Because You Never Asked

(2/05)

     The "Military-Industrial-Media" complex is a term I first used in the long essay "September 11^th". The significance of the "media" point of this tri-pod --- which is my own addition to the more familiar phrase the "Military-Industrial" complex --- continues to grow in stature. The more one delves into the mechanics of how America works, the more one realizes the mega-essential role media plays in ramming this societal model hard up our collective butts.

     The "News".

     What exactly is the "news"? In theory, the press corps reacts to events in the world and gives us, the citizenry, an opportunity to see and ponder such happenings. But a more detailed, intellectually scrutinized look at the "news" yields a far different "modus operandi" for our mainstream sources of information. Instead of reacting to the external factors around them, more often than not our news industry creates the "news" for us. They don't react to us; we react to them.

     On a scale of 1 to 4, 1being the kind of news seen the least and 4 being the kind of news seen the most on corporate, Big Media news, I would categorize news industry content as follows: 1) ideological real news. 2) non-ideological real news. 3) non-ideological news used to idiotize or to provide a smokescreen. 4) "phony news".

1

     In explaining the first category, it must be said that anything ideological put forth by Big Media print or electronic news sources will conform to their particular global economy interests. They will always deliver --- with some small degree of theatrical dissent --- the neo-liberal societal version of what is good for us, because that is where their meat is sliced. This means that when they deliver ideology it is never real news. This is where the bulk of our "phony news" comes from and it is what we most see from Big Media information sources. More later.

     This means that when something ideological pops up on the radar screen that is not in harmony with Big Media interests, it is corralled, cordoned off, and put on the edge of their version of reality, where it can do no harm. Such ideological real news stories as the massive anti-war and anti-globalization demonstrations, the unprecedented anti-Republican massings during their convention in New York City, etc., fall into this category. One comparing the Seattle mayhem of 1999, where the surprise and shock value of these original anti-globalization demonstrations could not be ignored, with the coverage of such events today, clearly sees how such real news has been relegated to non-news status. (See essay, "The Seattle Riots of '99"). Maybe a little C-Span . that's it.

     Another recent example of ideological real news that didn't get to bat was the election irregularities in Ohio. I will further discuss all these ideological real news stories by juxtaposing them against the other categories of news coverage.

     Before leaving category 1, some mention of the Iraqi war cannot be avoided. Almost all news about this tragic military mayhem falls within the realm of "phony news". All is contrived; all is controlled. The "news" stories we see dealing with our troops --- their attitudes, their morale, etc. --- most exemplify this "phony news" approach to reporting this war. By now, there must be a substantial segment of our soldiers who are fed up with it all, wondering what in the heck they are doing half way around the world "liberating" a nation that is fighting so fiercely against them. There would be a great deal of category 1 real news in the true attitudes of our soldiers, but virtually none of it is reported. The troops and their families we do see on Big Media news always say the right things: we've a job to do, it's worth it, it's difficult, blah, blah. They are a part of the baby gruel of "phony news" the American public --- bibs in place, sitting in their high chairs --- is force fed everyday. (For more, see essay "Letter to a Dead Soldier's Mother")

2

     The simplest category to discuss and define is "non-ideological real news". At times a staggering event punctuates history that has little to do with the geo-politics of self-serving greed and power. It is real news that neither offends nor benefits anyone's idea of how the world should be. A story like the recent Tsunami disaster in S.E. Asia falls into this category. Although it cannot be considered completely free of "phony news" vaudeville --- the "generosity" aspects of it all, etc. --- it is about as angst free as news presentation gets. It is news in its purest sense.

     An event like 9/11, in spite of its sexiness and importance in history, cannot be put in this category. It is just way too ideological in nature and will be spun to fit the needs of whoever's news we are listening to. It quickly becomes "phony news".

3

     Non-ideological news used as a smokescreen or "idiotizing" mechanism is quite prevalent on Big Media news. This kind of news generally has good box office qualities and Big Media, like any business enterprise, is concerned more with the bottom line than in enlightening anyone. The "idiotizing" of the masses has always been an essential tool for the "powers to be", not just in America, but in all socio-political entities throughout history. In today's hyper-connected global economy, where the nation-state is losing protagonism to the more hegemonous private business interests controlling the world's economy, it is the ever more consolidated, monopolistic voice of private sources of news and programming that are in charge of the "dumbing down" of their "subjects". By constantly keeping the category 3 type of story in the forefront, the "big players" (and by this I don't just mean media interests, but all the relevant protagonists in the "Military-Industrial-Media" complex) keep the "lumpen" occupied in trivial things. It keeps them from dwelling on the things that truly affect their lives: who and how people are making money; who really runs their government; where their tax dollars go; what really drives the decisions made by their leaders; how people get to positions of power; etc.

     Such stories as O.J., Michael Jackson, the shenanigans of British royalty and other assorted pop star-celebrity hi-jinks, roll off the Big Media production line with the regularity of a new model Nike shoe. At times, a story of this nature can be specifically used not just as an "idiotizing" mechanism, but as a smokescreen to obliterate an unsavory ideological real news story (category 1). The Lacy Peterson murder case just about took over Big Media news for that few week time frame when the legitimacy of the Ohio presidential vote was most being challenged. In spite of the fact that there was extremely credible, documented evidence putting the election fandango in doubt . Lacy Peterson, Lacy Peterson, Lacy Peterson! Although the powers to be and their media would probably favor a Bush presidency, more essential to them is the supposed integrity of the election burlesque they control. This cannot be put in doubt. This relegated the Ohio vote to the cheap seats of C-Span, the Internet and talk radio, while Lacy Peterson occupied the luxury boxes of Big Media television diffusion. Further adding to the incrimination of Big Media news manipulation is the fact that election tampering is not without its box office qualities. It is a sexy topic.

     Too sexy.

4

     "Phony news" is the backbone of information as defined by Big Media. When I say "phony news" I don't necessarily mean that it's a lie. The essence of phony news is its manufactured, theatrical qualities. Phony news has a bloodline closer to burlesque or vaudeville than to real information. It is very light on anything necessary for the enlightenment of the citizenry, which is why Big Media finds it so attractive. It would be unfair to say that this kind of news should not be news at all. It has its place in the pantheon of societal interest, but its worth and prevalence is grossly exaggerated by Big Media. Its primary purpose is to sell the socio-political product put forth by the "Military-Industrial-Media" complex.

     Such "important" news stories as the political conventions, confirmation hearings, anything having to do with the Pope, congressional hearings, G-8 economic meetings, the formal pageantry of royalty (royalty can swing between categories 3 and 4), presidential inaugurations, summit meetings, etc., make up this kind of news. What all these events have in common is massive amounts of coverage --- usually all day, non-stop, and quite frequently multi-day in longevity --- coupled with very little amounts of useful information or real news. They are generally exercises in rubber-stamping predictability lacking both a surprise element and anything that could further educate a citizen seeking the truth. There are lots for a viewer to be impressed by in these theatrical productions, but little one can take away from them.

     To further explain how Big Media, in representation of the interests of the "Military-Industrial-Media" complex, favors this kind of news, let's compare their coverage of the 2004 Republican convention to their coverage of the demonstrations outside the convention's arena.

     The Republicans decided to take the public relations stunt known as a political convention into the nest of the enemy by coming to New York City. With Big Media helping to protect their interests, it was a move they knew they could make. They knew they'd be safe inside fortress Madison Square Garden, and they knew the cameras of Big Media would be focused almost exclusively on them. Hour after hour, day after day, all day, all week, the "phony news" of a well-choreographed political convention was sent out to America. But where is the news here? Was there anything to be decided? Was there anything to be put forth that we already didn't know? Was there any kind of debate or conflict, anything to be resolved?

     This is not to say that an event of this nature should not be considered news. Certainly, there are aspects of it the public should have the opportunity to see. The candidates and their speeches? Sure, we want to see them and get an idea as to who and what they are. A general, daily briefing as to what might be happening at the convention? Sure, it's a legitimate event. But to completely eclipse all other news for almost a week can only be considered a public relations stunt beyond objective information provision. It is more "agenda" than news.

     Big Media's role in perpetrating this agenda is further revealed by its comparatively stingy coverage of what was happening outside fortress Madison Square Garden. New York was ready and mobilized to show the invading enemy just how they felt. The real news of the Republican convention was out on the streets of Manhattan, where extraordinary crowds of protesters --- perhaps up to a million strong! --- showed their massive displeasure for the policies of Bush's government. Anytime some kind of popular will manifests itself so gigantically, that is NEWS. But the purveyors of America's "Military-Industrial-Media" complex have learned their lessons well from the Vietnam experience. America got much more Arnold than any of the real ideological news overflowing the streets of New York.

     In a similar manner, the unprecedented anti-Iraqi war demonstrations, both at home and abroad, were grossly underplayed by American Big Media. Such incredible concentrations of protest would have been much bigger news 40 years ago, when media was much less consolidated, much more multi-faceted and diverse. But now, when the fix is in, the fix is in.

     But phony news is not just a matter of good theater. Lies and distortion can also be fitted comfortably under this umbrella. The Iraqi, Afghan and Palestinian elections are a perfect example of this. There may have been some minimal trace of a democratic electoral process in all these stage productions, but American Big Media acted with all the coordination and timing of an offensive football line in proclaiming the magnificence of the process. The fix was in . and when the fix is in, the fix is in.