In today’s Internet era, we often regard news media as a channel to learn the truth, thinking that through it we can see the truth of things. But many years ago, Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman reminded us in their classic work “Making Consensus” that the media does not merely record reality. It is more like a narrator with a stance and choices, constrained by the structural forces behind it. Unconsciously, it determines what we see and ignore, and quietly shapes our views on politics, the economy, and even the entire society.
In “Manufacturing Consensus”, a very influential concept is proposed, called the “publicity model”. In simple terms, before news reaches us, it passes through several invisible “sieves” – the capital ownership behind the media, the interests of advertisers, the official notification statements, the pressure from large groups, and those self-evident mainstream concepts in society, etc. These factors do not seem like conspiracy; rather, they are more like the “daily operations” of the media industry. They work together to determine which matters deserve the front page, which voices are brushed aside lightly, or even disappear directly. The “reality” that ultimately unfolds before us has long been quietly shaped.
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The remarkable aspect of the media lies not only in what it reports but also in “how it tells the story”. The same conflict may be described as a “just struggle” or labeled as a “violent riot”. The demands of some groups have been repeatedly magnified, while those of others have remained silent all along. The media guides us on how to feel and understand through the choice of language, the arrangement of stories and the approach of perspectives. Often, our views on a matter have been unconsciously influenced by the narrative framework of the media, rather than necessarily being the result of truly independent thinking.
But this does not mean that we should no longer believe in news or watch the media from now on. Instead, it is hoped that we can realize that information never falls out of thin air; it is always packaged, structured and given a tendency. Especially in today’s world where all kinds of news are flying around, maintaining a clear critical mindset has become particularly important – comparing different sources, paying attention to the positions behind the narratives, and seeing clearly how the stories are told. Perhaps only in this way can we, in the tide of information, get closer to the true face of this complex world.
Reference list
1. Herman, E.S. and Noam Chomsky (2021). Manufacturing Consent. Routledge eBooks, 2, pp.198–206. doi:https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315201511-25.
It’s interesting that you bring up the significance of conflicts that are reported, because it makes you wonder why is one more important than the other? and who gets to decide that? It also makes you think about many potential false narratives that are perpetuated by the media.
This is a great reminder that news isn’t as neutral as we often assume. As Chomsky and Herman point out, media don’t just report facts — they frame them through filters like ownership, advertising, and dominant ideologies. It’s not the facts that get “made,” but the meaning attached to them. Nowadays, it’s more important than ever to stay critical, compare sources, and stay aware of how stories are being shaped before they reach us.