Currently reading reporter Matt Taibbi’s book HATE INC.
In it, the book which is part confessional part warning sign Matt explains how we are sold hate and division every day by news outlets and reporters because it means big bucks for advertisers and media conglomerates.
Conglomerates who moderate our news to give us only the stories that will fortify our opinions and conceptions.
THE NIGHTMARE SCENARIO IS THAT OUR NEWS IS BASICALLY REDUCED TO CAREFULLY CHERRY-PICKED STORIES THAT MAKE THEM MONEY AND US FEEL VINDICATED IN OUR ANGER AND RAGE.
AND SO WE NEVER HEAR REPORTS OF NEWS STORIES THAT MIGHT REQUIRE US TO CONSIDER ALL SIDES OF A STORY — OR STORIES OF REAL SIGNIFICANCE, REAL BRUTALITY, NEWS OF THE PLANET IN DANGER BECAUSE OF GREED, OF GENOCIDES any story that might mean losing ad dollars for the outlets because we didn’t want to hear it.
Not just FOX NEWS but even when watching our news favorites (MSNBC et al.) news today is selected to echo our own beliefs and pedal them back to us to sell shampoo, dog food, medications and new cars.
Here are a few striking and memorable thoughts from the book so far:
