Brunswick on Nostr: Noam Chomsky has extensively discussed these mechanisms, particularly in his work ...
Noam Chomsky has extensively discussed these mechanisms, particularly in his work Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media (co-authored with Edward S. Herman). He describes how systemic biases in media—shaped by the interests of powerful institutions—affect public discourse and marginalize dissenting voices.
Mechanisms Described by Chomsky:
1. Filtering Information: The "propaganda model" outlines several filters through which news is shaped, including:
Concentration of Media Ownership: Media corporations often have overlapping interests with government or intelligence agencies.
Advertising Revenue: Media outlets rely on advertising from corporations, which discourages content critical of government or corporate power.
Sourcing: News relies heavily on "official sources," such as government or intelligence agencies, creating a dependency that discourages critical reporting.
2. Silencing Dissent:
Voices that question government corruption are often marginalized by labeling them as "unreliable," "conspiratorial," or "extreme."
This discrediting can be amplified by academic and political institutions, which align with prevailing narratives to maintain legitimacy.
3. Manufactured Consensus:
By withholding evidence or framing dissent as fringe, the media and institutions manufacture a perception of consensus. Any deviation from this consensus is treated as irrational or dangerous.
For example, when evidence is withheld (as in the case of JFK files), questioning the lack of transparency can itself be framed as a sign of paranoia, further discrediting dissenting voices.
4. Revolving Door Policies:
Chomsky also critiques the influence of "revolving door" policies between government, intelligence agencies, and media corporations, which create structural incentives for alignment rather than scrutiny.
In this context, Chomsky would argue that withholding information (e.g., JFK files) is part of a broader system that controls narratives, and the marginalization of independent voices questioning such acts is an intentional outcome of these mechanisms. The goal is to protect institutional credibility while discouraging public scrutiny.
Mechanisms Described by Chomsky:
1. Filtering Information: The "propaganda model" outlines several filters through which news is shaped, including:
Concentration of Media Ownership: Media corporations often have overlapping interests with government or intelligence agencies.
Advertising Revenue: Media outlets rely on advertising from corporations, which discourages content critical of government or corporate power.
Sourcing: News relies heavily on "official sources," such as government or intelligence agencies, creating a dependency that discourages critical reporting.
2. Silencing Dissent:
Voices that question government corruption are often marginalized by labeling them as "unreliable," "conspiratorial," or "extreme."
This discrediting can be amplified by academic and political institutions, which align with prevailing narratives to maintain legitimacy.
3. Manufactured Consensus:
By withholding evidence or framing dissent as fringe, the media and institutions manufacture a perception of consensus. Any deviation from this consensus is treated as irrational or dangerous.
For example, when evidence is withheld (as in the case of JFK files), questioning the lack of transparency can itself be framed as a sign of paranoia, further discrediting dissenting voices.
4. Revolving Door Policies:
Chomsky also critiques the influence of "revolving door" policies between government, intelligence agencies, and media corporations, which create structural incentives for alignment rather than scrutiny.
In this context, Chomsky would argue that withholding information (e.g., JFK files) is part of a broader system that controls narratives, and the marginalization of independent voices questioning such acts is an intentional outcome of these mechanisms. The goal is to protect institutional credibility while discouraging public scrutiny.