Virtual objectivity. Media and the critics with Noam Chomsky

Description

After seeing this penetrating analysis, no one will turn on the evening news and feel they have had all the news of the day's events. This film contains the insights of media critics, such as Professor Noam Chomsky of MIT and Charles L. Klozer founder and Emeritus publisher of the St. Louis Journalism Review . Chomsky discusses the role of the increasing corporatization of the global mass media and evaluates the concept of journalistic "objectivity" in that context.Hungarian journalist and media critic Janos Horvat, notes that television news in America is show business. The film draws comparisons between European and American news coverage. This focus on "infotainment" accounts for the choice of subjects, with the most visual items like disasters taking top billing. Horvat comments on the fact that in the United States the news is not simply presented as factual material, but it is interpreted for the reader and viewer.Edward Bishop, editor of SLJR says the media is not separate from society but reflects society. For example, most journalists come from the same middle class background as their viewers and see events from that perspective. Klotzer and Bishop point out that Americans do not cover issues from the "left" point of view as do the Europeans. While European journalists envy the freedom of the press enjoyed here, there is a lot of self- censoring by owners, editors and reporters in the American media. The video describes the role of CNN, with its global point of view, and compares it to the more insular network television in the United States. Here is a thought-provoking discussion starter that will challenge students to critically question "all the news that s fit to print" and broadcast.

Runtime

29 min

Subjects

Genre

Date of Publication

2001

Database

Alexander Street

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