Manufacturing Consent : The Political Economy of the Mass Media

In this pathbreaking work, now with a new introduction, Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky show that, contrary to the usual image of the news media as cantankerous, obstinate, and ubiquitous in their search for truth and defense of justice, in their actual practice they defend the economic, social, and political agendas of the privileged groups that dominate domestic society, the state, and the global order. Based on a series of case studiesincluding the medias dichotomous treatment of worthy versus unworthy victims, legitimizing and meaningless Third World elections, and devastating critiques of media coverage of the U.S. wars against IndochinaHerman and Chomsky draw on decades of criticism and research to propose a Propaganda Model to explain the medias behavior and performance. Their new introduction updates the Propaganda Model and the earlier case studies, and it discusses several other applications. These include the manner in which the media covered the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement and subsequent Mexican financial meltdown of 1994-1995, the medias handling of the protests against the World Trade Organization, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund in 1999 and 2000, and the medias treatment of the chemical industry and its regulation. What emerges from this work is a powerful assessment of how propagandistic the U.S. mass media are, how they systematically fail to live up to their self-image as providers of the kind of information that people need to make sense of the world, and how we can understand their function in a radically new way. Amazon.com ReviewAn absolutely brilliant analysis of the ways in which individuals and organizations of the media are influenced to shape the social agendas of knowledge and, therefore, belief. Contrary to the popular conception of members of the press as hard-bitten realists doggedly pursuing unpopular truths, Herman and Chomsky prove conclusively that the free-market economics model of media leads inevitably to normative and narrow reporting. Whether or not you've seen the eye-opening movie, buy this book, and you will be a far more knowledgeable person and much less prone to having your beliefs manipulated as easily as the press. From Publishers WeeklyHerman of Wharton and Chomsky of MIT lucidly document their argument that America's government and its corporate giants exercise control over what we read, see and hear. The authors identify the forces that they contend make the national media propagandisticthe major three being the motivation for profit through ad revenue, the media's close links to and often ownership by corporations, and their acceptance of information from biased sources. In five case studies, the writers show how TV, newspapers and radio distort world events. For example, the authors maintain that "it would have been very difficult for the Guatemalan government to murder tens of thousands over the past decade if the U.S. press had provided the kind of coverage they gave to the difficulties of Andrei Sakharov or the murder of Jerzy Popieluszko in Poland." Such allegations would be routine were it not for the excellent research behind this book's controversial charges. Extensive evidence is calmly presented, and in the end an indictment against the guardians of our freedoms is substantiated. A disturbing picture emerges of a news system that panders to the interests of America's privileged and neglects its duties when the concerns of minority groups and the underclass are at stake. First serial to the Progressive. Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. From The Publisher: In This Path Breaking Work, Now With A New Introduction, Edward S. Herman And Noam Chomsky Show That, Contrary To The Usual Image Of The News Media As Cantankerous, Obstinate, And Ubiquitous In Their Search For Truth And Defense Of Justice, In Their Actual Practice They Defend The Economic, Social, And Political Agendas Of The Privileged Groups That Dominate Domestic Society, The State, And The Global Order. Based On A Series Of Case Studies-including The Media's Dichotomous Treatment Of Worthy Versus Unworthy Victims, Legitimizing And Meaningless Third World Elections, And Devastating Critiques Of Media Coverage Of The U.s. Wars Against Indochina-herman And Chomsky Draw On Decades Of Criticism And Research To Propose A Propaganda Model To Explain The Media's Behavior And Performance. Their New Introduction Updates The Propaganda Model And The Earlier Case Studies, And It Discusses Several Other Applications. These Include The Manner In Which The Media Covered The Passage Of The North American Free Trade Agreement And Subsequent Mexican Financial Meltdown Of 1994-1995, The Media's Handling Of The Protests Against The World Trade Organization, World Bank, And International Monetary Fund In 1999 And 2000, And The Media's Treatment Of The Chemical Industry And Its Regulation. What Emerges From This Work Is A Powerful Assessment Of How Propagandistic The U.s. Mass Media Are, How They Systematically Fail To Live Up To Their Self-image As Providers Of The Kind Of Information That People Need To Make Sense Of The World, And How We Can Understand Their Function In A Radically New Way. Introduction -- Preface -- 1: Propaganda Model -- 2: Worthy And Unworthy Victims -- 3: Legitimizing Versus Meaningless Third World Elections: El Salvador, Guatemala, And Nicaragua -- 4: Kgb-bulgarian Plot To Kill The Pope: Free-market Disinformation As News -- 5: Indochina Wars (i): Vietnam -- 6: Indochina Wars (ii): Laos And Cambodia -- 7: Conclusions -- Appendix 1: Us Official Observers In Guatemala, July 1-2, 1984 -- Appendix 2: Tagliabue's Finale On The Bulgarian Connection: A Case Study In Bias -- Appendix 3: Braestrup's Big Story: Some Freedom House Exclusives -- Notes -- Index. Edward S. Herman And Noam Chomsky ; With A New Introduction By The Authors. Updated Ed. Of: Manufacturing Consent. 