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The Dangers of Fake Journalism

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OPTION B
Question #1

The theoretical lens of critical political economy examines how economic power and capitalist

structures shape media and communication systems, emphasizing the role of ownership, control,

and profit motives in influencing content and public discourse (Gasher et al.: 77). In the film

United States of Distraction: Fighting the Fake News Invasion, this perspective is applied to

critique the consolidation of media ownership, illustrating how a few powerful corporations

dominate the information landscape, thereby limiting the diversity of viewpoints and prioritizing

profit over public interest. The film highlights how sensationalism, infotainment, and celebrity

culture are promoted to attract large audiences and advertising revenue at the expense of

substantive news coverage. Additionally, it exposes the collusion between media entities and

elite interests, including government agendas, showcasing how media can be manipulated to

serve the powerful and suppress alternative viewpoints. Through the critical political economy

lens, the film highlights the media's role in maintaining ideological control and marginalizing

dissent, ultimately questioning the integrity and democratic function of contemporary media

systems.

In the contemporary media landscape, the critical political economy perspective sheds

light on several concerning trends that undermine democratic discourse and public interest.

Central to this critique is the dramatic consolidation of media ownership, reducing the diversity

of viewpoints as control is concentrated in the hands of a few powerful entities. This

monopolization, facilitated by legislative changes such as the 1996 Telecommunications Act, has

resulted in a media environment where profit motives overshadow the need to inform the public

(Huff et al.: 37:09-37:20). The focus on sensationalism and infotainment distract from critical
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societal issues, catering instead to large audiences and advertiser revenue (Huff et al.: 13:33-

13:59). Furthermore, the relationship between media corporations and elite interests, including

government agendas, highlights how media can serve as a tool for maintaining power structures

rather than challenging them. The suppression of dissenting voices and the marginalization of

alternative perspectives through algorithmic changes and legislative measures further illustrate

the media's role in perpetuating dominant narratives and stifling critical discourse. As media

increasingly becomes an instrument for ideological control, the prospects for a truly informed

and engaged citizenry diminish, raising urgent questions about the future of democratic

engagement and the role of media in society.

The film's discussion of how corporate media often disseminates news that serves elite

interests, including government propaganda, reflects the critical political economy perspective.

The film mentions the relationship between media outlets and the U.S. government, particularly

through entities like the Broadcast Board of Governors (Huff et al.:34:30-34:51), which

highlights how media can be used to promote government agendas and suppress alternative

viewpoints. The film also explains how media serves to maintain ideological control by

perpetuating dominant narratives and marginalizing dissenting voices. It discusses the

suppression of progressive websites through algorithmic changes by tech giants like Google and

Facebook (Huff et al.: 41:19- 41:42), which aligns with the critical political economy critique of

how media and technology companies can work to protect the interests of the powerful by

controlling the flow of information. The mention of the National Defense Authorization Act and

the efforts to label independent media as fake news further illustrate how media can be used to

control public discourse and marginalize critical perspectives. The media's role in maintaining

ideological control and suppressing dissent is another critical theme addressed. By perpetuating
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dominant narratives and marginalizing dissenting voices, the media serves to uphold the status

quo and suppress alternative viewpoints. This suppression is evident in the treatment of

progressive websites, which have been marginalized through algorithmic changes by tech giants

like Google and Facebook. Such actions align with the critical political economy critique,

illustrating how media and technology companies can work together to protect the interests of

the powerful by controlling the flow of information. The National Defense Authorization Act

and efforts to label independent media as fake news further demonstrate how media can be

manipulated to control public discourse and marginalize critical perspectives, thus maintaining

ideological hegemony and stifling meaningful dissent.

Question #2

In Chapter Two, the textbook addresses the issue of fake news and its impact on the legitimacy

of the press, particularly in the United States. It highlights two interpretations of fake news:

fabricated news items intended to undermine political opponents and the labeling of news outlets

as fake by politicians to discredit unfavorable coverage. (Gasher et al.: 40) Despite these

challenges, the press remains central to social and political life, with its role and effectiveness

debated across different theoretical perspectives. This discussion is highly relevant to the film

"The United States of Distraction: Fighting the Fake News Invasion," which extensively

examines the phenomenon of fake news and its implications for democracy. It explores how fake

news is used both as a tool to deceive the public and as a weapon by politicians to delegitimize

critical media outlets. This dual use of fake news aligns with the textbook's description,

illustrating how misinformation can distort public perception and erode trust in the media. The

film argues that instead of fostering an informed and engaged public, the media often amplifies
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distractions and superficial content, undermining the social and political functions it is supposed

to serve.

One of the main approaches that the film neglected in addressing is that it presents a

predominantly negative portrayal of the media, only focusing on issues such as media

consolidation, profit-driven content, ideological control, and the suppression of dissent. It

emphasizes how these factors distort public discourse, prioritize sensationalism over substantive

news, and serve elite interests. In contrast, the textbook highlights the positive aspects of media,

particularly their role in fostering social cohesion and cultural understanding. The textbook

describes how media are integral to the exchange of ideas, experiences, and perspectives, helping

individuals understand their society, its institutions, and their fellow citizens (Gasher et al.: 51).

Media industries, such as broadcasting, digital media, and publishing, are termed cultural

industries because they provide an information base that allows various communities and social

groups to coalesce and interact. At their best, these media contribute to social cohesion and a

sense of belonging among all members of society.

This juxtaposition expresses a key difference in how the two sources view media. The

film concentrates on the current failings and dangers posed by a media landscape dominated by a

few powerful corporations and driven by profit motives. It argues that these conditions lead to a

public being more entertained than informed, distracted by sensationalist content rather than

engaged in critical societal issues. This critique aligns with the critical political economy

perspective, which is skeptical of the media's role in maintaining power structures and serving

commercial interests at the expense of democratic engagement and diverse viewpoints.

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On the other hand, the textbook acknowledges the media's essential and positive roles in

society. It highlights the media's capacity to act as a cultural glue, bringing people together and

enabling the sharing of ideas and cultural experiences. This perspective aligns with more

optimistic theories of media, such as the social responsibility theory (Gasher et al.: 42), which

envisions the media as a platform for enhancing democratic participation, fostering a critical and

reflective culture, and contributing to human development.

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Bibliography

Huff, M., & Huff, J. (Directors). (2019). United States of distraction: Fighting the fake news
invasion [Documentary]. The Media Education Foundation.

Gasher, M., Skinner, D., & Coulter, N. (2020). Media & Communication in Canada: Networks,
Culture, Technology, Audiences (9th ed.). Oxford University Press.