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Dr. Herb Ruhs & grandson
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Journalism is an empty suit: Wear it
by Herb Ruhs, MD, Unknown News August 2, 2008
In science the demonstration of bias is sufficient to impeach a
source of data. The mass media is demonstrably extremely biased in
favor of the interests of a largely wealthy, white, male, racist,
sexist, authoritarian faction and those held in hostage like
dependency on the former.
Some would say that bias in journalism is
unavoidable, but if true, the accommodation needed is to see to it
that there is an expansive coverage in the media of the views all the
various interests. There is no such representation observ-
able.
Historically there was some significant diversity as the
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result of an
active labor and liberationist press, but no more. Hence the so-called "mass media," on closer examination is revealed to be nothing
more now than a propaganda organ for a special
factional interest.
There is a functional monopoly of the press. This is not what the
authors had in mind when they wrote these words as the First Amendment to the Constitution:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press...".
To have passed law and allowed regulation that has resulted in a very
centralized control of mass media is to have violated the First
Amendment, by having abridged the freedom of the press. In
fact, we are witnessing a wholesale exfoliation of news staff at
nearly every major newspaper and network bureau.
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To have passed law and allowed regulation that has resulted in a very centralized control of mass media is to have violated the First Amendment, by having abridged the freedom of the press.
In fact, we are witnessing a wholesale exfoliation of news staff at nearly every major newspaper and network bureau.
Journalism is becoming an empty suit.
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Journalism is
becoming an empty suit. What we have now is more like a distribution
system for press releases produced by elements of a fascist regime.
The fourth estate is dead.
The internet is something new, and who knows what long-term effect the
internet will have. Because of the inherent decentralization and
deprofessionalization of and open internet, it is hard to predict its
effect on public opinion. For now I suspect that we just need to get
beyond the stage of denial about the death of the venerable
institution of professional journalism as we have known it. The next
step is anger, then bargaining, depression, and finally
acceptance.
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But there is no rule that says we have to go through all
the steps. I suggest we just skip to acceptance, and dedicate
ourselves to constructing new institutions, perhaps including the
internet (though I am not convinced of the long-term usefulness of
the net under conditions of repression) to accomplish the task of
keeping ourselves informed.
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"The real struggle is not between East and West, or capitalism and commun-
ism, but between education and propaganda." Martin Buber
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May the Universe grant me the serenity to accept that I have no
control over mass media,
and give me the courage to stop paying attention to corporate and
authoritarian propaganda,
and the wisdom to know the difference between such propaganda and
real education.
© by the author.
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