I previously wrote about this exact topic in another class taught by the wonderful Deidre, so I am going to take this opportunity to expand on my thoughts from a few months ago. Since that original introduction to the consolidation of media ownership my perspective on the media as a whole, and also where I may potentially feel comfortable working as a journalist in the future, has changed a lot. Before I knew better, I grew up with the assumption that cable news was all lies and fluff, and that people who watch cable news are self-proclaimed “sheeple” who either know they are digesting substanceless media or are too ignorant to realize.
As I grew through learning, it began to become more apparent that, as with everything, it is much more complex than that, and there are deeper systemic issues behind why we have ended up in the state we are today with media. There is a tidal wave of varying and often contrasting information being presented on a carefully crafted platter meant to appeal to specific groups within the sea of diversity. While these messages come across differently depending on who they cater to, and are at times actually promoting different ideas, oftentimes the message is subliminally promoting the same end-all goal in different ways for easier digestion depending on your beliefs, political party, demographic, race, ethnicity, etc.
“If an individual is not taught to be aware of the underlying factors that come into play with media and are not adept in media literacy there is a great concern that their minds will be toyed with, without them even knowing,” I said in my last post. These “underlying factors” I mentioned are the narratives being pushed by state and national agencies, as well as a myriad of industries, for their benefit. But that is masked by reasoning that is said to benefit the people or nature or whatever they can spin. I sound much more radical here than I did before, I suppose, but the fact is it’s the truth. A fact-checkable truth that can be proven if one is only willing to sort through endless documents and reports and take apart the rhetoric being used, which “they” know, most people won’t do.
To be honest I don’t even know what to do in terms of the issues surrounding media ownership. When I take a good long hard look at the system the conclusion that I come to every single mind is that it has to be entirely rewritten. The issue with that is that there are so many different opinions and ideas I don’t know how any consensus would be made. It almost seems like humans are not yet evolved enough to tackle such a question or such a task. There has been so much harm that has been enacted in so many different ways I feel super defeated when I think about it. Even the people we think are fighting for the right thing like conservationists have done things like ignore Indigenous knowledge and rights. Left-wing politicians mask consumerist and monetarily based motives under the guise of environmental saviorism. Right-wing politicians adopt rhetoric that makes their argument sound more modern and environmentally friendly.
“When Mother Nature blesses us with rain, we need to save the water, instead of dumping it into the ocean,” Assemblymember Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) wrote in a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
I start getting lost in a sea of contrasting opinions and narratives being pushed with such powerful and aggressive rhetoric, that to discern if it’s genuine, would take more time than I have to trace the narrative back to its origin and uncover the money trail. When it comes to media, it is just as challenging. At the very least, it is a start to “find out who owns your local stations and bear that and mind when you watch,” John Oliver said.
Everything is always so heavy when you are trying to make a difference because the world is intense. It’s good to know information AND it is incredibly taxing and exhausting to constantly be fighting the good fight for ethical reporting that feels like you are running blindly through an active minefield. I appreciate Carlos Holguin’s perspective about how he learned from journalist Dave Silverbrand, that news doesn’t have to be a big story every time. The moments in between are just as important and are also where I’d argue peace is found.
https://credibilitycoalition.org/credcatalog/project/media-ownership-monitor/
https://www.californiasalmon.org
Ruby Cayenne 
Hey Ruby,
Good job analysizing this week’s material. I like how you say that you sound more radical here than you did before. The true test of a well informed journalist is in how willing they are to change the status quo and not lean into tradition. Traditional journalism is a tool of the ruling class. Stay radical!
Oden
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Man’s inhumanity toward man can never be underestimated. I’ve spent most of my life feeling way too empathetic, and confused to the contrary actions of so many humans to support the higher ground when facing issues of equality or justice. The focus is often on harm reduction (in all its forms) instead of focusing on sustainable, perhaps radical, alternative solutions focused on healing and efficiency. As you acutely stated, it really doesn’t matter which side of the fence you are sitting on – left or right, often the narrative is tied to the money trail.
I would encourage you to continue to pursue your passion for truth-finding and story-telling. The two combined are worthy allies and one person can make a difference. You’re an excellent writer!
I wrote your last line down as a wonderful, thoughtful reminder: “The moments in between are just as important and are also where I’d argue peace is found. “
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I feel defeated as well. “Left-wing politicians mask consumerist and monetarily based motives under the guise of environmental saviorism. Right-wing politicians adopt rhetoric that makes their argument sound more modern and environmentally friendly.” I swore off all news a good 5 years before returning to school last year. I didn’t even listen to NPR anymore. I didn’t know who to trust and completely shut down. I think you are right when you say it all needs to be rewritten but humans are not evolved enough to do so. Finding peace and “stopping to smell the roses” in those small stories is all I am looking for these days.
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Hey Ruby,
I also took away the same view that it doesn’t matter how big of a difference you are making just as long as you are making a positive difference in someone’s life. You mentioned the zoom interview with Carlos in your post and mentioned “that news doesn’t have to be a big story every time. The moments in between are just as important”. I feel like we can’t put that pressure on ourselves that we have to make a big difference in journalism and if we can’t we shouldn’t try at all. Like you said “it is incredibly taxing and exhausting to constantly be fighting the good fight for ethical reporting”. We have to make small changes in order for the big ones to come, its like a ripple effect.
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