THE MEDIA MONOPOLY

Sixth Edition
Ben H. Bagdikian
With a New Preface on the Internet and Telecommunications Cartels

Beacon Press

Boston

Beacon Press 25 Beacon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108-2892 Beacon Press books are published under the auspices of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations 1983, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1997, 2000 by Ben H. Bagdikian First published as a Beacon Paperback in 1983 Second Beacon Paperback edition published in 1987 Third Beacon Paperback edition published in 1990 Fourth Beacon Paperback edition published in 1992 Fifth Beacon Paperback edition published in 1997 Sixth Beacon Paperback edition published in 2000 All rights reserved Printed in the United States ofAmerica 05 04 03 02 01 00 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bagdikian, Ben H. The media monopoly / Ben H. Bagdikian 6th ed. p. cm. ISBN 0-8070-6179-4 (pbk.) aspects-United 1. Mass media-Economic States. 2. Monopolies-United States. I. Title. P96.E252U625 2000 338.473022230973--dc21 96-29825

PREFACE TO THE SIXTH EDITION

AS

THE

UNITED

STATES

ENTERS

the

twenty-first

century,

power

over the American mass media is flowing to the top with such devouring speed that it exceeds even the accelerated consolidations of the last twenty years. news, that with For the are their among first time in and daily the worlds hundreds anything create U.S. history, the are countrys controlled two the seen an most widespread by six firms of them controlling in their before. foreign. handful size Their cartel. bigness are itpolitical alarmTheir ever of and incommentary, entertainment largest of the the

corporations, new world force the firms, has of While worst giants of the a

Even with the dramatic uncounted and power interlocks are for The of American communications tricate self and ing own before behavior The ing. of but that most years, nomenon glamorized tional a small deficit it For is global There cause social. success foreign

entry of the Internet and the now exceed

cyber world

corporations

international excessive problems have

pernicious economic countrys and against each the White intrinsic upon as a and

consequences. anxieties, largest the media interests to

achieved public. than

in writing the media laws power permits them values. national House and

and regulations larger

in favor of their factor

corporations in

general

concentrated

become with

socializing and years, personal on the and their seized use attention American the its in in impact

generation

entertainment agenda has

models

political has debate

been its the

devastatreporting debt and issue, the pheactually nato

mainstream

news

overdramatized on by the the issues an Politicians raised major will

congressional beyond was public the that

national

importance. overblown on

media-media them these or crucial

politicians

bellwether partisan was news

what

get

advantage. undergoing left largely the largest a majority wealthiest

During unreported transfer of the families.

economy

astonishing of the population

mainstream infrequent

references: from countrys viii

wealth

American of

history

percentage

the

Preface to the Sixth Edition / ix

The higher on As ers guage have world, offshoots vertisers gon. for outdo the each have Main as a inevitable for handful of dominant by Their has corporations more further have with becomes pursued its quick, everimpact barrilanthe terms cyber its Adjarrace to and

profits, popular use fallen.

mainly news. of culture,

producing become

trivialized coarsened bolder, have that

and and

self-serving brutalized.

commercialized

entertainment,

powerful more vulgarized go

shock-as-attention-getter talk of has words shows all for and

media ratings evolution example, new

entertainment changes modern and because what never invented artificially dominant language the risen, and and the new and in

technique, new to have each the boasts. everything In writing of of

introducing phenomena words describe always is the

beyond New The before. novel In the tries fights is more data.

language invented

societies. experiences. the their media of existed own

always need and

emerged

Internet

and

adolescents profits, in not and

But today ever-higher competitors

that normal process

escalated. barroom media

owners

once-private in has

locker-room There reported New and well with dented audiences typed printed made for ents, sad their ignored as the and are

sexual positive education

Fortunately, reporters York in

mass the there

dismal. level of The stories

changes.

mainstream

news,

general are factual

with the

appreciation past. even In

context

supportive movies of Internet have and

Times,

for one, has looked at some social phenomena it had both television When and to rewards sharply has media. both there and is are admirable as those stunning entertainment. equipment access money so mass made the brutal presentations drama history, added,

sometimes

agreeable technical growing

motivation for that The

gained drive use is

unprecefor of mass stereoin be parto by

information the

self-expression.

Nevertheless, have and and by the trivial

advertisings repeated what the the has

escalated

material media

overwhelmed and to

positive

electronic have

unprecedented growing level

billions resulting pleas

commercial and content. social with and

themselves resistant to

revenues

sponsors

educators, violent The for a

scientists its chaotic It is

lower vastness,

of demeaning sweeping midnight

Internet, industry

brought books and to

changes

individuals, source of

from an

selling

stock market trading expression,

at home.

effective

instrument for personal entertainment,

formidable

information

x / Preface to the Sixth Edition

and use ual the more of it. from Internet fully The politics, flected in instant the electronic system. to in mail for the and minority other with each always public currently corporate the day. diverse needed information in this and background, variety reentertainWith the firmly corporais limequipped promotion to on

But it has been overblown as the final liberation of the individAdvertising the tastes, diversity low seem American a parallel mass among an grow exponentially, cyber world is and in taste number narrow has its and of system becoming

embedded

population and

remarkably

geography,

ment. But more than ever, the major media have treated the public as a homogeneous countrys entrenched tions, ited to with a limited the intelligence. and wealthiest widest disseminators of news, small commentary, worlds of ideas

it may not be surprising that their news unrepresentative spectrum

and commentary politics.

The Intertwined Six

Six a tries. based United 1999 firms dia in firms larger The in dominate parent six Time States. Global in other a firm, parent all American some firms and parent are mass General Murdochs Corp firms are media. basically News listed Each is a in subsidiary other of of them operating Corp. the in the indusis

Electric,

Viacom, other

Disney, Berfour Other mass hardware in the giant mefirm;

telsmann,

Warner, All the of the

Bertelsmann

Germany 500

and News

in Australia,

Fortune world. for new

Magazines

largest Big

corporations in

industries Canadian

clearly were liquor firm;

on the prowl and AT&T, (not mass) on their amalgam General next remains the the Internet Time at $350 in any a

order to join the providing six COrp, media early said still a Warner,

Six-like Sony,

a Japanese

Seagrams, traditionally are more Time

telephone

company

one-to-one Viacom than

communication. annual media revenues, of CBS firms even and Westingsix an and have anall combined. with These

The top house), News annual The nouncement ica pany, while would torys Online, Time six become (If the in

firms, Disney,

ordered solely (an and the firms stunned acquire AOL all mass valued

Bertelsmann, revenues of dominant 2000 that

Electric. twenty six, service

number

countrys worlds Warner, the billion. other

businesses provider, largest Inc. largest It

computer-users-the worlds Inc., firms Warner, to

largest form

Amercomsix histhis

it would dominate

media of those be in

Consequently, would

media,

corporation new merger

largest merger,

in the media or prevails,

enterprise. elsewhere

references

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xi

Preface to Time Warner should anti-trust be read as AOL or Time other Warner.) unforeseen Corp, like cyber for a

Barring to to force make

government

intervention

events, the new company, like all mammoth players in a field, is likely other giant media firms, like Disney, Viacom, similar AT&T, like and becomes AOL mergers and with Internet World, and MCI affecting and eBay. and and News giants known is the most Internet, of AOL was other a midst joined a a seen. in the communication commonly The ever prospect

Microsoft, operations giantism tising service ful lishing, Time ping could the landscape. global

Yahoo, even Time

Amazon.com, power more on music. the focus in and about was that

concentrated

beyond becomes

anything what 10, 2000, media, top the

Adverhuman news powerpuband shopof

dominant January across all

inescapable as

Warner force

computerized

MSNBC described advertising and clearly global mouse television Warner mall be of in

including executives merger and In of the their with

What was

of the which ordered television the on

their joint

announcement

of the media

dimensions displayed, or rhetoric interactive stress

products click of the enterfor the sub30 strategic into

promoted, expected two already

instantly set.

computer the

executives prises, alliance example, burgeoning The scribers, magazines CNN, Given whether forced power ers new ture of Time a to the The byproduct. handmaiden of The crucial democracy 20

wonders instant it than access receive

leaders owns

merchandizing. and enhanced 100 to has entry

AOL,

Compuserve

and Netscape gives more AOL that annual in all

with

Sun

Microsystems firms will

e-commerce. merged million and 75 and reader, deal world lasting this As of the size deepen its have homes holdings million Time the are the of a global Warners $40 cable million TNT. vast a never and by TV with has social further the homes, Expected

cable ordinary user,

networks billion. citizen, be and Mergthe as a fuwhich of their within

TBS,

revenues media, or cartel Internet

Warners

viewer, movie-goer, communications seen dwarfs the dangers and of the like before. political case

would

magnitude sobering. another Times, the on

implications as of the

are

news of more

merely

industrial

dramatized

Los Angeles endangering information that

mergers

deterioration

of news

owners

corporate diverse parent news,

ambitions, public firms have

independent depends. size

immense

means

some remote

media

subsidiaries,

become

xii / Preface to the Sixth Edition

their to their will the complex the news promote traditional tables of to of largest organization. to cross the of which ethical owning That the remoteness parent by firms rather has contributed pressed that serve Mo$1.5 for news than General received joint race are and widely mainstream the to the

unprecedented subsidiaries the

degree

have

lines

selecting

needs the TV in and they

corporation in the and Inc., in world.

ethical

striving

journalism. world, has a GM has acquired the three

Symbolically, tors, has now largest billion satellite from The in each the speed power other, they on

corporation

entered the mass media field. broadcasting America of in from and the as companies Online, cyber the joint some Internets

high-capacity

expanding six.

influence cooperate profits cable, and the most and Center lean a the their in is

dominant media of the

companies ventures, most by in

understock among viewed mecentervotlibfirst comsurveyed conserv-

stated by counting them themselves programs dia world. right, ers. the eral, ative, three Thus, mentary inevitably extent, In News Their ignoring 1999, political divide television, reporting are political the ideologies

They are intertwined:

they own

movies. controlled narrow are democratic

commentary analyses for

companies

politically

presentations Roper of liberal, received a third to to of meet

limited a third Opinion the

views

held by Americans, and

almost Public offering very 31

of American Research choices lean very The and

somewhat somewhat choices almost Political leads selected

liberal,

moderate, percent see and

conservative,

conservative. news and at

combined respondents political the range

self-identification. concerns. commentary elections, weaken media, Now broadcast and the have that news, to that

seldom interests

narrowness

media

reportage choices

a narrow

of genuine sustain

since meaningful the Major always these stand ing news. accepted been industries that or With they keeping foundation of

voter choice the democratic

vital to medias process. those with daily

any democracy, politics the politics. and graces printed range

contemporary industries, more own remain this of

mass including

constricted controlling conservative printed good the

comfortable the in

countrys their ideas shrunken is news.

it is not surprising that their newly acquired staffs have come to underemployers out of The by downplayand broadcast the has overbecomes unwanted what

time,

social-political

definition

emerging

picture

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xiii

tones, subtle Such American ment that First two or otherwise, had free years become in speech later, of an Orwellian power and by every is not they press. free the when free the Big what They Brother, the the could century, Incorporated. of the foresee sacred to an First Amendnot the

concentrated

private

creators

democracy hundred degree,

mind

created

guaranteeing Amendment

twenty-first

guaranteeing

citizen upon

speech

would,

appalling

dependent

speakers

wealth.

