Irma's essay : Formula of credibility based on Noam Chomsky
23-11-2016 Hi Steve, I think I've got the main structure, although I'm still working on it at this moment until 14 o'clock today.I want to base my arguments more on the theory instead of the interviews/documentary. It's all very interesting and I'm enjoying the research very much! Steve says: OK I will come back to this on Thursday and give my feedback then.]]
Formula of credibility based on Noam Chomsky
Intro
In this essay, I would like to research how communication strategies could be used to increase the credibility of the information that is being presented. Hereby I would like to summarize and analyze a formula based the propaganda theory of Noam Chomsky. This essay is part of my self-directed research, I aim to compare communication strategies within different fields. In my work, I strive to use this knowledge to play with the credibility of information I present.
Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky is known as a leading philosopher, linguist, and anti-war activist. He is very critical of media coverage of politics and state power, as a citizen of the U.S. they are often involved in his examples, although he, during his lectures abroad, points out there are many similarities all ofter the world. As an intellectual, he sees his role to educate people on a broad scale. Therefore you can find him often on a stage giving lectures or interviews, his goal is to make people aware of how the media filters the news, who plays ar role in this system and what is their purpose. Chomsky presents several examples in his book The Manufacturing of Consent, a striking point in his researched was how frequently the five major printed media (Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, and Time) are using the word "genocide" to describe victimization in five examples.
Chomsky makes a clear substantiated conclusion on how the media covered during the Indonesian mistreatment of the East Timorese. This gives te reader a relevant insight of the power that journalist have when covering a story.
In the documentary 'Manufacturing Consent' based on Chomsky's book, made in 1992 by Mark Achbar and Peter Wintonick, they asked Karl E. Meyer, Editorial Writer at the New York Times to respond to Chomsky comments. He says that the process of making a selection are a much more mysterious process that is suggested in Chomsky's research. He gives them a saying about legislation.
I consider this as a missed chance to give an insight of your profession. He could have taken the chance to explain his methods and, I assume in his own perception, good intentions to give the public a worthy selection of the news. Instead he said, you don't want to know how we do it, just trust us. This makes him suspicious and makes Chomsky's point stronger.
The Propaganda Model
Together with Edward S. Herman, Chomsky developed The Propaganda Model that traces the routes by which money and power are able to filter out the news that fit's on the print, influence the publics opinion, and allow the government and dominant private interests to get their messages across . The essential ingredients of their propaganda model are based on the following points, I like to express what I consider the unwritten rule.
Ownership : 'Keep the boss happy and rich.'
Who owns the platform that brings the news is very relevant. For them, this "company" needs to create a profit.
Advertising : 'Don't offend the "persons" that put's the food on the table.'The main advertisers, who cover the cost of the media platform, are sponsoring this specific platform because they aim for a similar target audience. Stories that conflict with the "buying mood" of this audience is not of any use to the advertiser's interests of selling his product.
Sourcing : 'Don't be too critical about your main sources, scratch his back ones every while and he will throw you a bone.'
Flak: 'Always create a space for negative responses to a media statement, treat other opinions with respect, therefore you come across as an open-minded platform.' (note Irma: I'm doubting if this is a good summarize)
Anti-communism: ........................
In a radio interview by David Banamian, Manufacturing Consent - Noam Chomsky And The Media-The Companion Book To The Award-Winning Film Pages 52 (1994) Chomsky explains that there are two targets for propaganda:
20% is the so-called political class. They usually participate in social life, either as managers, or cultural managers like teachers and writers. They're supposed to vote and play some role in the way economic and political and cultural life goes on.
80% follows orders and do not think and they're the ones who usually pay the costs.
Against Chomsky
There are often other intellectuals against the theories of Chomsky, Note Irma: Quote two intellectuals (from the documentary) who think Chomsky is wrong and creates a conspiracy theory .
Chomsky's solution
Chomsky advises people to develop an independent mind, you can not trust only one source of information. In the media, a journalist could think he is doing a great job informing the public, but he could also, subconsciously or not, filter the information. It seems logical to not trust just one source, if you can't trust a journalist, you have to be a journalist yourself and use your surroundings to discuss different points of view. Fair enough, but this is where the problem is. People don't want to spend time on checking everything, this was the responsibility of the journalist. Even if the journalist wants to take this job and starts his own newspaper, let's say the public takes the information seriously, he needs to earn a living to this job in a proper way and then we are back in the propaganda model. I think it's wonderful how Chomsky dedicate his life to make the public aware, he can't know the whole truth, but I'm very thankful he tries and takes his role as an intellectual serious by informing the "normal" men. The role of an artist within this subject is different, I think it's interesting to create a discussion, maybe chaos or irritation that could raise questions of propaganda. Maybe Mr. Chomsky can give them some answers although they have to keep checking every source for themselves.
Bibliography
- MANUFACTURING CONSENT The Political Economy of the Mass Media by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky (1988)
- Manufacturing Consent - Noam Chomsky And The Media-The Companion Book To The Award-Winning Film by Peter Wintonick and Mark Achbar (1994)
IRMA'S VIEW/CONCLUSION ON CHOMSKY
Notes: Although journalist might have good intentions, you could say there is a general loyal vibe at the office, if this is not the case why would the owners of the platform hire them?
If the unspoken rules of the journalist would hang above his desk, could he still do the job?
Chomsky's often refers to his research, his facts, but he also claims that a person should not take his word. We should do our own research and compare different resources. Fair enough, but this is where the problem is. People don't want to spend time on checking everything, this was the responsibility of the journalist.