Finance Roll

In the last article we showed you how to explore the order of the various segments, of programming on network news, and in the media in general. We discussed examining the narrative, (the segment as presented) and how we could find the underlying narrative, (the covert story or point of view) from which each program was presented. We made suggestions on how we could observe one news program, make notes and look for patterns, and then move on to doing the same thing for more and more programs over a long period of time.

If you have been doing this for a week or two, you may be discovering that there is a box when it comes to reporting journalistic stories. Each station and show has some parameters, or limits that they won't go beyond. There are certain things that the news won't touch because of its basic nature, which is the fact that it has to be funded, or owned by people with their own agendas and beliefs about the way the world is and should be. Some things that the news will never comment on negatively because of the power of its corporate sponsors and associates, advertisers, and government pressure are:

1. Losses incurred by corporate tax breaks

2. Control of the media by a minority of individuals

3. Institutional discrimination

4. War policies to promote global corporate trade

5. The benefits of any economy antithetical to the goodness of pure capitalism,

These are just a few things. Please take the time to see if you can think of anymore for yourself. Unfortunately, most journalists and broadcasters cannot present these subjects in detail, because they think that conveying these facts would be in opposition to the interests of their sponsors. Enough of their sponsors think so too and often moved apply financial pressure on the news business, if they are so moved. In truth, since the news is owned by national corporations, funded by advertisers, and the employees are paid by the funding from the organizations, there is just so much they can say without being replaced by someone with the right opinions. None-the-less, some journalists still try to present a balanced objective report, with just a little bit of the progressive view, instead of the liberal view. Unfortunately many of them are on the far right, working in the parameters allowed by corporations and advertisers. They seem progressive, but in reality they are just pitching news stories from a very hierarchical corporate capitalist view. Which includes putting down liberal thinkers, intellectuals, and social activists. You can find many such people on Fox News.

Keeping the allowable parameters for journalists and broadcasters in mind, look at some of these programs again. Really pay attention to what the Spin Doctors or PR people are saying. Listen closely to the interview and how they answer questions. Notice how they support the opinion of their boss fully and completely with no doubts. See what type of technique they use. Are the brisk and somewhat perturbed that someone would dare ask such stupid question, or doubt them? Are they joyful, smiling a lot, while stabbing and jousting with another person on the program whom has a different opinion? Do all the people on the program disagree, but agree with the one underlying idea presented that falls in line with the underlying narrative, or corporate interests?

If you can develop your observation skills when it comes to looking at the Spin Doctors and learn how they really work, you will arrive at a place where you can almost guess what the person is going to say before the first word comes out of their mouth. As soon as they are introduced, depending on what organization they represent, you can just about, word for word, predict their opinions. And then understanding whether a news program is giving good news or not will depend not on the story, but how many people from various organizations with differing opinions are allowed to present their ideas. This all comes back to having access to the media.

Jefferson and the founding fathers of the U.S., wanted as many people as possible to have access to reading and writing, as much print media as possible. They didn't think that it would be possible to have a real democracy without it. They must be rolling over in their graves now. For the first time in U.S. history only six corporations, one with a board made up from people of the other five, own control of more that ninety-eight percent of all of the TV, print, and radio media. They are the ones who give access or deny it, to those who can afford to take advantage of it by either paying ridiculous fees, or pushing forward the ideas that help increase the bottom line of these corporations. Watching the news is still helpful though, when one learns to read between the lines. As you put together your own journal and do a bit of historical background checks, you will be able to understand the real news by what is not there. This is the plan that we will discuss in our next article.