Enter: The
the puter cess ing voice less cyber that vidual of business private pitches. crous sented right articles, individual and to a the

Internet
the Internet was mass to are bodies can and connection vastness Internet Civic before for passing each month, Thanks advertising, to be has from also seen its is continually individuals the and ever celebrated as media the outside new provided and have an a display a welcome electronic gratification unlimited their goals potentially e-mail, permits in liberation of with a comacone at own speed. indipresence from modem growing on thousands. than powerful systems. Anyone medium.

In the beginning,

world has of being variety and values with its

of the

Individuals

expressof pro-

themselves among expense address are But with

pagandistic anonymous

groups and close to

large-ifmostly messages

uncertain--audience. Internets system each participant, the to instantaneous reassuring. intrusive designed space ads for and permits

private same favor highly the

replies the

at the

balance and by share

of the

looks

less

Internets other by of millions,

heavy

corporations, displays Internet And ads, as like cures

orchestrated individuals sales ludiprecopyor

invaded

electronic and U, leg of

on-line

commerce everything have any

fraudulent P, T, to place other

for the nonexistent vitamins F, sexual raised serious

dysfunction can and

cramps.

Internet book

capabilities since chapters, final

problems

protection,

anonymous

person

copyrighted intellectual of the a In-

photographs, form,

recordings,

property on the Internet that other anonymous users can copy and reissue. Whatever its ternet ity. have remains Except The had home modems, for acculturated the present and future power by years rapidly and among the centurys ago, as end, only a future formidable. it most society anxieties as television growth Though fifty minority devices every news

certainly will become few the older

large major-

technological sites Printed

computer-plus-Internet. media.

Internets

versatility-10,000 new

day-have created

xiv / Preface to the Sixth Edition

media, daily, and might good printed older the nized, They without Gossip odically and cially delivery, with weekly, possibly journalistic newspapers printed Internet, printed can be and and forms, called started can be in their or complex monthly a operations. news As a their family Unlike zines buying place its the production schedules, They break result, dailies of can press and fear fear that most on manual the that has not the an distribution on-line been Internet. designed content urge, zines with at solely any or are and for orgatime. mailed or private groups. practical, sosame Internet become adto who reporter the and on

Internets

immediacy source by smaller verified

twenty-four-hour contain

standards. also like

metropolitan

At the same time, the Internet has created its own version of the magazines slower, change time, the Many for that and messages all of Matt with zines. without traditional Their and new also their hierarchically

grandparent,

distributors,

created by

anyone

either with accuracy peri-

training creates

disciplines. injustice content spread psychotic,

rumor fountains. mischief with zines the along and

lack of concern is

individuals that are

Consequently, beneficial,

broadening, directed at

hateful,

destructive, large printed Nevertheless,

plainly

potential standards,

audience. despite papers, An Internet Drudges their fearful awareness of electronic capricious have Drudge, scoops,

Internet-watchers. ton sex scandal.

gossipmonger, account caused

mits he isnt worried about accuracy, was the

first to hint at the Clina Newsweek

rush his story onto the Internet, even though his print editors wanted another week to verify facts. couraged print The the Uncounted through Services use of what The mid-1999, the and the lower costs of the Internet, U.S. Postal has now Service. penalties to jargon medium example, with Clearly, the competition to sell news has enfit to print. affected for letters the speed by sent and Postal privacy, advantages uses. By over Airline softe-mail. has own prefer But for also e-mail been to significantly office enjoy first-class sources to lower their standards of what is Service its which thousands Postal electronic post

while

individuals of

of the Internet, they lack the protections severe mails new violations extort, as on, three made is or defraud, marches at least ticketing threaten, mail.

of the U.S. mail other new

first-class and

Internet for

denigrates

snail constantly firms from

gathering selling are

were central as

groceries computer

Internet,

deliveries

warehouses.

other transportation

growing,

ware sales. It is creating a radical change in the distribution and sale of

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xv

books. whose For those who have learned the skill, the source and for research. no It can supply depth breadth Internet documents can offers an inand match reports (which and ofsites pages. complete or Inof each numcreated a

comparable

bricks-and-mortar library

is why computers are often the first objects seen upon entering libraries). By mid- 1999, though fewer than half of homes, fices The had 35 access percent to the the system, the using (individual displays), equivalent of the 800 million schools, traditional it to Internet contained 2.8 Internet used million

of Americans fees

more than $500 million a year in credit card purchases and spent even more annually foseek, site bers when button. that is, is that never far information paying and more in monthly facilitate displays. predictable, than They with marketing do for is for Internet particular the per total have services, in to potential flocked (but like Yahoo the the that sets, merely a British vast new the has audience finding locations arrays for

Though rates it

advertisers

medium, Internet,

usual

potential they buying so

unguaranteed)

of viewers. combined On-line

because impulse

recognize by

interactive

television-computer fast that for more

unmatched search firm

opportunities

pressing

growing

market resales).

estimates it will be over $5 billion by 2003 material accounting than

(with adult,

sex-oriented,

half the

Technology and
Thanks cable, pers, owning nications cial pete to the all the lines these new

Monopoly
electronics, and few and of each and including forms the of Internet the and interactive By socombetween programs, media, far a traditional media-like newspablurred. mass firms, would have commu-

television power the

movies-have become large the corporations capabilities even But of

that

exceeds

smaller firms mutual media like is not

action Under

organizations, folklore against

individuals. giant in more other. through cooperation, operations, a cooperpower. con-

capitalism, shared

forcefully

interlocked contemporary ative cartel. As Politicians trol how But not voters. history. tional could

directors, capitalist

partnerships has become media

competition this the will has

noted hesitate those

throughout to offend politicians

book,

power

political who

handful always of

of media been the a

operators fixture industry former in

be presented-or media

presented-to the American and tradigenerations

Media

political today the power

power has

combination

corporate match.

reached

dimensions

xvi /

Preface to the Sixth Edition

is another news in media the influences ominous and the difference those nature and of for the of was major those of of a between century American the than most that their chains characteristics ago, a politics. covered modern As a of this mass far la-

There todays that book media wider parts. bor major

difference

profoundly documents, were range In unions in the and the of

nineteenth points century, wages within of

century view ordinary

significant

important nineteenth higher of the

newspapers

magazines newspaper

political

counter-

promoted

workers. instruworst natural that inand has first abolition to more as of the the

Inclusion mental abuses ties for

left

earlier major media was policies and status protect sanitary media

enactment

countrys safer their future

of workers, and working

initiation development people. It

of national

environment,

communi-

major

formed a large enough portion of the electorate that these new laws regulations were Today, disappeared. and analyses major political centration linking searching ment of about Positive tinue Times industry, cessful doctrine to human has major to be is workers media. that As important political the country absent to in about media, the big big for the variety enters is of social justice the among mainstream century, the For media the

in the nation. news of this countries, the statethe confor York for Suc-

the, twenty-first commentary on

of progressive ideas and groups are close to absent in the Similarly dangers other American hands media money of of democracy. a and relatively

one-sidedness of power big big questions

its different. A March 16, 1997, New York Times story noted, The confew-along with same money, government power-has raised applied to example, added pay the New problem workers. were not

Russias

young

democracy. The

could justifiably be labor unions, for Even 1998, serious more pay the

United States today, but it never is within the big money, big media. accomplishments rarely that reported full in the standard news. In April of created in raising main a enlisting worker media

depicted as

a problem. employment difficulty to in avoid the to book

reported corporate of

which was

having

strategies Apparently,

reported capitalist extend

sympathetically.

bedrock does

prices labor.

responding of this that Each create

supply-and-demand described how represent dominant content all six

The fifth firms in the mass

edition

each three

of the leading crucial now media, steps owns like

acquired companies

firms that

together of the the

communications.

firms mass

of the

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xvii

newspapers, production like shared American tems, and magazines, studios. Each systems networks with and book for and the office, dishes. publishing has the cable. the houses, also and they each movie the next has lines, control and step, or into cable TV the lease, or each sys-

of them

acquired

national delivery broadcast home ventures

programming And finally, delivery

acquired

ultimate

mechanism

telephone

company

satellite

Whom Do the Media Watchdogs Watch?

Vertical It tives who was process, integration understood from to raw was that material innovation This prices. over once to looked upon which to power to distorts that with have sales, the alarm also by have government. of a total else mosymever media, than bilfew mewith into the more $37.3 corporations and the control

fabrication situation, Today, corporations

for genuine tries

to

squeeze has those

out anyone become in at at

compete.

economy

nopolistic pathetic larger have $1.5 lion, the even houses came was total In

control

government including mergers merger, public the a nor, year the

dominant systems. alone, In

vertical These there

have merged

corporations, unrestrained. were 12,000

remained 1998 trillion. was the chief the the almost

largely 1999, is

valued valued

the Viacom-CBS neither Less the the but than

largest merger in world history. stockholders merger. in larger. become like and that often the merger has

In many of the mergers, ironically, and after sometimes investment bedeal of in executives

beneficiary ordinary the times largest ten

arranging

Viacom-CBS

world,

AOL-Time Warner excuse American in of poor for acts

Globalization corporate favor is and to significant paid the For 1990s pouring and can bankers was corrupt. have

all-purpose of

irresponsibility, portion by American U.S. fueled into Yet, been example, of

displacement

workers

of miserably paid American firms the by time using

abused workers replacement the the crash the World of known after the whose folly through U.S.

countries. A workers Bank used the shaky the Ameriordinary

overseas to

American

taxpayers to some foreign after move of

Export-Import money often in

contributions

Bank,

encourage

abroad. the to and Asian U.S. the greed origins tigers world by as the are leading lending institutions collapses,

economic

trillions

regimes time, their

predictable

rescued

from special

government,

funds

xviii /
American report nancing, ness lysts is the

Preface to the Sixth Edition

taxpayers. transactions no new with Yet as mention legislation mainstream with impacts most an of or on its mainstream unfortunate unfairness news regulatory corporate news element to action share media of continue taxpayers. by and big Street does busiananot to fi-

international

American desired Wall prices,

When

pending,

business

quotes

concerned

look at prices or the past history of the impact of such deals on the ordinary consumers. York largest Mediaone. winners. look would mal. more tion gone time dinary at Times cable The Papers the that the On June 2, in 1999, the such a full-page AT&T already the had they ad in the New of yet TCI, will the be to disreduchave another, proclaimed company ad can of the and phone rise major the even most fate that AT&T, owner acquired are also events. has which no news. failed regularly media general the If, to bills

country, ads, but in

stated accept

prominently, promises of such rates, not

American parallel of has

consumers

obligated been

similar record lower did new

Examination promised

show After

corporate Act there

promises 1996, been

Telecommunications or cable stock But met

competition of residential up, after but rises

bills. become

In most places, important have news main

that in

however, materialize reports to it or-

predicted

offerings financial failed with

time, and

mainstream derisively. often are

emphatically

corporate

promises

consumers

amnesia.

