Chris's News and Views

Media analysis and criticism from a former TV news anchor, reporter and meteorologist. Also includes links to media research groups and organizations committed to creating a more democratic, citzen-based media environment.
http://members.tripod.com/chris.shumway/

The Television Thing

This article summarizes The Sound Bite Society, a study of television and ideology. (Dissent Summer 1995) By Jeffery Scheuer
http://www.jscheuer.com/dissent.htm

Hold On to Your Phone Bill -- It's Merger Time

Commentary on lack of FCC concern about the effects of consolidation of telephone and broadcasting services on consumer interests and democracy. From Mother Jones.
http://www.motherjones.com/fotc/fotc6.html

Necessary Illusions -- Online Book by Noam Chmosky

Commentaries contend the "free press" serves the needs of those in power, rather than free speech and democracy.
http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/ni/ni-contents.html

Meditations on Media -- Jane W. Prettyman

An independent critique of commercial media's effects on democracy and society by editor of the Real News Pages website.
http://www.rain.org/~openmind//jane.htm

Bloodbath in the District of Columbia

An essay from UnquietMind.com about the destructiveness of the Washington scandal culture.
http://unquietmind.com/bloodbath.html

McChesney's

Article that critcizes the effect of commercial corporate media on society, and that calls for reform that brings diversity of ownership and access. By Robert McChesney from The Boston Review.
http://bostonreview.mit.edu/BR23.3/mcchesney.html

A New Years's Resolution For The Right

Conservative commentators Brent Bozell and Michael Medved contend that a challenge for the right is overcoming the fact that television's emotional nature inherently favors liberals rather than the logic of conservatism.
https://secure.mediaresearch.org/columns/news/col19981229.html

Ben Bagdikian Interview

Interview with media analyst about effect of corporate media ownership, using tobacco issue as example. From PBS Frontline.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/smoke/interviews/bagdikian1.html

Tabloids, Talk Radio, and the Future of News

Technology's Impact on Journalism by Annenberg Senior Fellow Ellen Hume
http://www.ellenhume.com/articles/tabloids_contents.html

Consent, American Style

Analysis and commentary by Steve Mizrach about manipulation of the public through the media. Based on views of Michael Parenti, Noam Chomsky, and Ben Bagdikian.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Media/Consent_AmerStyle.html