So according to the Reporters Without Borders' annual ranking of press freedom worldwide, Media freedoms shrink in Iran, rise in US. But apparently this additional "freedom" of the press in the US has actually harmed the credibility of the press since nearly two-thirds – 63 percent – of Americans surveyed by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press believe that news stories are often inaccurate.
Anyway, let me explain to you what "press freedom" in the US means: only 5 huge corporations -- Time Warner, Disney, Murdoch's News Corporation, Bertelsmann of Germany, and Viacom (formerly CBS) -- control almost all of the media industry in the U.S. They ensure that US media maintains a pro-governemt, pro-Corporate tilt. You see, "Freedom" means very little when your range of choices is so restricted as to be essentially meaningless. It is sort of like being forced to choose between Pepsi and Coke. Sure, you're "free" to make that choice...but not really.
That's how media repression works in the US: they don't tell you what to think, they tell you what to think about. They don't have to throw journalists in jail for the simple reason that all the journalists work for the same 5 corporations, who so dominate the market that they drown out competing voices and ensure that they will not have a meaningful impact. And if you want proof of this, just remember: "WMDs in Iraq".
Agree with your piece. US politicians always scream that the US political system and its press are the most democratic and free on planet earth!!! I believe that Iran presidential elections are more free and democratic than US. In US, you always have 2 parties deciding to nominate 2 persons who run for the president. People have no other choice. The parties and the ruling elite decide for the people. The public's role is to decide to elect one of the ruling elite nominees. It is not grass root democracy. I believe Iranian election laws with all its limitations and flaws are more progressive than US. I like to hear the opinion of Mrs. Shirin Ebadi about your piece!!!!!!
Posted by: mb | October 20, 2009 at 09:35 PM