Media as Democratic Propaganda Coercion of citizens is not direct Ethical and moral claim of the democratic propagandist is itself to be debated Engagement with the propaganda techniques is open…tends to be ‘enlightened’ ( voluntary, majoritarian) and systemic ( not individual).

Democratic Propaganda II Mainstream media do not set out to control or persuade,but that the effect is cumulative –Expressions may be banal: Frame all news around conflict/negative framework Consumer fantasies Male, ethnocentric language or values Little proof of a conspiracy or that owners collude “it reminds us that persuasion works best when worming our way into our unconsciousness yet leaving intact the perception we have made our choices independently” ( Fleras, 2003).

Top Ten Chomsky and Herman Quotes 1.It is much more difficult to see a propaganda system at work where the media are private and formal censorship is absent. CC: The largest media systems constitute a new “Private Ministry of Information and Culture” CC: Advertisers acquired a ‘de facto licensing authority’ CC:152 4.Advertisers will want to avoid (anything) that interferes with the buying mood CC:155 5.The Mass media are drawn into a symbiotic relationship with powerful sources of information by economic necessity and reciprocity of interest CC:155

Top Ten Cont’d 6. In effect, the large bureaucracies of the powerful ( government/business) news promoters subsidize the mass media CC: The producers of flak add to (the) strength and reinforce the command of political authority CC: Communist ideology helps mobilize the population against an enemy, and because the concept is fuzzy it can be used against anybody..CC: When anti communist fervor is aroused, the demand for serious evidence in support of claims is suspended. Issues tend to be framed in terms of a dichotomized world CC: Conversely, propaganda campaigns will not be mobilized where…(they) fail to serve the test of utility to elite interests CC:167

How the Democratic Propaganda Model Works Why are they writing this piece? –To refute the positive historical narrative which associates the ‘earning’ of independence from the State with the free press –To refute the libertarian dogma of the ‘free market’ during the 80s ( Thatcher, Regan, Mulroney) –To draw attention to the inequality of wealth and power and its effects on mass media –Thus, from a critical, neo marxist perspective

What Method do H and C use? They map money and power They provide an institutional and structural analysis

How do they build their argument? The five filters are linked logically Start with the economic structure and profit motive in capitalism –Why? Dominant form of economic media organization in the US Begins with ‘base’ of economic structure Then move to ‘flow’ of the economic transaction: sale of advertising $ Move to the ‘production’ of news/sourcing to reprints Then to the game or negotiation around sourcing; the flak To the dominant ideology of the day

Where does this type of approach fit in the discipline? In critical theory In political economy Michael Moore adapts this approach following the owner of a big business( Roger and Me: GM owner followed on downsizing)

How Well does the Argument do? Widely cited But, shows an historical datedness –After 9-11, filters 3, 4 and 5 became much more powerful –“anti communism” after the fall of Berlin and ‘end’ of the Cold War replaced –Now, after 9-11 “anti terrorism” more relevant –Propaganda most effective in the fifth filter and in fact conditions the other 4 But model cannot explain these historical shifts Model is US-centric

Brook’s adaptation of the Model Calls filters 1 & 2 the economic model ( advertising and ownership) Calls filter 3 the organizational filter: looks at sourcing, news routines Shares the Filter 5 but calls it the ideological filter Like Herman and Chomsky, argues that the filters work to support established values and institutions and that democracy is not well served by Canada’s mass media

Where Brooks differs Underlines the importance of INDIRECT influence on censorship Reinforces the trend to infotainment, but notes this is not as far advanced in Canada Introduces PUBLIC media, but notes there are similar constraints even in the case of taxpayer subsidy ( CC: 190) Emphasizes the importance of a “LEGAL/REGULATORY” FILTER –To explain presence of public sector in Canada –To explain focus on framing media ownership in terms of American penetration into Canadian markets ( CC:191) –Which suggests different cultures and different elites can cause some changes to elements of the model

Differences Cont’d Introduces a “TECHNOLOGICAL FILTER”-- the importance of the medium, and the JPM ( CC: 195) with the bias to stereotypes and confrontation Unlike Chomsky and Herman, avoids analysis of dirty tricks, military-industrial complex

STUDY GUIDE BE SURE TO UNDERSTAND BUSINESS INFLUENCES FROM OUTSIDE THE MEDIA: CC 24 GOVERNMENT INFLUENCES OUTSIDE THE MEDIA: CC25 SEE CC FOR A SUCCINCT SUMMARY AND CRITIQUE OF HERMAN AND CHOMSKY