Richer Six, Poorer Public

The these leading firms to media can the invited to The of firms have and Street of then White and by watch so that penetrated it is the write the our law-making to a literal and reglaws. memto a ulatory machinery of Washington directly Wall close fact that

indirectly Journal, major the

communications Republican firms in legislative the more to than the but radio.

According bers of the and closed cations age years and news to nications

freshman

1994 Congress, key to a new Republican majority of House heads ask with law Congress 1996. of That telecommunications leaders the acceptance, Act the in the and rewrote wanted in desired what media communipacksixty largest that is and Telecommu-

Senate, laws. the Act

conference

delivered House opened mergers owns the television in law,

industry,

disastrous

of communications greatest The to most was number people merely American

floodgates American airwaves, listen to when the

industrial

history. Public

public, who

ownership

a whisper

news

Congress

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xix

White for the sion Trade tice, a the free House gave industry or the the will broadcast industry a free To new of but and because a and large pour gift worth salt on $70 the billion wound, televiFederal of Jusfavor

high-definition gift to sets Today, the public The

television to

frequencies. receive the

force the public to Communications Division have bitter all

newly

buy expensive new service. Commission, the federal court the Department from

attachments the and

Federal a

Commission, Congress, market from irony by the devices, and

Anti-Trust They private more the

conservative power

system prices.

philosophy. excessive becomes media like made

retired exorbitant the degree

protecting riches comorigi-

fabulous from that new were

achieved nally

giants

arise to Internet

munications

satellites,

invented

practical

with

taxpayers

money.

Disneyland
When comes dividual of the The Products magazines, ney jor fans Disney one the large delight Each firm controls all forms love a firm of the major a media, it beof of Wall part Streets of synergy, feeds combination to its books, once other

two or more forces that creates a result greater than the sum of the inparts. same division of such for a Just five business describes of toys, and is parts corporation. Company, offering software, example, array art, example Consumer apparel, to Disgentle a maeleven memofather of out or in a a Disney as dazzling one

Disney computer

animation

collectibles that the Pooh sell King to

around the world. product, and to might can from (the Nast studios, thousand on with a line

appeal of A. A. Milnes Pooh magazines, fourteen rabilia, them 2003, retail painted daily sold videos, cruises, Disney all, the store, art The to hundred from Pooh Mickey public one scene

Pooh Bear has now been parlayed into hundred retail different stores on than trinket $2,500. of the books, Disney Daily and radio, record clothes books, Disney the runs In a dollar of LEGO Disney from the toys based on The Lion copyright ears for Mouse Pooh.

More than

worldwide Mouse buy

Cinderella, (when see a more

Mickey ever). for

mouse King

Mickey

The Lion major companys in 1999), cable Disney them),

twenty-two Conde

subsidiaries Womens

CompanyW were labels, (with comtelevision,

newspapers movie two

Wear and

magazines, dolls, parks,

companies character theme

programs, childrens

characters

comics-bring the

xx / Preface to the Sixth Edition

pany more than the able only longer internal cuteness, place ment, mits over States artful it a the and that, in and Internet on by all Disneys the lasting politics an single media to in a $23 billion in revenues a year. It owns 43 Infoseek, ships. commercial power the Most for have but power family, firms Disney Nor toys, The over is in so such to market socialize annual media is it is games, problem youth power new of is dollars, in fact, there media system power, in the is that exceeded a euros, stress no pergenerations, and its ESPN sports sites percent of are avail-

companies

Disney cruise impressive corporations effect may affluent than be. and

harvest images,

and yens. The problem gentleness, other

is not that Disney is adventure. products. to

evil, unlovable though its because films, a

society

entertainnot just United and are guide

Disney corporation

overwhelming culture concentrated, and other their

marketplace That from degree

globally. influences

ubiquitous, sources that to

unmatched experience, has to almost had

former mixtures

of entertainment, ability

dilutes

schooling, weakening this

grounded growing

real-life generations. generation of public their of the a an giant

Every century day hands serve cies the of from Some pre-CBS heavy obey raged as

problem, modem reached

from comic

the nineteenthbooks. But in that tothe deagen-

penny power a few

dreadfuls

twentieth-century inescapable has to arouse firms where and

multi-media dimensions regulatory Electric major are are the come of in and At that solely

entrepreneurs

serious

pressure

government like General are

prolonged (which when

hibernation. and the of to outbecame world ordered, whose Time first Warner, the repellent book $340 Viacom) owners expected often public. from enof news-asnow-common 1983, the time, in fifty the

dominant media corporate

Westinghouse industry, question newly

employees executives like and to is to

without that Others, independent and

their like and

acquired

journalists

think

of themselves

professionals Disney, its first have and

loyalty

Viacom

tertainment entertainment

further equally

spread

repellent vocabulary was

hybrid

infotainment When corporations media strategy tion in merger one the in

advertorials. edition ofthis most was of a the published medium deal. every mass million market biggest dominanews-

dominated

history

of most of the fifty biggest firms was to medium-to have largest

gain market

share

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xxi

papers, movies, published the by deal, 1983, AOL 1,000 number American status But (even more firms political role them who day, their Street in the the today third the for in fourth firms at the worth Time times of of the example, in in 1987, or all the to in fifty magazines, companies the and would By or had the broadcasting, time the shrunk had fifth the way merged to or books, or By the of to than

but not edition

of them.

By the twenty-nine involved give

second to in

edition was twenty-three, 1997, Disney-ABC later

twenty-nine.

1990, ten

shrunk edition $19

edition numbered time the $340 larger. Warners

fourteen.

biggest

billion

biggest media merger ever. $350 billion

But the biggest years more

million,

seventeen

corporation,

There was reason enough, dominant culture, there individual is the years with that firms had commerce, an even

even then, such a and political

for concern that disproportionate power. as of and That voices those

so small a influence shrank in six on the

and more personal groups smaller Warner all is the than It corporate troubling firms the them and number deal), the AOL-Time power earlier. their raises

society. have leading power and

dominant firms-sixfifty collective cultural the one other slide

excluding of sixteen firms, values, the

communications

combined and unified

overwhelming about in

of these

interlocks questions

individuals gave Tothat Wall

American step, the power, and is are seen

democracy. leading and so as dominance of so a in to medium Street media. into a enthusiasm control Wall many investors

At each encouraged six prosperity disaster.

money, firms

supported

dominating prevent

large

enterprises

necessary

The Shadow of Giants and Coarsened Culture

As the dominant in and daily not in all the corporations stock market, increasing Wall global scale enlarged and leading their inand inbut pubtalent, a slow importance of news dies by creased growth lishing to Street analysts Wall and

vestment houses

became stock to

a factor in levels, achieve so

deciding how much public. on profits media

and what kind Street lives has

entertainment will reach the pressure only ever-higher Newspapers, stability to maintain to

companies stock and and It

levels, book retain is

also to do it rapidly. This process is at odds with healthy and durable media need industries. long-term and broadcasting, accumulate steady audiences.

nurture

creativity,

xxii /

Preface to the Sixth Edition

public, and not to the daily had some attributes, advocated industry a week positive is by has of a a But there stock market report. and darker dark even of the consumer socially excitside side that that infor and laws re-

process keyed to the The ing impact, has creasingly decades civic quiring mandating new as mass

media have earlier. changes its the in air

mentioned

overshadows rebuffed as to The

positive

groups ignored law

organizations. change, networks

broadcasting its three may way a $6 the initial hours

circumvention

1996

childrens

educational

programming. but They a tion the sive Corporate interlocks in one conspicuous fight in each other advertising, than for year U.S. but cause big media firms to cooperate, they compete and compete ferociously. share of the $80 billion competieluThe all-out paradoxispending by for that but less of their in means advertisers consumption competing level is own

the biggest possible reflection trillion in at a year modern the audience the

for the more golden paradox

population. For of

media this

commodity cooperation to race

life-human attention. corporate attention goal media to is

seeming

competition in the of money. but In means changing this changes and to instant in

capture

cal than it seems: the losers in this competition still make a great deal But in the corporate the frenetic race for eyes pursuit culture ethos, not just high profit, companies prevent commercial social adopt rewards and any from for political to make the highest profit, to be Number One. attention, in of and order the freeze viewers Their has countrys viewers

channels. the

huge

fixation

produced

significant social

values. has trivialized printed culture with increasing shock. ideas, every endless toilet The and possible humor result is

The pressure to capture instant attention broadcast news. It has coarsened popular gutter talk effect of is and to other diminish Instead, of of devices reliance it human words in with spent US. his designed to on talent,

use of ultimate tation scenes, propriate As estimated bying

obnoxious not just because it is crude and vulgar, though it is that. Its inherently permusex aphis lobattractive entertainment. violent for usual, $3.2 and overuse substitutes beings, and

destruction

gratuitous more for restrooms.

four-letter giggling Murdoch, Murdoch from

adolescents Rupert billion,

seventh-grade bottomless on

contempt

audiences, has and

led the way with his Fox network and movies. Worth an $800,000 law Washington others. waivers denied Murdochs

obtained

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xxiii

firm many is News Corp, based stations as much and the have cable wired had in Australia. even as units, $2.1 he though 25 world. he He the be owns law Fox says network and

of its affiliated may own satellite of holdings and for all he his

no foreignstation. more reach by

based firm Through than his

percent of a broadcasting will able to to paid The but a According billion has not

three-quarters British

Economist, creative in in shilling

profits,

bookkeeping British But getting When verted the the news worlds politics, day been ented they in

political his wants, as

influence,

taxes. contempt for public taste Murdoch governor canceled. When coverage, that market offend a and TV, in down burlesque cheap, The effects grovels of Hong Murdoch the when against crudity for a Murdoch his has if it Kong issued Murdochs HarperCollins and his will book after an ruthlessness him contract Hong Kong apology on what China to make richer. with reto with his the

protested, retiring

Chris Patten, Chinese BBC for service.

