Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
The Political Economy of the Mass Media
Manufacturing Consent by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky exposes how mass media in democracies serve propaganda to further the interests of corporate elites, and suppress dissent and inconvenient facts.
The media have many roles; it is the media’s job to inform us, entertain us and to amuse us. But the mass media have an additional vital task: the promotion of shared social values and codes of behavior. The government and ruling institutions need an outlet to ‘educate’ the general population with their ideals, and the mass media fulfill this role.
As society is massively unequal in terms of wealth and power, the media’s defense of the status quo is actually a defense of the interests of the dominant elite, ensuring that their politically and economically powerful positions are maintained. The media must therefore slant their coverage to produce stories that support the ruling political and economic classes: a tiny community of people who sit at the top of society.
In their role of defending the social hierarchies, the media effectively create propaganda backing the ruling classes.
The mass media often proudly proclaim that they produce objective and trustworthy coverage whilst holding the powerful to account; the coverage of the Vietnam War is often used as an example. In reality, the media have no interest in defending the public interest against the wealthy and powerful. Instead, they protect the rights and privileges of the ruling elites by reporting events through a narrow, biased lens. This ensures that audiences accept their position in the unequal and unfair structure of society.
The media play a vital role in indoctrinating people to accept an unequal society.
Manufacturing Consent (1988) takes a critical view of the mass media to ask why only a narrow range of opinions are favored whilst others are suppressed or ignored.
It formulates a propaganda model which shows how alternative and independent information is filtered out by various financial and political factors allowing the news agenda to be dominated by those working on behalf of the wealthy and powerful. Far from being a free press, the media in fact maintain our unequal and unfair society.
Manufacturing Consent (1988) is an eye-opening book that explores the mechanisms behind media manipulation and the ways in which governments and corporations control the dissemination of information. Here's what sets this book apart:
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get startedBlink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
What is the main message of Manufacturing Consent?
The main message of Manufacturing Consent explores how mass media shapes public opinion and perpetuates power imbalances.
How long does it take to read Manufacturing Consent?
The reading time for Manufacturing Consent varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Manufacturing Consent a good book? Is it worth reading?
Manufacturing Consent is a thought-provoking book worth reading. It sheds light on the influence of media and encourages critical thinking.
Who is the author of Manufacturing Consent?
Manufacturing Consent is written by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky.