It's the Media, Stupid (Paperback)

~ (Author), Barbara Ehrenreich (Author), Ralph Nader (Author), Paul Wellstone (Author), Robert W. McChesney (Author), Barbara Ehrenreich (Author), Ralph Nader (Author), Paul Wellstone (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"a clear plan to turn back the "corporate carpet-bombing of our culture''...offers hope for something better" -- Michael Zuzel, The Capital Times

Product Description

An argument for media reform, It's the Media, Stupid explores the takeover of U.S. media by transnational conglomerates and shows how journalism, electoral politics, entertainment, and the arts have suffered.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 127 pages
• Publisher: Open Media (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583220291
• ISBN-13: 978-1583220290
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #939,695 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brief, but disconcerting, portrayal of the media, November 1, 2000

By	J. Grattan "book reviewer" (Lawrenceville, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

While all industries have undergone tremendous consolidations in the past decade, none of them have the impact on our culture and democracy as do the media giants. The delivery of targeted viewers and users to advertisers is the goal of the media giants, not the creation of an informed citizenry. In fact, the author demonstrates that considerable censorship is exercized to prevent views that question the corporate order as well as their own restricted information flows from reaching the public.

The author emphasizes that the corporate media system will have to be addressed before democracy stands a chance. But a real quandry exists. Usually an active citizenry requires good information to become energized - the kind that is needed from the very media in need of drastic reform. It is a most unpromising picture.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars compelling analysis, March 9, 2002

By	Patricia O'Tuama "rissa" (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This indepth analysis should put an end to the myth of liberal bias in the media. As the Left has been saying for years, the media is only as liberal as the conservative corporations that own them. We seem to be tumbling towards a world in which everything is owned by a relatively few number of conjoined companies whose activities are reported on by a handful of aqenda-driven media giants all bent on diseminating a particular view of predigested news aimed at the lowest common denominator. There has to be another way although, like a previous reviewer, I'm not sure all the solutions in this book will work. I would also like to point out that 90% of National Public Radio's funding comes from donations made by listeners and from corporate underwriting. Only 10% of the NPR budget comes from the federal and state governments and all of that is in the form of grants used for specific programs (science, history, music, literature, etc).

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The media elite is a waste of taxpayer resources, April 26, 2006

By	Winston Hanke (Cheyenne, WY) - See all my reviews

Ever wonder why the rightwing fascists and fake liberals in both parties get away with destroying America? It's the media, stupid ! Yes, some rightwing lunatics will cry "Liberal media" while others will cry "conservative/corporate media" but folks, the media is nothing more than a puppet for anti-America government that exists in Washington D.C. . The book does take a strong swipe at the ever corrupt and dishonest media but the reader might still feel powerless as there are no truly working solutions except to quit watching the TV set. Then again, not watching the telly might give the American people more time to get to work and take back their country. Read this book and fight back !