China, was its It would trend in and and are II and to China

abject the to highly

government. appears not

Chinese

expressed had

irritation BBC balance

canceled own

Murdoch

largest he

potential

conservative Tohave Talthat of such than than digital

communist

government. become a pie, unfunny the contagious. effects comic

The

violence mainstream a

movies on air,

example, film so by goods that

achieved by a teenager masturbating with character by turned Jersey are scriptwriters would For have advertisers sex artistic modem original, of massive War replaced scripts

a talk show host excrement. and tawdry managers by

vomiting

drinking greedy

been New

pre-World acts, ever, images

houses. are is, that violence of promoted less is can expensive cheaper impose slaughter.

whose

corporate literally

violence thanks

creative,

programming. computerized and

explosions

Armageddons

Meanwhile, Back at Reality. .

Television nately, a the In obsessed and has is been to not called keep limited the of and a to the this weapon television. saw lives growth Stans its in main news media The news increasingly dramatic from and of celebrities. sleazy grand jury most of mass from distraction. the real Unfortuof power politics nation distracted business

democracy with

the 1990s, scandals

unrelenting

episode

stemmed

Independent

Prosecutor

Kenneth

investigation

xxiv / Preface to the Sixth Edition the orchestrated leaks to the news media involving intimate episodes between self-indulgent President Clinton and a libidinous young White House intern named Monica Lewinsky. Prosecutor Starr is not the first puritan who would wallow endlessly in sexual detail under the protective claim of serving a higher purpose. The possible impeachment for the Presidents lying about the affair gave the prosecutor a socially acceptable excuse for months of emphasis on erotic acts, all their possible variations, the precise location and physical positions of the partners, whether they had been orgasmic, and other tours of erotica. But if the Office of the Independent Counsel seemed obsessed by details of consensual sex acts, the countrys news media did not need to make them the top news for almost a year. The private lust of presidents has dotted U.S. history, but in the past it did not displace the nations serious business in the news. Yet Stans interminable investigation and leaks dominated most news outlets, including the New York Times, usually reported on page one and usually without attribution to any identifiable source. The Associated Press assigned twenty-five reporters to the story. On network television for 1998, there were six stories about the Oval Office encounters for e-very one story on that years election campaign. Along the way, there were comically pretentious arguments over whether the United States Constitutions provision of high crimes and misdemeanors for removal of a President included concealment of consensual oral sex. The major media seemed as obsessed with sex as the President and Prosecutor Starr. In the midst of the extended reporting, commentary, and solemn analyses of the whole affair, an editor of the supermarket checkoutcounter scandal sheet National Enquirer said plaintively, The New York Times isnt leaving anything for us. The media sex obsession further lowered public respect for the major news media. The public watched the proceedings avidly, but they knew it was a sleazy substitute for important news. From start to end of the coverage of the scandal, public opinion surveys seldom varied from showing that 50 to 70 percent of those surveyed said that whether or not the sex stories were true, the news should turn to more serious issues. The prolonged fixation on private sex acts in the White House was the product of more than fifteen years of degraded news stan-

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xxv

dards in the major media. The American Journalism Review quoted In the

the editor of a midsize Illinois void, gossip, became and know her a media and That a firms process on on poured quickly for important choice most the in

daily paper as saying, If a story needs sex, back-alley political issues. and public language, standards. reporting. past too Private voting often but not came his lives records, to or private-life

a real investment of time and money, we dont do it anymore. general lowering candidates relevant pressing of journalistic political ideas, Voters issues.

enveloped

substitutes candidates

proposals thoughts

of breakfasts

bedmates,

All the News Thats Fit to Print?

There insertion tor been absent and ment sional been and the in is another landmark in the own degradation business be of news: goals as a the was has the increasing fachas totally proven profesalways Church side of of a news what news Letting rampant in by the the publicized, journalists. proudly State. news by soon those in daily it companys who printed has Within to the the by buy news. met selection news never been by has Between business open

the readers will local television been media as

permitted to for years public and ideal and and

see-or not see.

commercials news But with the Wall Church,

influence this

whenever

disapproval, condemnation policy the an

embarrass-

offending referred

company,

journalism, The was secular ofthe other countrys influence The the State.

of Separation

The newsroom company, one of demolition

But now policy boast that in

Wall has most that, the papers

become influential for the and, of a

and boasted a incame beconfessed

daily first more cereal

newspapers, time, important, change company, and that

followed

they let 1997

advertisers

news

sisted that came CEO

it was justified. when Mark Willes, and board After he

dramatic landmark of this of Times-Mirror Times, Willes quoted in Company

former president Angeles over, was

chair took He

publisher from now

of its flagship paper, the Los powerful the Los dailies. Angeles

one of the countrys most announced the

on there would be no more Wall of Separation of Church and State in Times. American Journalism Review, Every time they point it out, I get a bazooka and tell them if radically reorganized every section of the paper, includ-

they dont take it down, Im going to blow it down. Willes ing the main news section. For the first time in modem newspaper his-

xxvi / Preface to the Sixth Edition

tory, by the news did no longer would be the assigned business at by journalist-editors of the when but

co-editors, Willes

one

of them from increase daily circulation sales,

department a time

paper. 25

slightly,

other big

dailies York

were losing City and

but did so by cutting the He said he would

price to circula-

cents. (The New

York $1.00

Times had a newsstand price of 60 elsewhere.) 11

cents in New

increase

tion by 50,000 in the next year, but it turned out to be no more than 17,000, and his paper lost clearly, stock Wall had a few percent in revenues. loved in paper, later, Willess price. in November with other 1999, Otis Chanof his staffs to had a who, members latest news an single move. Two years later, But Times-Mirror dler, family, panys stupid the the former is stock, and Street tripled months of the damning special act growth that and

Nevertheless,

publisher wrote in survival it was a a

a beneficiary of a trust that controls letter that corporate and the of this the

a majority

of the comunbelievably threat Chandler cheers. had made

called the advertisement most great serious

involvement future When side business, Management conduct with ular ment process ever lets. an a news edition seeing and since The

unprofessional

newspaper. out in Times

letter read to the newsroom staff, revealed

which broke Los Angeles

deal to split advertising profits of a regular editorial section with an outit became the last straw for the papers angry agreed source of the the an Los to had paper let the papers of media how reporter, the it agreed and the an unobstructed investigation happened. without The that Times the result has news staff. David that top news of Shaw, deal full the

profit-sharing

Furthermore, the been have 20, normal a seeping gained report 1999, the

report would be edited by a recalled retired editor and printed in a regeditors into manageof a outpaper. news quagbusiness report. attitude Angeles in was step-by-step control was edition chairman separation within dissection news

non-news insert had

corporations

investigation

extraordinary of the board,

fourteen-page In effect, Mark and ". bad of . Willes,

December

of the between Willess

the report even

demonstrated that flamboyantly good editors

once the operating

shredded

advertising, . The news

mire had lost their ethical map. The result, in Mr. a tangled tale of ignorance of greed deadened of Separation and represents and arrogance, and of judgment, sensibilities centuries Before

Shaws words, was: of blind loyalty and standards. purity in anyone between

diminished tension hardly

publishers.

Willes,

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xxvii

journalism sin was that now gering nesota, River items bazooka, shopper. ones. wide But range The Morris, consisted nations society temple belong. that looked of public has and denied chat ethical a had a pandering regard historical to as advertisers corruption. He the impact. in the gave news has permission. Texas, for the been A a sin MinexamFall of adnews his

editors

Consequently,

his swag-

assertion Arizona, (Mass.) the about Willes his It he of

virtue.

Papers

around Colorado,

country-in Florida, and Massachusetts, proudly. that inch with for of In

Kansas, Willes

ple-followed the vertising,

policy would replace did to not

openly get pure report the

and an virtue a

1999,

Herald News advertiser the did paper continued had his the not

told

advertisers

every inch staff-written

advertisers

business. pure evil. After often become public its to two-hundred-page stories, of his In policy 1999, throwaway admirable for a public Philip fact a the

important ethics And

changed fellow news

newspapering deepened Sony,

publishers. and

cynicism

toward

producers. magazines. began the news public newsstand magazines

contamination
Mercedes-Benz, like all the articles show no become

spread and others, to trust trusts

Starbucks boost of the the Times and all the

and charged a cover price, but in publishers at record of a that this information products. lows. it cynical is When receives,

written public longer

Surveys

vulnerable to loudly

pitfalls

citizenry. they

The leader of the Los Angeles had proclaimed

had let the moneylenders into the proudly where

The News That Wasnt There

It has been a truism, selves, litical safely quently, issues agenda. forgotten into the What by often issued with pride by has a major impact media make emphasize laws and cost the is not those has main who quick the main media themon is the national what popoliticians is more Consevoters: or exthat the national news Whatever

attend to.

given steady emphasis and easy profits a high

in the news regulations. on American

the media race for shadows

that pushed the real

imposed

it becomes aggerated The national drastic and

easier for politicians to issues. years from of the 1995 debate national to

distract the public with false were and a time that debt by

1998 on the deficit

of almost hysterical seemed a to demand arbitrarily fixed,

legislative

crisis

reduction

xxviii /
selected levels It thorities rhetoric mation

Preface to the Sixth Edition

year and do so by cutting social programs. tax. media to that are report what the contrary reliable to the inforreport reputable auMost of this cri-

sis was a false one, of is a is genuinely a necessary doing. express

easily solved by even a minor restoration of past progressive function is views and to a to income of the news equally and make clear realities the

government

But it

essential to

who from

of Congress,

best known

independent Heilbroner, that the relationship Furthermore, federal

authorities. respected, deficit the he current pointed middle-of-the-road this and that crisis growth the entire an in size out citizens economist, period of the debt was nawas during

Robert demonstrated in no tional unusual economy.

