My Media Paradox

I live in a world where the traditional media outlets have been aggregated into powerful networks that turn out what is essentially propaganda.

I live in a world where the best news program on TV is on the Comedy Channel.

I live in a world where Ted Turner, the creator of many of the most influential news outlets of the latter part of the 20th century, says media has become too concentrated in too few hands.

I live in a world where everyone can have their own media channel (call it a blog or whatever else you want).

I live in a world where the lives of the Hilton sisters is more important to the media than the lives of the two income family that can’t afford health care.

I live in a world where a presidential candidate can raise more money in $25 contributions over the Internet than in $5 million fundraisers at the Waldorf.

I live in a world where the administration can fool a liberal paper into being its “echo chamber” for it war drumbeat.

I live in a world where the news of a Governer’s planned resignation breaks on a website and a blog hours before it is announced.

So, where are we headed with all of this? My hope is that we are headed toward a world that is more transparent, honest, open, and truthful than the one we live in today. But many of these facts point me to the opposite conclusion. It’s a real paradox for me.