1st Ed. C1988. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [331]-393) And Index. A'compelling indictment of the news media's role in covering up errors and deceptions'(The New York Times Book Review) due to the underlying economics of publishing—from famed scholars Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky. With a new introduction.In this pathbreaking work, Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky show that, contrary to the usual image of the news media as cantankerous, obstinate, and ubiquitous in their search for truth and defense of justice, in their actual practice they defend the economic, social, and political agendas of the privileged groups that dominate domestic society, the state, and the global order. Based on a series of case studies—including the media's dichotomous treatment of “worthy” versus “unworthy” victims, “legitimizing” and “meaningless” Third World elections, and devastating critiques of media coverage of the U.S. wars against Indochina—Herman and Chomsky draw on decades of criticism and research to propose a Propaganda Model to explain the media's behavior and performance.Their new introduction updates the Propaganda Model and the earlier case studies, and it discusses several other applications. These include the manner in which the media covered the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement and subsequent Mexican financial meltdown of 1994-1995, the media's handling of the protests against the World Trade Organization, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund in 1999 and 2000, and the media's treatment of the chemical industry and its regulation. What emerges from this work is a powerful assessment of how propagandistic the U.S. mass media are, how they systematically fail to live up to their self-image as providers of the kind of information that people need to make sense of the world, and how we can understand their function in a radically new way. The authors set out to show that an underlying elite consensus largely structures all facets of the news. The result is an account of the propagandist nature of the communications media, and of how they can be read, and their function interpreted, in a new way. We normally think that the press are cantankerous, obstinate, and ubiquitous in its search for truth. In Manufacturing Consent Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky show how an underlying elite consensus largely structures all facets of the news. Far from challenging established power, the media work hard to discover and mirror its assumptions. The authors skilfully dissect the way in which the marketplace and the economics of publishing significantly shape the news. They reveal how issues are framed and topics chosen, and contrast the double standards underlying accounts of free elections, a free press, and governmental repression. The authors conclude that the modern mass media can best be understood in terms of a 'propaganda model'. News and entertainment companies dedicate themselves to profit within the established system. Their interests require that they support the governing assumptions of state and private power. The propaganda model provokes outrage from journalists, editors and broadcasters, but twenty years after first publication, Manufacturing Consent remains the most important critique of the mass media A detailed and compelling political study of how elite forces shape mass media. Edward S Herman and Noam Chomsky investigate how an underlying elite consensus structures mainstream media. Here they skilfully dissect the way in which the marketplace and the economics of publishing significantly shape the news. This book reveals how issues are framed and topics chosen, and the double standards underlying accounts of free elections, a free press, and governmental repression between Nicaragua and El Salvador; between the Russian invasion of Afghanistan and the American invasion of Vietnam; between the genocide in Cambodia under a pro-American government and genocide under Pol Pot. What emerges from this ground-breaking work is an account of just how propagandistic our mass media can be, and how we can learn to read them and see their function in a radically new way. Shows how an underlying elite consensus structures various facets of the news. This title dissects the way in which the marketplace and the economics of publishing significantly shape the news. It reveals how issues are framed and topics chosen, and contrast the double standards underlying accounts of free elections, and governmental repression. Examines the political role played by the media in shaping events, rather than just reporting on them, assesses the relationship between the media and the corporations that control and finance them, and discusses the fine distinctions between news and propaganda. Reprint. 20,000 first printing. Discusses the ways in which the mass media are manipulated to present the news according to an underlying elite consenus which affects the manner in which similar events in different parts of the world are presented.