of the United States of America in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Answer 1

The American mainstream media and media in general the world over is fundamentally flawed. Journalistic integrity gave way a long time ago to maintaining the status quo and perpetuating myths that are beneficial to the people in power. This is nothing new. Journalists all media of communication have been used since they inception to spread propaganda. But I think that the realization that this is the case can work for the reader. There are always grains of truth in the major news stories and by being a questioning witness to the news and vocalizing your dissent with the wholesale perversion of journalistic integrity is a step in the right direction.
As far as propagating the opinion of Western policy, yes, the news media does, to a certain extent, act as a passive media to forward the opinions and policies of the powerful. And it does affect both the democratic progress and the formation of policy. Ironically in an age where information can be transmitted instantly, there are certain pitfalls for the powerful to fall into. Anyone remember the "Dean Scream"?
Journalists must act as a filter as well. I know for a fact that in Canada the majority of the visuals for news have to go though a screening process. Do you really want your child watching the news and seeing someone killed brutally onscreen? You may call this destroying the truth, but we don't necessarily want the world, in all it's brutality and honesty to invade our homes through the nightly news.
It's a slippery slope. We want the truth, but we also want to be mollified that the world is an essentially good place where nice democratic people can sleep peacefully and their government will protect their country and their rights equally. Sometimes it is not possible.
On a side note, read Charlotte Gilman Perkins "When I was a witch". It has a very interesting part where she forces the paper to print the truth. Very funny! See the link below

Answer 2

Well you could write a whole dissertation about this! I think the reasoning lies in culture - the ideology of a powerful Capitalist nation such as America. The media is an institution born out of Western culture, and is therefore socialised into the values and ideals as the rest of society. Look around you - how much truth do you see in the world? Are people truthful with one another? If not, then its understandable that a institution born out of the same can misrepresent the truth. Its not all bad though, the is some media out there trying to maintain an unbiased, constructive view of events, its up to you to make up your own mind about the truth represented on tv or in newspapers.

Answer 3

the yankee media (for the most area, i do not comprise establishments like fake information in this actuality as they deliberately and blatantly lie) would not a lot lie because it would not filter out the lies of others. even as that is reporting on something, the media in many circumstances repeats verbatim what it became instructed and accepts the solutions that is given, even even as they comprehend that is a lie. this is a function of laziness and catering to the prevalent public that would not pick to imagine. the yankee public, regrettably, is the using stress in the back of this. human beings, back for the most area, do not pick to be compelled to imagine, distinctly no longer at time for dinner it really is even as maximum get their information. they pick to be advised what to imagine, no longer be offered issues to imagine about.

Answer 4

Because the American government pays them too.

Answer 5

It sells papers, get rating points and makes them look good with their bosses.

Answer 6

becasue themedia tells the truth, becasue you dont want to hear the truth you attack it like the bush administration is currently doing.

Answer 7

To make money and gain power.

Answer 8

Sorry .. you may no longer refer to inaccuracies in American media's reporting as "lying". It is considered to be politically correct to refer to it as "spin".

I hate them I hate them I hate them I hate them I hate them I hate them I hate them.

Answer 9

They are all motivated to be politically correct...