12/19/09

On Journalism Ethics III

Can thought be controlled by repeating positive messages,


while underreporting negative,


and vice versa?


 


Men… think in herds,


it will be seen that they go mad in herds,


while they only recover their senses slowly…one by one.


 


Charles Mackay


 


Should centralized information outlets lose influence,


as more independent internet based sources proliferate?

3 comments:

Roch101 said...

"Can thought be controlled by repeating positive messages, while underreporting negative, and vice versa?"

I give up. Can it, and vice versa?

The Committee to Elect George Hartzman said...

Hi Roch,

Answer: Absolutely.

How many jingles from commercials do you remember from when you were little?

Also, TV shows that simultaneusly show the words the commentator is speaking seem to be very effective.

I believe repetative advertizing and/or reporting was how we found ourselves caught up in Vietnam and Iraq.

Makes me wonder what happened to Terror alerts.

I think it comes down to the News and Political Industries and Special Interests at the national level have become so codependant through financing etc...that the information we recieve has been corrupted to the point that we may no longer live in a "capitalist democracy," that existed for most of the history of America.

Roch101 said...

Well, that is one of the reasons I am fond of blogs--because, at their best, when their authors communicate skillfully, they can be as effective as corporate media in influencing perceptions.