Here's a ridiculous idea we can try if fascist demagogues ever take over the country: Ban media organizations. You still get your free speech - as an individual - but no more CNN, Fox News, New York Times, WSJ, Breitbart or Post Millennial. Everything must be owned by and attributed solely to a single human. Any time two or more journalists get together in a group, we raid their office and shut it down as a conspiracy to employ propaganda against the people. As a journalist you can hire your own editorial department if you must, but the final report comes from you. We must end The Fourth Estate once and for all.
It's a dumb thought that just came to me, but I wonder if that would destroy the implicit trust many people have in "the news" as an accurate information tool. Also responsibility for fake news would not be dispersed over a whole company over a long period of time. We'd know exactly who to shame or credit.
A) The Smith-Mundt modernization act made it completely legal to use propaganda against the American people.
Afaik, it made it legal for the state department to broadcast their "news" segments that were aimed at foreign audiences within US borders, but it had nothing to do with private media corporations.
Private media. Run in lock step by the same people running the government.
Even if it worked like that, the modern corporate media spends 24 hours a day talking about some press briefing where government officials spewed DOS approved propaganda.
Everything must be owned by and attributed solely to a single human. Any time two or more journalists get together in a group, we raid their office and shut it down as a conspiracy to employ propaganda against the people.
Excellent idea!
I might make exemptions for reporters who prove themselves to be ethical by allowing them to take on copy editors or photographers, but all work would still be attributable to the one reporter and any lies, deliberate or by omission/weasel words, would be proof of conspiracy to employ propaganda.
A lot of people still do, unfortunately. That's why we're still fucked
Here's a ridiculous idea we can try if fascist demagogues ever take over the country: Ban media organizations. You still get your free speech - as an individual - but no more CNN, Fox News, New York Times, WSJ, Breitbart or Post Millennial. Everything must be owned by and attributed solely to a single human. Any time two or more journalists get together in a group, we raid their office and shut it down as a conspiracy to employ propaganda against the people. As a journalist you can hire your own editorial department if you must, but the final report comes from you. We must end The Fourth Estate once and for all.
It's a dumb thought that just came to me, but I wonder if that would destroy the implicit trust many people have in "the news" as an accurate information tool. Also responsibility for fake news would not be dispersed over a whole company over a long period of time. We'd know exactly who to shame or credit.
A) The Smith-Mundt modernization act made it completely legal to use propaganda against the American people.
B) Shutting down all corporate news outlets makes you an antisemite
Afaik, it made it legal for the state department to broadcast their "news" segments that were aimed at foreign audiences within US borders, but it had nothing to do with private media corporations.
Maybe I'm wrong?
Private media. Run in lock step by the same people running the government.
Even if it worked like that, the modern corporate media spends 24 hours a day talking about some press briefing where government officials spewed DOS approved propaganda.
Excellent idea!
I might make exemptions for reporters who prove themselves to be ethical by allowing them to take on copy editors or photographers, but all work would still be attributable to the one reporter and any lies, deliberate or by omission/weasel words, would be proof of conspiracy to employ propaganda.