in the form stream ernment from the population. that probably At any the tional sis. the

of Treasury bills

held by

and banks,

important the maingovof the Institute a re-

part of the economy. media. During the

But his findings were not discussed of and Lester in 1999 country without congressional wealth poor of working Thurow, in obsession was to the had or really the with richest

period class

cutting levels

programs, middle

the countrys

being

transferred

Economist wrote no other

Massachusetts experienced losing the a such war. United

of Technology, distribution

that the shift was history that a revolution

so great in magnitude

of its time

wealth

Thurow democratic from cutting of 1999 in ago,

made

observation, The heated fact. have to the

States

had and today still has the widest gap between its rich and nonrich of industrialized media and debate were in significant All country. this social through that crisis are the data distracted some the deficit and of addiconcriwere FAIR public on disturbing should programs publicly Here solve

developments enumerated

influenced

gressional reported (Fairness 1. percent 2. net worth holds making fifths with 3. of

available

August

by EXTRA!, Reporting): top 1 percent the

publication

and Accuracy Thirty years the national years in the real or

the

of households was

owned 20 headno

wealth. While 10 percent had

crisis

hitting

lines, the top Thirty

1 percent had doubled its share of that wealth. ago, debt. negative dollars of American crisis, doubled. blue-collar thirty years workers ago, and were fourthe households number had During the wealth than of house-

or were zero During in

congressional they

debate, did

less

of all American households had lost the value

of their net worth,

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xxix

while the magical tire Some a bottom Less ofthe cap was budget 95 than I percent at the top owned more wealth than the enpercent two combined. after had beyond the insisted their debate most own had raged that in a Congress, spending spendstrongly bitterly years who well save the

politicians went

needed to that

Republic were just as

insistent on passing established

ing cap. And now to the rich. Something the and tions billion million ness tries AT&T, the period United This two Barlett included Too cal City and altered It rations, for If had been the would of and to media mainstream welfare continued individuals and actual foreign General 300,000 States. was

they insisted that it be done in ways most beneficial was while for get the of occurring cutbacks poor. the This of and were During welfare total was the in for Motors people magazine reporters went made this from the largely in time, the taxes form unreported social large paid of tax their in

else news to and

programs corporaby 60

benefits

corporate

taxpayers-$l25 forgiveinduswere in same the which Donald credit, the it loYork crisis Game corpo-

worth-the equivalent

income

families.

payments toJcorporations countries. Electric, as jobs revealed Steele, for in well Some and as General working a Time

transferring (all major

corporate industries.

beneficiaries owners this within in During

business),

other big

disappeared special in the To We and were

report Times Play

the

best-known James in

investigative reported for money said to

country,

on the Time Time media

subject.

a box

which the article

magazine

announced Warner firms, new the

and gave governments. including large this in

figures The six of main

Warner had received from other asking in at large New debt

substantial

incentives corporate

build

headquarters available debate, majority the

Manhattan. the time-

kind the

information news during the the

about

nonexistent

continuing debate have limited

welfare-all readily lives poor,

the national of the who in

it would have of Americans. crisis lost

and bettered

helped protect today.

false

food stamps and saw Head remain

Start classes

cut back to

levels where they

Making More and Reporting Less

As the Until dominant quality the media of their Serbian firms news became in war larger against and more profitable, generated they cut another important category: foreign news.

genocidal

Kosovo

large-scale

xxx /
continuous shrinking In news writing Ill put

Preface to the Sixth Edition

reporting, their 1998, did the it story papers that has in the in the of major media news. carried the in half the international correspondent, Review, said: a of Americas Today, or finanArnett, veteran most point. networks Peter news companies had spent years

coverage the

foreign

television 1980s.

they

November has little

1998

American the entering

Journalism vanishing natural the

simply:

International almost chance doesnt involve

coverage

mainstream foreign cial ness.. cent the dia to

reached of had almost and

bombs,

disasters, American

calamity . ." The main past. official of the follow

consciousin the re-

news most

media have of the line the

other profound flaws War, as line. by major closely Where they United and were and the as the

During U.S. time desired that El Latin

Cold Kremlin

media news foreign were

followed failed as in most frightsupport by the preserve

government followed U.S.

Soviet meforces reported Thus,

ideology Guatemala:

politics,

terrorist of ful of the the

threats

required

opposition

States.

Nicaragua,

Salvador, American against States. as media in

East Timor, regimes the noble little financial American to in as repair

throughout committing military to repeatedly

dictatorships, with a Such

atrocities United

dissenters part have of

violence was

described

mainstream democracy.

media

effort their for

The main The 1999 front-page Chile the lence through lendes years larly New an news

done

self-censorship. example, his was extrain vioStates deof

detention

of General America his had in

Pinochet

England, Spain was that by leftist made

for weeks regime. media been Allende both for main terror But that

demanded almost the

dition so that he committed American against this

could be tried for his death squads and the terror in during there reported the nothing Pinochets United support way has for of the

mainstream dissenters nations help in and by

supported government of which

destabilizing

regime

mocratically

elected

Salvador 1973, his the

and

Al-

assassination of Pinochet American York underreported Times

seventeen simithe in

squads. terror media. the fate in It of Guatemala was a of still been for village and death possible

responsibility

of February 7, describing by

1999, to print in its Sunday magazine Guatemalan children, kidnapping mass squads-

8,500-word

article of

wrenching

details-the murders, dissenters

disappearances

government-sponsored

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xxxi

with the did only a had six-word that, report of the received subordinate in the the that phrase in the of the States sixth the paragraph regimes, States. in the forces to let Nor (death School

reader know the article School Times Not

name leaders

of suppressing support of

leftist

those

atrocities

financial

United

security for training closed

squads) had been brought to the Armys in York mala, than and scure news the draft tory a Americas.

United When

the U.S.

Congress

1999, it was reported in a brief item on the second page of the New and largely twenty of how the by 1999, ignored in years after the did Latin other main media. these New events York had Times and occurred describe forces. in in Most Guatemore torture of until

in August phrase

United

States

had

trained

supported

disappearances footnote,

American security

the rest of the media kept this ugly part of the American record an obif they reported it at all. have then a disreputable years after This Cold the Cold is not War record end, of the distorting second in of hisrecord If the news is the first rough draft of history, the major American organizations first draft, and of their are Wars

countrys to

own history. repeat them.

a promising

the light

of the old destined

dictum that those who ignore the

mistakes

Print, Radio, and TV Survive

Ever on since paper, the with adoption its in many a of of popular find of radio, the and death see of print has been could Media examother most caused forms cyberstill with dropping 1970, there had were alive anxfor 63 people dropped regularly possibly ple, large earlier older are has print intoned by those who survive sold world its it hard to instant abandon and the new even stage. that with the evolution. print has The world filled been In how printing words process, for to with not media information. Disney, (but as world, has older

slow, cumbersome, sometimes

expensive

electronic print. cyber

corporations

themselves media).

newspapers through

magazines

Nevertheless, innovations to are ever, of of a

technological established faced Daily with

history, if the

devices

disappear, center begins learning though U.S. day

relinquishing century than circulation number 1999, daily papers By

newspapers twenty-first profitable daily as million the

electronic and iety. years, bought million more

understandably dailies at climbs.

Average even 62

households

a time

when

households.

daily

newspaper

circulation

xxxii / Preface to the Sixth Edition

to 52 million but there were newspaper watched papers tising, radical dailies 2 Most panies, house, homes evening and The was 100 million households. The growth of nonBig-city afternoon among average like II. In and other all more media, papers mass than died as peonewspercent. through of less a all than comNewHearst. and then

dramatic.

ple listened to radio news while they drove home from work television. Nonetheless, profits War fifteen continue to get the highest percentage newspaper ownership after by the rest Jones, percent same cable Many dailies. local in shots owned of industry World local of newspapers, families large New in of dollars

media, 20

spent on adverwent Today,

reversal were of the in Dow These

1946, dailies

three-quarters are family

associates.

percent

countrys are

hundred are

owned,

owned by Mirror,

national York their are that later local since

chains, whose top Knight Ridder, Co., without that and book, multitude news when is margins and cities. Times own are, aware profit

rank

of total Times are

circulation, monopolies media pay as major Since

Gannett,

Ninety-nine also sion soon States, questions utably matic tempts use, young their what of In owners and

newspaper

companies and even well higher

exception, their than televitheir will United vital disrepmelodraeven atland when

of electronic properties

newspapers. abandon to

observers But, among voters. are

predict

readers in this a leaves bodies, no

owners the of

described nations, most of and local will civic

uniquely void camera

television except taxes,

daily

coverage possible, on

other medium

systematic

reporting

schools, still read did were

policing, papers

and other relevant civic news, it is likely that members of todays cyber-oriented children the liberal the are past, journals generation born. local like alternative EXTRA!, news bought up political and and as critics In weeklies The for and the not their The only seen most communities Progressive local in source their alternavigorous press. had Nation, daily

do nationally.

In the 1960s,

these weeklies

antiestablishment

commentary chains Only of the

nearby metropolitan dailies. tive weeklies had been ally without their past supporters tory $11 Many of the

But by the values.

end of the 1990s, a few local

for maximizing profit, usuremained mainstream life as a a

underdog printed like

Magazines of American billion in behaved

have

continued to media. and were

enjoy their charmed 1999, enjoying DNA magazines 4 percent

in the hiswhole growth. big-name

revenues

annual single

recombinant

molecules,

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xxxiii

magazine surnames. Adventure, dividual tion, of while giving and birth Sports ran to several specialized gave birth to Sports Sports the offspring to have bearing Kids. largest In parental As in-

National publications, People the

Geographic TV Guide second, field Nast,

National the

Geographic circulaAugust

Illustrated to and

Illustrated for

continued

Illustrated third. three leading

1999, when Disney sold its Fairchild group to Cond Nast, it further magazine Cond among and conglomerTime Warner, Hearst.

concentrated ates,

TV Set versus the Computer?

