Media Influence Demoralizes Culture

In response to a letter from a friend who critiques Michael Medved's evaluation of media bias. Michael's column is linked in the title of this post.

The basic assertion is that Michael is wrong and that news purveyors are only giving news consumers what they want.

I disagree...

We all understand that news agencies and corporations need to make money and are in competition for viewer/readership.

If you want to say that consumers drive news I have no problem with that as long as you can define news effectively for me and as long as you consider the various factors that affect their choices.

If you define news the way I would, you would have to give it the value of neutrality. News, like ‘data’, is anemic. It only derives value based on context. It is animated and made dynamic by the purveyor’s rhetoric and the consumer’s pre-existing disposition.

The persuasion of rhetoric can be so subtle in news it seems even you have fallen prey. A glowing adjective to describe the ‘committed’ relationship of a gay couple here (though contrary to statistical analysis), a repugnant adjective describing the ‘debacle’ of a war there; this dogma dropped often enough in the casual parlance of newspeak is enough to convince those out of touch with decorum that they have accepted these as truths, or at least ought to.

It is in this way that Old Media, which includes Hollywood and its influence, defines culture. It is through consistent redefinition of liberal culture that the consumer, without alternatives, acquiesces, his old morals replaced is obliged to accept the new.

Like it or not, the bias exists and exists for ‘progressive’ thought and against conservative thought.

Consumers drive the news only with respect to acceptability (see previously - ‘pre-existing disposition’), and cultural acceptability is driven by media if you partake and lack principled perspective, and personal morality and historical context if you do not.

The introduction of greater and greater levels of negativity and pessimism (not to mention perversity, licentiousness and a prevalent disrespect for refinement) degrades democratic society through news outlets and television programming in general.

It should be apparent that it is the views of the ‘newsmen’ that drive cultural positions to the extent that the culture is unprepared or unwilling to recognize or reason an alternative.

I can state a myriad of examples where this is the case, but the most obvious is the Iraq war. According to the media, consistently and verifiably pacifist, this war is a failed policy. But would the public view it as such if the reporting were not so defeatist, or perhaps were even sometimes optimistic?

Briefly, I think you underestimate its influence. If ‘news’ were to reject the current trend of vulgarity and champion the ideas that make society more principled, refined and virtuous, the consumer would accept them wholeheartedly.

Was it Public Education?

[excerted from an email conversation with a High School friend]


I too was proud then of my Reagan vote and even more so now.

I'm sorry for the questions, but finding someone who actually understands and cares about the state of the culture and affairs of the country, especially in this time where I believe so much is at stake, is a treasure. So many don't realize that when they are not engaged, they allow the most radical in society to determine the course of national ethos. Alarmingly, those are they who loath American institutions and moral culture.

My father was fairly ambivalent with regard to politics. I didn't really pick much of it up from him, other than his value for self preservation.

Looking back I think just living in a family where the mother and father are committed and loving parents and where personal responsibility plays a big part, generally gives one good perspective.

I really wanted to find out if you would give some credit to your education in the public school system.

I figured since we went to most of the same schools we would have the same opinion. Mine is not a good one. I think there are lots of problems there. We no longer teach values, morality, preservation and esteem for democratic principles. Shouldn't we have known who Edmund Burke was by 6th or 7th grade? What about key Supreme Court decisions that impacted the country in profound ways? I don't even remember studying the Constitution that completely... ever. Am I mistaken?

I've learned so much more on my own. I cannot say enough for books, the internet, and talk radio. I have a television, matter of fact I have three, but do you think they're ever on? Its like a sewer pipe. Every image attempting to turn my son into a 'playa', my girls into Paris Hilton, and my wife and I into prescription drug addicts.

We've let the 60's radical culture do so much damage to this country. Drugs, sex, Rock-n-Roll!!!

I suppose, at the risk of offending you, it has to be the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has taught me the most. It has been the catalyst for the kinds of changes I've made in my life that have led to the clarity with which I see the designs of evil among men. Two forces exist and are in constant opposition to each other in all things. When one makes scriptures a companion, and sincerely understands that man has poured centuries of civilization, history of thought, and divine translation into these books, one must come to the same conclusions about our temporal existence.

God wanted all of us to return to live with him again, but made men free to decide their fate. He offered them a way to return to him that would exalt them, but it required self restraint, integrity, morality and personal accountability. Satan had a plan too. He would guarantee that all souls returned, but through deceit, coercion and intimidation.

Apply this to the opposite forms of government, democracy and communism (tyranny... despotism), and you begin to see the distinction I am making.

The danger is that Americans will not endeavor to remain free by staying informed and educated, but will slowly acquiesce to subtly greater and greater levels of constraint and captivity. It is an historical cycle.

When education fails to teach this principle, or even denies its transcendent quality in an effort not to offend, then it becomes worthless.

I am sorry for going on and on, but I'm just so fired up about the elections coming up and all. We stand to lose a lot.

I appreciate your complement. I simply express my feelings and try to look deeply for the right words. When you know that words have meaning and can elicit certain responses and feelings, it should be important for you to use them effectively.

Rhetoric persuades and I wish to be persuasive.

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.
- James Madison