How do we know that the media isn't controlled by the government?

Question

Because they tell us it isn't? How can we be sure that we don't just hear what they want us to hear?

maybe this isn't in the right category, but oh well.

Answer 1

We don't.
But---
You can fool some of the People all of the Time.
All of the People some of the Time.
BUT you cannot fool All of the People All of the Time.

The People have it!
Ditto.......

Answer 2

The Media is a very broad category but if you're referring specifically to "news" then there certainly is a very close relationship between government and "news"

Journalism used to be completely independent and had the autonomy to speak truth to power. Now most journalism, thanks to media conglomerates is now the "news business" and since they are profit centers like any other entertainment division, the bottom line drives the leading stories. Advertising revenue is the lifeblood of the "news business" so what we see is influenced by the parent companies that own the outlets and indirectly influenced by the sponsors.

In order to broadcast opinions, you need an obscene amount of money. Politicians need to raise that money in order to get their messages to broad audiences and PACs and 527s broad cast their ideologies in favor of their politicians of choice while the politicians themselves can conveniently claim ignorance even when it's obvious that the commercials benefit them.

The FCC can control what is appropriate for public broadcasting which is why cable has more leeway so you can't conflate "media" with "news" but it's obvious that we're seeing what they want us to see and sometimes it will conform to your world view and sometimes it won't.

Bottom line is we want to be an informed citizenry, for God's sake please use multiple sources and have an open mind; be objective and look at multiple sides of issues because what you see on TV isn't always 100% accurate.

Many Americans still think Sadam was responsible for 9/11
Many Americans believe the Iranian government is directly responsible for supporting the Iraqi insurgency and are actively building nukes, when the fact is there is no credible evidence to support either claim
Many Americans believe that Global Warming is a myth
etc, etc.

With all of the information out there, how the hell is this possible? Because the Administration is quite good at creating slogans and have the latitude to use the "news media" to pound their message to those who can't (willingly or otherwise,) verify the information until speculation becomes fact.

Answer 3

Because the media focuses on kids to take them down and lead the country for the next 50 years. Even if that means making the popular movies rated PG-13 and putting celebs on Myspace ads with random inappropriate gossip. The government just wants our money, and they get it through the taxpayers. The media is going for the teenager's money by making the most expensive items popular and promoting the cds and movies. That's who runs the media. The opponents of the cultural war.

Answer 4

I think it's controlled by the goverment because the govement is in war with these people that they are reporting about, take the muslims, the media says stuff about muslims that is'nt true, and I don't like that because I'm muslim an I've never blowed up anything or held a real gun, and now I'm lonely.
andthey also get it to make money from teens

Answer 5

Because if it was controlled by the government, we'd hear more good things, John Stewart and Colbert would be out of jobs, and shows like Lil Bush would never come into existence.

Answer 6

Personally, I believe the government has a lot of control of the media.

FCC regulations, for one.

There is a lot of motivation within the government and lobbyist groups to keep the public paranoid about certain issues for their own personal gain.

Answer 7

Because the government is partially controlled by the media. I don't think it would work both ways very well.

Answer 8

Media has been sleeping with government for years and years now, media simply thrives on sensationalism and vary little truth comes from them.

Answer 9

Of course the media is controlled by the government. What would give you the idea that it wasn't? We only see what they want us to see.

Answer 10

if the media was controlled by the government then we would be winning the war in iraq and president bush would be everyone's favorite and hillary wouldn't be running for president.