The impression in its three get 40 36 is that all of young the America Internet (now of has is a their revenues. owners and 12,000 brackets recent abandoned not strictly division They traditional radio true. within average and The Via25 statarget the exlast pertelevision classical com), and tions But ages ers five percent and still profit control major of and obsession with

networks-ABC, CBS most percent percent the and most of of all top the are

NBC-have maintained a year, and the

audiences

television countrys getting which in and

twenty-five older,

of television the favored between been has

commercial people years

stations.

network eighteen

audiences youth

of advertising

market,

thirty-four, apt to

panded to those as ancient as forty-nine years old. listeners spend the share years, has and There work, older shares the 67 also three, network percent, cable are ABC, owned broadcasters the six of audience deepened younger (Warner increase systems cable. Comcast, of

These are the viewDuring the from angst 69 went the

most money.

cent to 55 outcome casters

with most of the energy fighting networks: and and NBC. operators by CBS,

loss being gained by cable. This of broadNetthe for of for WB The viewers. Paramount plus fight their Brothers), fuels have top and the

heightened now

and

Fox, UPN

(United

Viacom),

of a total TV audience that shrank by 9 percent in the season. million radio The by ten largest connected have 42 cable to households The cable The

1998-99 company fifteen in audience.

broadcast is AT&T, largest

three-quarters Cox.

followed

Time

Warner,

broadcasters

percent

television

Though many of the young seem to prefer their computers, billion for Profits high, radio, for money none networks for local and of these media their affiliates how given are little ready to

TV ads abandon.

1999 would bring in almost $37 billion, $11 billion for cable, and $16 remain almost effort obscenely expend

especially

stations,

they

xxxiv /

Preface to the Sixth Edition

Mainly, while they throw syndicate, has going a switch for a satellite feed and said have on their own on weather of local a and TV give the sports. stations:

to make their money. from briefest a network local news,

or programming

overboard

Barry Diller, percent

chief of USA Many good

Networks,

This is a business where if you are a birdbrain you have a thirty-fivemargin. broadcasters forty-to-sixty-percent margin. And you get it for free. . . . Advertising Before for the the 1999 football money Super game, radio the The Radio, most who hundreds television flows said has heard number for largest has of it lemming-like Fox, charge mainly a would to major had per sports the events. franchise for a is fithe NPR are

Bowl XXXIII,

which $53,333 set the

second half That in

commercials. Commercial dozen one last nanced National programs growing ual fixed reason by five why the years. Public during informal to become uniformly Public (but seven of of not of in has about to formulas throughout Broadcasting the only) day. radio by continue niggardly have their by more far In hundred country. doubled broadcasting addition, and there

of households

tuning

stations

Corporation

noncommercial

radio,

stations

their create

broadcast alternative networks stations. and radio and stations cause when Even content or the are heard the

networks

stations

individ-

broadcasters Noncommercial

mailing studio-quality to endure smaller to despite appropriaaudiences audiences lust after that than and octheir ofcomstations inis adsales fractional broadcasts

audiocassettes congressional tions. than can them. curs Though the Their in

hostility, the large appeal among

suspicion,

federal collective stations the show hysteria even

noncommercial commercial enough to is the the that broadcasting contenders. fact that there

broadcasters, increased

still raise ratings commercial size the is

commercial surveys

undoubtedly

differences audience reminds ten draw come, At mercial

important nonstereotyped,

of noncommercial in in the terms

public programs of the

interesting, seen major

superior some

seldom most

mainstream of average

airwaves. education, centurys In

Furthermore, desirable influence. that the now and end, 1946,

noncommercial

audience elderly

medium, industry By

motion sold 4.7 the

pictures, billion ticket

still making a great deal of television. mission tickets, or

of money, though less than before the motion picture per capita. 1999,

advent

thirty-three

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xxxv

were of Artists. empires, corp). Warner the same by ple, come their billion 1.3 the billion, big Sony, industry the Fox, States, or home the big popcorn They the the the pig owners that (with of $30 and five Regal, Warner still most most drive-in. billion per capita, Loews (Warner and has money, In them of $6 studios with five theater part Fox year were to Disney, chains SMC, of the getting most and major United media Viacom News Time Sony, in the $19 examinwith commovie hundred bathe Sea-

business: The Time The

Cineplex, Carmike, are now Brothers 20th-Century billion followed 1999 have sales not have and scenes. been were and other a by movies),

production Disney,

MGM, (Murdochs in revenues. Viacom,

(paramount), makes

20th-Century United

MGM.

there added

26,000

screens within and for

multi-screen

complexes their on their on insert release in cable

building from owns from Most

They from chain),

movie

revenues

a total

follow-up and to sold

showings rentals mention in theater in in tied pigs. medium, The U.S. and

videocassette and soft

(Viacom, lobbies. tie-in of with sales

Blockbuster media

significant sales the a

drinks

companies frequently and 1998 had that in world of 25

cashed Delay closely opening talking

movies. into because

deliberately

saleable

modities Studios bies, same grams Sony, pig The

scripts timing

Babe; Pig in the City companies around dolls, top

created a crisis

for Viacoms Universal their of pig are are

CD-ROMs, control

another percent

older of the and survive

recordings, big five European

corporations Polygram Time

media.

markets),

Warner, the

Bertelsmann, old in media their

Universal. and, for the most part, pro-

In the midst of growth cyber revolution, duce the highest profits

and excitement about the Internet and the history.

ViolenceStill Raises Its Ugly Head

No matter what else may violence, pleas action both their like parents with its for proven segments grabber-of-choice from or on the licenses one wanted broad change social of the mandate, They in the world damage, broadcasters public. the ignore And of television as the who in remain absence do survey 87 their and cable, deaf to remains the attentionof FCC killing and of

commercial

congressional screen for to granted. by limit

broadcasters survey shown after in

and at the

bank.

They take both their money which during percent

of parents, pro-

sponsored

the Benton

Foundation

commercials

childrens

xxxvi / Preface to the Sixth Edition

grams, courses The children erage hours TV an of and 85 Journal 15,000 per percent on of to year whose the the ages 18,000 in impact wanted more adult and community has an college that avfor is older of

offered between spent

television. American of two hours is school. Medical and Association watch also usual and the never so compared major because in the little Stanford in Whole the said annual with targets there the seventeen are than of has

of television, Children greater by director There a peer has of the no

12,000

advertising, apparent on Prof.

lessening Adolescence, and so

of influence has a said, to

parents

others

generation. Center the adult the tor, ciation viewing tance the atrics viewed Video come of of has an game ever

William Damon,

University history affected by

civilized world been guidance evening. sex A has

cohort of kids

that is world. become American

attuned

neighborhoods educaAssoof And Pedihave alone. beanatomnot . . the . accepof will have

are adultless as single or both parents work during the day or much of Television of a on on increasingly voyeur, is commission television attitudes By age national parent. levels instructor, baby-sitter-and substitute absolutely are and 18, acts In

report
violence

Psychological increased behavior. person lyrics depict is sequel,

stated: aggressive reported,

There

doubt that higher with aggressive young on films violence ages, to the is music

correlated increased

Committee

Communications 200,000 childrens graphic. rapes, and

of the the of

American Academy violence and action media young

average

estimated violence, increasingly increase contributing that

television

cartoons, movies,

ically precise murders, deaths only cause remediable quickly complex ing sion real ads to at and

assaults; with each Although . . the brain $1 At it is the solution

the number

dramatically. factor. is . if age, at

of violence in American society, violence an acceptable age

single most easily children hero. watch is resolving even televion on

learn the all

problems, because

particularly children at that

aggressor two

Accord-

Academy, interactions.

under

should not depends year a

development billion

heavily spent

human

Nevertheless, directed

commercials

children.

Books-Grandfather
In the age for have of foundation increases all

of
the mass

Them
Internet, more media,

All
for in more alive, recent than 2,300 years the sales remain though years. annual

books, modest

become

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xxxvii

Even paperbacks, annual oriented billion times cent and so, along no conventional with Books longer and with The texts books, and both to hardcover books, printed on and have mass $50 market billion

specialized in words rose an

revenues. Between

continue to sell interested prices dominant had that firms gross

a generation seen paper. of than

as image-

1982

1997, book sales rose from average of less had most revenues are

1.7 billion to 2.2 almost 80 $2 by sales of, two three permillion far in of the the the

volumes, per book. of smaller The five 10

of the profits;

companies largest percent by Time & abroad, Australia. power

a year each. book of publishers all Bertelsmann, book Thus and Viacom Corp. (owner largest world, other firms News worlds magazines, radio service publisher publishing Crown, Dell, merged lished and theon none history, ers they and With while books Press, in has in with firms, are Corp third English-language Disney, and News in

followed

Warner,

among

Simon based in

Schuster),

Bertelsmann in the

Germany is

Murdochs It is the of and in a

Bertelsmanns

marketplace with

unmatched. trading, 50 percent it Knopf, Bantam, publishing formerly

largest

conglomerate, music, Online had under imprints, It has

substantial on-line

ownership films, interest acquired

newspapers, fifty-three America By and already

television, (AOL) its

countries.

a major stake and wing among a Random

in the U.S.

Internet

provider that

barnesandnoble.com. houses Fawcett, each

purchasing

House, fifty them

independent Pantheon, Doubleday, houses, had the pub-

Ballantine, succeeding cut back

Vintage, consolidation on the or

Anchor, of

Delacorte. number with of has shredded. the once as prestigious consolidated a book and small Pangiants, publishand and ancomhold emergence Medium of titles have each been

publishers

independent. process

Contracts eliminated

authors

canceled

Andre Schiffiin, of the three scientific still publish lack There nounced puter that equal models

former

director firms

said that inquiry,

since their or

leading book

published

of serious

translation.

serious books, but they lack the power to produce at a level that is access be four of to the competitive with the major firms, sales one machinery. Electronic of them three firms a and have can handheld ahead. global books,

promote books

could measures

turbulence and

electronic

one-half by

inches,

xxxviii / Preface to the Sixth Edition

the by equivalent pressing market a Bertelsmam tionate of ten and power is four-hundred-page News Corp in it it and that for novels, each that to of page their turned

button. demonstrate the in had disproporwhat not just did that marketplace the case in Hersch its Brown the Shirts dominate

the public will read. They can decide what the public will not read. As mentioned mann, fully nied. into and had bers also sions lished The previously, its a Murdoch past China. Bertelssuccessor delooked resistance period, memand invapubwere in and with concealed When the suffering published of the a book, of in by multimedia Nazi he control, especially writer despite Hitlers Hitler could and not Germany, minimized Fischler of Nazi claim

previously

German under German People

sociologist discovered Hitler, army, tracts

archives,

Bertelsmann, praising Space, Fischler and

throughout

anti-Semitic

the Nazi get in the his

movement, findings They States

Without given

a work that justified Hitlers influence there.

nearby a

countries. Swiss

Germany,

Bertelsmanns

published

magazine

ultimately

United

Nation.

