Robert Parry: The MSM and Swimming Naked

[babylonsister]

The MSM and Swimming Naked

By Robert Parry
March 28, 2009


There’s a Wall Street saying about what happens to traders who have taken too many chances, when the stock prices ebb: “When the tide goes out,” it’s said, “you see who’s been swimming naked” – what might be called the ultimate consequence of a bear (or bare) market.

But the same lesson may apply when the existing mainstream media fades out to sea. Today, even as many Americans rightfully disdain the MSM, its rapid contraction could inflict even more damage on an already battered American Republic.

That’s because the MSM has been providing information – albeit with many flaws – that has allowed others, including bloggers and independent Web sites like ours, to derive substantial information from working reporters who are sent off to cover a multitude of stories.

When those mainstream reporters dwindle in number amid endless budget cuts, the tide of basic facts will retreat and – metaphorically speaking – we’ll discover which political groupings have been swimming naked, relying too much on the work of the MSM.

The answer today seems clear. The conservatives, right-wingers and Republicans will be as well-covered as some of those bathers in the Victorian Era. The liberals, progressives and Democrats will be left trying to cover up.

The logical result of a fading MSM – combined with a robust right-wing news media and a miniscule progressive one – will be the relative strengthening of conservatives who already possess a vertically integrated media infrastructure for developing and disseminating information, from newspapers, magazines and books to radio, TV and the Internet.

Even now, we see the impact of this right-wing media on the budget debate over key issues such as national health care and a “green” economy. Though the Republicans are in a distinct minority and seem to have few constructive ideas, they are, in many ways, driving the debate by popularizing the notion that Obama is a socialist out to bankrupt the country.

more...

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2009/032709.html

[greenman3610]

1. I worry about this - a lot.

[blm]

2. This nation already has too few investigative journalists - Will the Parrys and Landays

even survive while the Limbaughs and Hannitys are getting their million bucks a month?

[yurbud]

3. the MSM keeps making all the wrong decision to hasten their decline

instead of getting more ballsy and speaking truth to power, they think the corporate sleight of hand, cutting workers and delivering less product for the same price, will somehow do the trick.

They are like a kung fu expert who could kick the bad guy's ass, but they keep throwing up and running away in fear instead of doing their job.

[seafan]

4. So many worrisome trends as the MSM has failed to serve the people....

Robert Parry articulates what keeps me awake nights...

.....

Even now, we see the impact of this right-wing media on the budget debate over key issues such as national health care and a “green” economy. Though the Republicans are in a distinct minority and seem to have few constructive ideas, they are, in many ways, driving the debate by popularizing the notion that Obama is a socialist out to bankrupt the country.

That, in turn, emboldens Republicans and intimidates some Democrats, especially from states where the right-wing media is all-pervasive. So, while Republicans present a solid phalanx of opposition to President Barack Obama’s plans, a “centrist” Democratic caucus has emerged to split Democratic unity.

Many of these “centrists” oppose use of a parliamentary device, called “reconciliation,” to enact some of Obama’s agenda by majority vote rather than lose in the face of Republican filibusters. To get some Republican support, these “centrists” are signaling a readiness to water down the President’s proposals and possibly jettison key features, like a public entity that would offer national health insurance.

As the MSM grows weaker – and the right-wing media becomes relatively stronger – this ideological asymmetry is sure to become even more imbalanced.

.....

Indeed, that may be one of the most remarkable differences between the American Right and the American Left. Right-wingers – from foundations like Olin, Smith-Richardson and Scaife to wealthy individuals such as Rupert Murdoch and Sun Myung Moon – spend billions of dollars subsidizing conservative media while wealthy liberals and progressives shy away financing media, especially news outlets with any kind of edge.

It’s like they don’t really want to engage in the battle. They prefer putting what little money they do spend into “safe” outlets – like NPR or PBS – or into “media reform,” i.e. organizing around media issues, rather than into building tough, honest, courageous news outlets that will take on the powers that be and will shake up the status quo.

Unless that pattern changes – unless people of means who care about the future of the nation – set aside their fears and join the fight, the likelihood is that the media imbalance will only get worse, that Republicans will be emboldened and that timid “centrist” Democrats will wilt under the pressure.

And as the tide flows out on the MSM, liberals and progressives will find themselves even more uncovered than before.

Unless we can take back our media, the way forward will be an unrelenting, clawing, biting fight.

[blm]

5. We don't get a real newsmedia this nation will fall completely to fascists w/even a Dem in WH

and on Capitol Hill because they will ALWAYS be under pressure to knuckle under to the trumped up demands of the media-controlled perception.

[Doctor_J]

6. Yes, I am sure that most Dems brushed off Michelle Backmann's ravings

But in point of fact, we are probably going to have to have it out with her and her ilk some time soon. The right-wing media machine will force the issue. The good news is that they will suffer very heavy casualties.