{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "description": "The mass media serve as a system for communicating messages and symbols to the general populace. It is their function to amuse, entertain, and inform, and to inculcate individuals with the values, beliefs, and codes of behavior that will integrate them into the institutional structures of the larger society. In a world of concentrated wealth and major conflicts of class interest, to fulfill this role requires systematic propaganda. That Manufacturing Consent is nearly as old as I am and introduces a concept as enduring as the propaganda model of communication is both depressing and a testament to the fact that Herman and Chomsky were and remain correct in their thinking. If anything, it's a model that has become increasingly relevant as mass media has been hollowed out by technology companies and subjected to ongoing attacks by both the politically powerful and the wealthy (of which there is an ever increasing overlap). Ownership: mainstream media has remained in the hands of large corporations or bought up by conglomerates. This is also true in cases where tech and social media platforms have replaced traditional outlets. Advertising: media outlets remain dependent on advertising for revenue, but this revenue continues to shrink as more and more advertising spend is directed to social media platforms. The reach promised in exchange for outlets embracing these platforms has never materialized in a way that makes up for that loss of revenue. Sourcing: outlets still depend on access journalism and reporting. This shapes their coverage as access to sources is contingent on concessions they make to maintain said access. Flak: this facet of the model is perhaps the most important at the moment. Reporting is attacked, news organizations are attacked, journalists are attacked, sources are deliberately unmasked, free speech is attacked. There's an unceasing assault on any news and reporting that does not align with the prescribed narrative. Independent journalists and outlets are the only ones taking risks in the face of these threats to deliver well-informed and important work to the public and their subscribers. Fear ideology: this has been relevant since Manufacturing Consent (when it was identified as anti-communism) with no sign of diminishing. Any reporting that runs counter to the government narrative is attacked using national security and fear of external threats as a basis to delegitimize or suppress said reporting. What we've lived with and continue to live with is an information environment that does a disservice to the public by relaying only what this model allows for. How do you hold power to account when you're beholden to it?",
  "path": "/reading/books/9780375714498/manufacturing-consent",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-06T00:00:00Z",
  "site": "at://did:plc:sttgf52vkk46f6yuknvqxvgh/site.standard.publication/self",
  "tags": [
    "journalism",
    "politics",
    "history",
    "nonfiction"
  ],
  "title": "Manufacturing Consent"
}