Selling Books
Once a staid and genteel has the the business, become largest even a share it touchy of the now about more being than a called $26 serpent a as business, competitors and bookselling fight for with cut-price, cutthroat operation

billion eat-

book market in the United States. It is interlocked Internet that corporate fighting ing its own tail. In the melee peting of the Codys to sell business, Book of big

a scramble so wild, resembles

convoluted,

chain stores local

and the Internet comonce the mainstay owner of indepenindepenRoss, largest 1990,

books, Store in in

independent Berkeley,

bookstores, one

are now

for their California,

lives. Andy of the as

dent bookstores but by greater

the country,

says

that as recently 19 percent. its residents was

dent stores like his The and Walden bookstore, ternet bookselling and Books, followed

accounted for 32 percent of all national book sales, world has seen supplanted by the B. by ever Dalton country. to be

1999 this figure has dropped to giants would-be by giants.

Crown the

followed largest in

which were Borders,

followed by Barnes & Noble, the biggest second spasm by the appearance of an InAmazon.com claimed

The scene was thrown into phenomenon called

a new

Amazon.com.

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xxxix

the and planets largest bookstore because you could sit at a computer

order a book from The race was for York also

a list of three million titles and have it delivin price from cutting. the Barnes & York entered into link to way had by a 50 of to just this list. percent discount of 55 interest books percent in for stores on another Internet Noble Timess offered 50

ered in a few days by the U.S. Postal Service. percent list. discounts books Times New best-seller agree-

The New Internet presented & 50 After & the

Book Review an that electronic with an the

a financial

ment with Barnes & Noble. It agreed to place after each review in the papers This Barnes sales fered Barnes bookseller, Wal-Mart, in New York favored version the a book site, on bamesandnoble.com. order also time from made also one The a ofreviewed. consumer Internet discounts paid be the instant Times 4.5 Borders for supplier (with a

bookseller Noble percent alliance with

claiming MSN. the site, exclusive retailer with

million titles, best-seller

Microsofts

Times million

Bertelsmann Nobles agreed to

$200

Internet largest

Books-a-Million,

countrys

bricks-and-mortar

bricks-and-mortar Times

communities), best-sellers.

discount

Rebellions in the Ranks

Rebellions dramatic. ing basic for The civil drove hillside license, powered those to the limit FCC electrical to ernment mands to the against They public regulatory less broadcast the protest needs. violence stations in In major the The media protests that in radio 1993, hills, was FCC 1,000 a and finally His had watts Japan, their have own have also become medias reflect ignored and more a new a radio more numerous to with public local and servgovdegroups of van, Berketo new a last like mainstream indifference frustration widespread access by

agencies

on television

communities. technological Berkeley, station Radio In van form his Dunifer, California, Free

rebellion engineer, the

practiced Stephen began

disobedience.

assembled

low-power

nearby He the of in to

broadcasting with in grant

ley. When the FCC warned Dunifer, locations. a federal years, stations range offense.

he simply drove his

charged failed or and and to less. other

broadcasting any license make to

without

lawyer noted

court that for the stations,

twenty-eight

for lowit possible Instead, commercial

Low-powered countries, mostly

permitted

Canada, issued

neighborhoods

individual licenses,

communities.

typically

50,000-watt

xl

Preface to the Sixth Edition

permitting area that require access or as As many secret rebellion mother general formally the to them greatly local to reach broad profits to to cities regional from offer light and a retail trade public zones, The a

stations, large did not

increases groups. brought in

commercials. authentic large

FCC

powerful

stations

services of the but new fu-

or grant pirate, perhaps country. the rules tile dent FCC The for On surgeons

Dunifers

prosecution unlicensed, as

underground around unknown, proposed and

low-powered, their such effect. have precise stations. In with been 1999,

community-range neighborhoods numbers the are FCC

stations,

1,000 360 its there parents,

operations, closed had front,

lower-powered by

stations

1,000-watt decades

licenses. of unending two different and

complaints of the

educators, pervasive

psychologists, violence a number broadcaster, on

of the United States, States Times. popular against form

and even a plea from the presitelevision of full-page ads with the large-

United York the

movies. A new in the New Steve Allen,

of protest appeared in entertainer and

Typically, one displayed a large photograph of

type heading: Parents . . . Grandparents . . . Families . . . This is for YOU-TV IS LEADING CHILDREN DOWN A MORAL SEWER. . . HOW You and I Can Stop It. The sponsor of the ad was listed as the Parents Television There major views. ucation, and to racy, tank rely dio The nia, of further in data heavily. Q&As performs like-minded media center-to-right inadequacies in limit San and A for a Council, has news politics, include, in based also been and with among order to and in Los an an many which alert that viewing. performs relations of in on Angeles. rebellion. heavily absence the the to Center total As noted of for earlier, on other Edlaws attempt of Accuthink outlets Alauare concentrated or Media that the Public news like using ideological almost to others, the

commentary

progressive

Organizations

attempting

correct monitors public The analyses which Colorado, the based by The in show

imbalance

Washington, diversity Francisco, public number based Media similar radio

telecommunications measures to for

regulations and

indifference Institute of the

needs

children

serious

adult

conservative

mainstream have Portola a

progressive Boulder, around

interview country

programs, arisen, and Valley,

ternative

Radio,

rebroadcast

internationally. Califorcoalition Move-

International

Project, function reformers.

forming Cultural

worldwide Environment

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xli

merit, tions, ample, television excise which casters in the led own the members The face based For and in Philadelphia, than thirty funding They replace who reform groups for the are views. in the number chains to eleven from and of fight independent Internet by back bookstores sales creating has its bookin the artiinand their hundred 5,200 have fear that also years, have is various national advocated Corporation its seeking to forming proposed worldwide national ways by Public will be to radio various new coalitions. foundaprovide and fixed by

more media

academics,

nonpolitical networks. taxes lives of and in to

noncommercial financing for protect

Broadcasting, blocked broad-

constant conservative

appropriations

Congress drastic

commercial

shrinkage Booksellers

of competition with big site, Booksense, whose years. once quiet its two by few world own large of to serve has

American

Association

web

independent to 3,300

stores. The ABA hopes this move will stop or reverse the loss of independent last cles stores, number gone scholarly in firms, several The has creases Kluwer, costs (and to 30

scientific to

research steep and The the rose been in price to price

experienced and a

rebellion Dutch

reaction

imposed have their

Reed Elsevier companies. After university drastically. for instances than and at the it

Wolters higher libraries major 20 even to

other to in

similar

consolidated

forced faculties),

libraries, drop average some for

especially subscriptions prices individual

research journals has

corporate more. versity abreast

consolidations, percent, though Brain, the

charged more scholars

The journal research of Dr.

example, of in a

doubled

$15,000 a year. It is these articles and books that lie at the heart of uniand ability scientists University in to keep current Michael in 1986 developments Rosenzweig, and his wife, their fields. of Arischolarly $8,000 a rebellion price

sociologist

zona at Tucson, publications create, tors, ogy board zweig. most

Carole, its

started the subscription their price

when the journal in their Ecology, raised

field that he had helped

Evolutionary and of when editors than in

year. Key to the authority of any the with a the from Rosenzweigs an annual the hundred country, former Research, More prestigious

scholarly journal is its board of edistarted own of Evolutionary $353, with the Ecolwhole of and the the

subscription journal libraries

defected Yale,

Dr. Rosensome

joined,

including

like Harvard,

Columbia,

xlii / Preface to the Sixth Edition

University arly lenged have without Even by invented charge of the California. and Their role the major new of organization Bill system functions Gatess that of is SPARC is (Scholchalwho other

Publishing

Academic of

Resources original

Coalition). Microsoft can be noncommercial Windows breed and

commanding Linux, to an replace systems.

programmers

operating

downloaded

commercially

sold

Can It Be Changed?
For litical past liances cannot largest pendent to rare merger. the last and decades, and Contrary work, supplier bookseller thirty corporate the years, government of agencies and the and Congress monopoly. market break up antitrust that the the by block it and The was have In allaw big indethe a been wedded to the free market, tolerance common reduce an most that it & an oxymoron when it describes poconglomeration remedy for excessive supposed to wisdom established an the intense Federal legal their that fact domi-

nation has been the Anti-Trust Act, which is mergers to when the competition. almost merge in present became Noble to were caused they a rare effective and on the most largest head corporate conventional

Barnes booksellers that two and most fourth after

would lawyers parties

with Ingram, Trade

countrys Commission

of books

bookstores, considering

campaign to But

murmur The murmur The

action plan.

abandoned require the to

victory. remedies fail contributor of CBS for congressional campaigns. entered the a declaration public White indusrecent a if and because telecommunications

House try Gore lion. Gore its ters is

approval, the But Commission recommended

political

the future specifics

of broadcasting threatened serving the

field like of war

interest,

Gores

report emerged like a lamb. allies

The problem is money.

Viacoms CBS

in broadcasting have a great deal

of money.

(Subsequent chap-

in this book describe the Government indifference media exploitative action

swift evolution by which the major mass to the has and These immense left harmful groups the and task media have still of content done growing protecting to and incon-

media in the United States power dividual the of major from and

began their race toward their present power.)

corporations prices groups.

consumers

citizen for

tinue to do vital struggle

service to keep the public informed and to keep alive a better media world.

Preface to the Sixth Edition / xliii

But no corporate ing alone, breaks members rations; ing funds to of citizen that $2.7 the action flood group has the the money to political for match the On of the from and private lobbyThis 535 corposweepfor if in they role in lobtheir would the contri-

American and most work 38 for

system. each comes interests. basic used role,

more than of Congress.

$1.4 billion a year is million By is be far, a an they with every lobbyists and to which issues and of the

spent in Washington. money

down most

lobbyists

corporate need of major a for

Consequently, campaign That and of bying. support, coverage fate

there

fundamental issue can wide source that play

reform happens one in crucial measure

drastic

curtailment

money

newspapers

editorially

dramatic an

public with and

consequences influential amount

list by name of the butions minate money public roots and

each member

of Congress

of financial

from any the There and can

entity with a clear stake behind-the-scenes evidence already and initiative votes a

in the of most

outcome. This would the countrys between An as a laws. big that grassparties in and Senate aroused

make it explicit if private money is in danger of prevailing and help illuinsidious, is political make the buying that angers The from the convincing relationship voters. began

difference.

environmental landscape the standard When citizens, the

movement political and

transformed with

legislative without to stunned rose open is in

natural from public

movement moved were alike, are

powerful

opposition abolish and As unison disgust. more

industry. when

conservatives Republicans move. more gather to a

Congress members Democrats public The media. and stopped table, growing dismissal offers without mation The

broadcasting, anger against

House

retreated in public New vocal

Voters general The growing

rebelling.

complaints parties ever than

escalate, slowly about

of the strength. mass vague have unelecreflect kind line of that

expresses two or

public

irresponsible votes voters changes same ballot cannot public

standard category are that by

parties entitled electing

are

hemorrhaging formerly

Independent. candidates nonentities. politics, proposal to stop and

Many These the of a

voting or as voter None further needed

considered

others

are of

bizarre

rejection implied of the of to erosion

contemporary Naders money

Ralph

above. corporate of the the sustain reforms responsible continue inforrelevant American

power

democracy. acts with swift and ar-

It is true that corporate money in politics

xliv / Preface to the Sixth Edition

rogant does the finish In line certitude. make the the An final fabled informed decisions race tortoise, it public on the to responds day. hare crossed and the remember who more slowly, but it

election

between

swift-and-overconfident

slow-but-steady first.

helps

The race is not always to the swift.

