The major media paints a picture of reality in which most people live. The real world is so much larger than our direct experience that we have to rely on second-hand sources of information, and the media is only too happy to help us understand the big picture.
The trouble is, the picture they paint is like a portrait of a rich patron that is altered to be flattering. It reflects the media ownership's bias. Media is owned by corporate bosses who hire and fire media professionals, advertisers who buy audiences and politicians who regulate and favoritize media outlets.
Media outlets are used to holding all the keys to mass communication and shaping public opinion.
“Don’t Hate the media, become the media.”
—Indymedia.org
"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."
—George Orwell
Our right to reach out can only be safeguarded by fulfilling our responsibility to be reachable.
“The president now has a war plan on his desk. But first, Paula takes an in depth look at last night’s Emmy awards. Paula?”
“Thanks, Jack. Well, you’re really going to like this. We got inside and upclose with all the stars.....”
—CNN 0600 Monday, Sept. 23, 2002
The media plays a large role in diverting attention away from important subjects.
“True genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous, and conflicting information.”
—Winston Churchill
Being a critical thinker and exposing yourself to a diversity of information is the only way to let good ideas spread and bad ones die on their own merit rather than by exploiting money-bought media monopoly power.