When “Free Media” Serves the Powerful: How Herman & Chomsky Expose Hidden Control
Ever notice how some tragedies make headlines for weeks while others vanish quickly? This isn’t by accident. Herman and Chomsky’s “Manufacturing Consent” theory (1988) reveals how mass media actually works as a propaganda machine for the rich and powerful 814.
In simple terms:
Media doesn’t just report news—it filters it to protect powerful interests, making us accept their version of reality.
How Media Control Works: The 5 Filters
Think of news as coffee—these “filters” remove unwanted truths before they reach you:
- Who owns the media?
Giant companies (like Disney, Comcast) own major news outlets. They won’t share stories that hurt their profits 814. - Ads = money
Media needs ads to survive. So, they avoid upsetting big advertisers (e.g., downplaying pollution scandals if car companies advertise) 89. - News from “official” sources
Reporters rely on governments and corporations for quick info. This lets the powerful control the narrative (e.g., slow reporting on government spying) 812. - Punishing critics
Media that challenges power faces lawsuits or smear campaigns. Chomsky himself was called “anti-American” for criticizing U.S. policies 814. - “Good vs. evil” stories
Labels like “terrorist” or “communist” frame whole groups negatively (e.g., calling Latin American activists “Russian puppets”) 68.
⚖️ Real-life example:
- “Worthy” victims (e.g., Westerners hurt by enemies): Front-page news, emotional stories.
- “Unworthy” victims (e.g., Middle Eastern civilians bombed by the U.S.): Buried or ignored 67.
Social Media Era: New Filters, Same Game
Today’s media control is sneakier:
- Algorithms decide what you see: Apps like Facebook/Meta hide certain topics (e.g., Palestinian rights hashtags) 914.
- Anger = clicks: Media exaggerates conflicts (rich vs. poor, race wars) to keep us divided 111.
- Silencing words: Google hides searches like “imperialist wars” under “content rules” 914.
Double Standards: Who Gets a Pass?
Western media often uses two sets of rules:
- Elections: Ignore cheating by U.S. allies, but call enemies “undemocratic” 612.
- Wars: U.S. bombs = “fighting terror.” Others’ self-defense = “aggression” 13.
Chomsky’s famous line:
“The best propaganda makes you cheer for your own chains.” 210
Fighting Back: Can We See the Truth?
Yes—but it takes work:
- Citizen journalists: Ordinary people expose lies (e.g., videos debunking fake chemical attacks) 9.
- Media literacy: Schools now teach students to question news sources 314.
- Alternative platforms: Apps like Mastodon avoid corporate control 16.
Herman’s warning:
“Real change needs breaking media monopolies and ad-driven models.” 816
This blog post was a very inspiring read for me. I am in no doubt that the media is primarily about making profit so will filter out potential problems that may hinder profit before they even arise. Media companies often take limited risk to gain maximum profit when deciding on new media products and projects. The point about social media hiding certain content is an important one as often social media only wants you to see posts that are in line with your watching patterns or previous watch history.