Notes
The New York Times was used extensively as a source because it is regarded as the countrys most authoritative and widespread source of foreign and domestic news and because hundreds of client papers throughout the country use its news service. Spot checks of other papers showed that most did far less than the Times. So major media failures or inadequacies in reporting public information needed for properly informed voters throughout the country is, if anything, understated. Important lapses or inadequate accounts frequently are attributed to the Times for the same reason, though such negative judgments are by no means limited to the Times. Note: earlier editions of The Statistical Abstract of the United States indexed data by page number, but more recent editions index by table number.

x x xii xii xii xiii xiii xiii xiv

Six and

firms dominate. http://cgi.pathfinder.com/fortune/global500/5001ist2.html http://www.forbes.com/tool/toolbox/privateasp/rankindex.asp?index=500.

The top six firms. wysiwyg://428/http://www.cjr.org/owners/ (Cjr=Columbia Journalism Review); New York Times, 8 September 1999, 1 Symbolically, the largest. http://cgi.pathfinder.com/fortune/global500/500 list2.html and New York Times, 16 July 1999, 1. The power and influence. New York Times, 29 February 1996, 3. News reporting and commentary. 1999 Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, Question ID: USMS. 99 Feb R20.022; EXTRA!, July/August 1997, 24. But with each passing. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, June 1999, 8. Internet capabilities have. College English, May 1999, 532; National Writers Union Hearsay, November 1998, 4. The Internets growth and Business Week, 17 May 1999, 108. Nevertheless, despite their. New York Times, 9 July 1999, 13; American Journalism Review, March 1999, 28; and Death of Print, Columbia Journalism Review, January/February 1999, 56. The U.S. Postal. New York Times, 20 February 1999, A-15, and 27 May 1999, B-I; 10 July 1999, B-I. The new medium marches. New York Times, 10 July 1999, B-I. By mid-1999. San Francisco Chronicle, 8 July 1999, B-1; Hoover's Online: Internet/Online, wysiwyg://700http://hovweb.hoovers.com, 2. The 35 percent.

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San Francisco Chronicle, 25 March 1999, D-1. Though the total potential. Intrusive Ads, Brill's Content, February, 1999, 64; On-line marketing is. New York Times, 25 February 1999, C-3. xvi xvi xvi xvii xviii xviii xviii xix Today, that political. New York Times, 16 March 1999, 3. Positive accomplishments of. New York Times, 6 April 1998, l. The fifth edition of this. See The Media Monopoly (Beacon Press, 1997), ix-xxxv. In 1998 alone. New York Times, 5 January 1999, B-1; New York Times, 13 December 1998, C-l. When new legislation. New York Times, 2 June 1999. The leading media. Wall Street Journal, 17 January 1995, B-4. The American public. New York Times, Editorial, 26 December 1998, A-24. The Disney Company. http://disney.go.com/investors/annual98/consumer.htm, under Disney Consumer Products. Lion King painting price, personal inquiry at Disney Store, 400 Post Street, San Francisco: The twenty-two major. 1998 Annual Report of the Disney Company, on Internet site, ibid. Sale of Womens Wear Daily, New York Times, 20 August 1999, C1. Ownership of interest in Infoseek and ESPN, and ESPN on Disney cruise ships, 1998 Annual Report of the Disney Company. When the first edition. Beacon Press, 1983; 2d ed., 1987; 3rd ed., 1990; 4th ed., 1992; 5th ed., 1997. As the dominant. New York Times, 8 July 1996, C-6 Corporate interlocks may. Wall Street Journal, 3 1 March 1999, B-8; Statistical Abstract of the United States 1998, Table 721. As usual, Rupert. The Nation, 8 June 1998.18; The Economist, 20 March 1999, 73. But for all. Columbia Journalism Review May/June 1998,51. The trend in violence. New York Times, 19 July 1999, C- 1. But if the Office. Columbia Journalism Review, March/April TRA!, November/December 1998, 15. 1998, 19; EX-

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In the midst. Statement confirmed by personal call to an editor of National Enquirer; 6 April 1999. The media sex obsession. The Nation, 5 February 1996, ZS; Columbia Journalism Review, May/June 1999,35. The prolonged fixation. Columbia Journalism Review July/August, 1998, 13. The dramatic landmark. Columbia Journalism Review January/February 20; American Journalism Review, October 1997, 13. Nevertheless. Los Angeles Times, 4 November 1999, C-1 The Separation represents. Columbia Journalism Review, March/April 1999, 28. The contamination spread. New York Times, 6 September 1999, C-6. Robert Heilbroner, a. Robert Heilbroner, The Devil Words: Deficit, Center for Democratic Values, 1997. Debt and 1998,

Willes did increase. Columbia Journalism Review, January/February 1999, 54.

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xxviii xxviii xix xix xix During the period. Lester Thurow, Building Wealth (New York: Harper Business, 1999). At the time. FAIR, July/August 1999, 9. Less than two years. New York Times, 31 July 1999, l. Something else was. Corporate Welfare, Time, 9 November 1998, 34; New York Times, 8 December 1998, C-27; Takeover Magazine, June 1999, 13. As dominant media. American Journalism Review, November 1998, 51; New York Times, 8 September 1999, 1. In 1998, the television networks FAIR, Inside the New York Times, undated, Summer 1999, 1; Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, reported in New York Times, 6 November 1998, A-22; Peter Arnett, American Journalism Review, November 1998, 5l. The main media have done. The Progressive, 30 February 1999,28. American responsibility for. New York Times, 23 February 1999, D-1; The Nation, 22 March 1999, 5; New York Times, 31 July 1999, 2. Daily newspapers are Morton Research, Inc., January-June 1997, Table 8; Columbia Journalism Review, July/August 1998, 28; Hoovers Online, 15 March 1999, 1; In 1970. Historical Statistics of the U.S., El. II, 809; Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1998,572, Table 915. The ownership of. American Journalism Review, June 1998, 20. Most of the rest. Hoover's Online, 15 April 1999, 1. (ranking of top companies by total circulation). In the past. The Nation, 29 June 1998, 10. Magazines have continued. Hoover s Online, 15 April 1999, 15 April 1999. 1, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 August 1999, B-I; New York Times, 20 August 1999, C-I. The impression that. New York Times, 17 May 1998,A-17;Standard & Poor's Industrial Survey, Broadcasting and Cable, 2 July 1998; New York Times, 8 June 1999, C-10. There are now six. New York Times, 17 May 1998, A-17; Standard & Poor's Industrial Survey, Broadcasting and Cable, 2 July 1998; New York Times, 21 December 1998, sec. 3, l. This is a business. The New Yorker; 9 November 1998, 34. Advertising money flows. New York Times, 28 January 1999, C-1. Commercial radio has. New York Times, 5 April 1999, C-5. At centurys end. Hoovers Online, Industry Zone, Movies & Music, 5 April 1999, 1. Hoover's Online, 15 April 1999, 1. Most big media companies. San Francisco Chronicle, 30 November 1998, D-5. The top owners of another. New York Times, 21 December 1998, B-I. No matter what else. Lake Snell Perry &Associates, 14 January 1999, 2. The Journal of the American Medical. University of California, Berkeley, Wellness Letter; July 1988, I; New York Times, 30 May 1999, B-1. A report of a commission. New York Times, 9 May 1999, 23; American Academy of Pediatrics, Media Violence (RE9526), June 1995, 949-951;New York Times, 19 April 1999, C-I.

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xxxvi xxxvii xxxvii xxxvii xxxvii xxxvii xxxviii In the age of. Hoover s Online, Publishing & Printing, wysiwyg://673http: lihoovweb.hoovers.com/features/industry/publish. html, 15 April 1999. Between 1982. Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1998, Tables 425, 428; Hoovers Online, ibid. The five largest book. New York Times, 1 January 1999, C-1. Bertelsmanns power in. New York Times, 24 May 1999, C-1. Andre Schiffrin, former. The Nation, 5 July 1999, 10. There could be turbulence. New York Times, 10 May 1999, C-1. Bertelsmann and News Corp. When a German sociologist. The Nation Digital Edition, www.thenation.com/issue/981228/1228fisch.htm; accessed 16 April 1999. Once a staid. Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1998, Table 425. In the melee of. Codys Book Store News, March 1999 Calendar, The race was. Holt Uncensored, No. 96, 8 June 1999; San Francisco Chronicle, 5 June 1999, D-1; New York Times, 9 December 1998, B-l; New York Times, 8 December 1998, C-6. After Bertelsmann paid. Holt Uncensored, No. 73, 5. The rebellion in radio. Federal Communications Commission v. Stephen 0 Dunifer, Northern District of California, Case No. C-943542 CW. The rebellion had its effect. New York Times, 29 January 1999, C-1; American Journalism Review, June 1998, 46. On another front. New York Times, 23 May 1999, 18; New York Times, 15 August 1999, 35. There has also been. EXTRA!, July/August 1997, 24. The drastic shrinkage. Holt Uncensored, No. 57, 3 May 1999, 3. Book Passage, Books on the Brink, Cort Madera, California, February 1999; San Francisco Chronicle, 24 May 1999, B-1 . The once quiet world. ARL, Association of Research Libraries, December 1998, 3-7; New York Times, 8 December 1998, D-2. Dr. Michael Rosenzweig. New York Times, 8 December 1998, D-2. Even the commanding. New York Times Magazine, 21 February 1999, 34. Contrary to the. New York Times, 3 June 1999, C-1. The most effective. COUNTDOWN Center for Media Education, 20 November 1998; Civil Rights Forum 2nd Project on Media Ownership, 18 December 1998, 2. Government indifference. Center for Responsive Politics, 29 July 1999, I.

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