Big Media

Robert W. McChesney and Eric Alterman, the authors of “Big Media: Who Owns the News?” bring to light many of the unknown facts about who really controls the media. They open up their article with a short story about how two people who quit their jobs at a News Corporation and Viacome. The result of them leaving leaves little or no effect on their previous employers. This story illustrates how these media corporations are simply companies seeking profits. What issue are the authors trying to bring to light through this idea of the media being controlled by corporations? Well, at one time the media was controlled by no one; rather it was a form of freedom of speech. Now, large conglomerate control what was freedom of the press, because of the government’s law and regulations. Such as how the government controls all 1,200 of the clear broadcasting radio channels. If a person does attempt to exercise their freedom of speech and decided to broadcast over one of these controlled wave lengths they could face time in a federal penitentiary. Why does the government put these regulations in place; to bolster support for their own needs. In addition, the article also infers they do it to control and manipulate the U.S., through organizations like the FCC. What McChesney and Alterman conclude in the end is that it will be impossible to have our type of government with the current media. Either the media must change or the constitution.