AUTHOR, EDITOR IN CHIEF
CHARMAINE CARRAWAY
FOUNDER/CEO, THEVISIONARYWOMAN.COM
WRITER FOR THE HUFFINGTON POST
We have all witnessed the hysteria blown in full regarding Russian collusion, the trans-pacific partnership, and President Donald Trump, including his tweets, brash communication and lack of honesty in some cases. However, are theses headlines overblown?
“According to data from the latest Harvard-Harris poll, which was provided exclusively to The Hill, 65 percent of voters believe there is a lot of fake news in the mainstream media. That number includes 80 percent of Republicans, 60 percent of independents and 53 percent of Democrats. Eighty-four percent of voters said it is hard to know what news to believe online.” Published By TheHill.com
So the questions better asked would be – What does the American people want to hear in the media? What is in the best interest of the public better preparing us for the future?
On average, we as Americans watch 153 hours of television per month. So what commentary do we truly want to hear related to events affecting our families, health and pocket books? Here are just a few seemingly ignored topics that the American people would like the media to cover.
Inflation prices, student loan debt, single payer healthcare, affordable childcare, livable wages, national unity, systemic racial injustice, national debt, constitutional rights for all citizens, public policies that protect the earth from big business, public policies that protect our water and air quality, economic equality for all, financial protection for the elderly, the opportunity to live a financial independent life after college and keeping the police from becoming militarized with weapons they in turn can use against the public (The Reversal of 1033).
These are the topics of discussion in which the American people want to discuss, but rarely hear in mainstream media. Why? Could it be that our media has become inundated by big banks and even bigger business, in which they have become the filter for these institutions' voice?
“According to theeconomiccollapseblog.com, back in 1983, approximately 50 corporations controlled the vast majority of all news media in the United States. Today, ownership of the news media has been concentrated in the hands of just six incredibly powerful media corporations. These corporate behemoths control most of what we watch, hear and read every single day. They own television networks, cable channels, movie studios, newspapers, magazines, publishing houses, music labels and even many of our favorite websites.” (theeconomiccollapseblog.com)
“In 1983, fifty corporations dominated most of every mass medium and the biggest media merger in history was a $340 million deal. … [I]n 1987, the fifty companies had shrunk to twenty-nine. … [I]n 1990, the twenty-nine had shrunk to twenty three. … [I]n 1997, the biggest firms numbered ten and involved the $19 billion Disney-ABC deal, at the time the biggest media merger ever. … [In 2000] AOL Time Warner’s $350 billion merged corporation [was] more than 1,000 times larger [than the biggest deal of 1983].” (Ben H. Bagdikian, The Media Monopoly, Sixth Edition, (Beacon Press, 2000), pp. xx—xxi)
So who owns the mainstream media? According to zerohedge.com –
“There are just six giant corporations that account for almost all of the programming that we receive through our televisions. Below is a list of these six corporations along with a sampling of the various media properties that they own…”
1. Comcast
NBC
Telemundo
Universal Pictures
Focus Features
USA Network
Bravo
CNBC
The Weather Channel
MSNBC
Syfy
NBCSN
Golf Channel
Esquire Network
E!
Cloo
Chiller
Universal HD
Comcast SportsNet
Universal Parks & Resorts
Universal Studio Home Video
2. The Walt Disney Company
ABC Television Network
ESPN
The Disney Channel
A&E
Lifetime
Marvel Entertainment
Lucasfilm
Walt Disney Pictures
Pixar Animation Studios
Disney Mobile
Disney Consumer Products
Interactive Media
Disney Theme Parks
Disney Records
Hollywood Records
Miramax Films
Touchstone Pictures
3. News Corporation
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox News Channel
Fox Business Network
Fox Sports 1
Fox Sports 2
National Geographic
Nat Geo Wild
FX
FXX
FX Movie Channel
Fox Sports Networks
The Wall Street Journal
The New York Post
Barron’s
SmartMoney
HarperCollins
20th Century Fox
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Blue Sky Studios
Beliefnet
Zondervan
4. Time Warner
CNN
The CW
HBO
Cinemax
Cartoon Network
HLN
NBA TV
TBS
TNT
TruTV
Turner Classic Movies
Warner Bros.
Castle Rock
DC Comics
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
New Line Cinema
Sports Illustrated
Fortune
Marie Claire
People Magazine
5. Viacom
MTV
Nickelodeon
VH1
BET
Comedy Central
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Home Entertainment
Country Music Television (CMT)
Spike TV
The Movie Channel
TV Land
6. CBS Corporation
CBS Television Network
The CW (along with Time Warner)
CBS Sports Network
Showtime
TVGN
CBS Radio, Inc.
CBS Television Studios
Simon & Schuster
Infinity Broadcasting
Westwood One Radio Network
In conclusion, how do we combat the fake news that has flooded the airways, giving a voice to topics of conversation that divide us and keep us misinformed? Here is how we do that – Become your own truth teller to the world. Tell your story, as it impacts your life, your family and community, broadcasting it to the world. Reach out to your local politicians, who create the policies that we all have to live by, demanding not only that your voice be heard, but also expressing your willingness to create a movement to remove all of those from power who do not work on behalf of (WE) the American People. This can only be achieved through unity, peace and single-minded intention. This is how we take back our power for Freedom of the Press.
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