Re: Cut Cables

> >     unfortunately, not too many 'tech guys' understand the Media biz
> > all too well.  I'll try to put this into concise terms here:

> >     consolidation = 'information richness'--.

> >     in other words, if media is owned by few- then obviously the
> > overall choices are diminished.  The basis of our information then
> > takes on a less diverse character, and typically in order to maintain
> > this situation, the 'illusion of news' needs to be propagated.  So we
> > fill the viewers heads will all sorts of useless topics like Britany
> > Spears, etc. because we have to report *something* [1] and we employ
> > people with nice haircuts and terse voices to give the illusion of
> > importance,  because without some kind of information to fill our
> > heads, we will have the feeling that we are being uninformed, in which
> > case the program has no or an opposite effect.  The last failsafe is
> > to prevent the 'media consumer' from essentially smashing their TV
> > set.

> >    Martin @ FCC has persued a consistent policy of promoting
> > monopolization of the media, often in direct opposition to public
> > protest.  Specifically Martin's treatment of the newspaper medium will
> > have a drastic effect.

> >    For a background in these topics I recommend reading Walter Lippman.

> >    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Lippmann

> >    Also Dan Gillmor is somewhat of a figure in this realm.  He now
> > works at ASU.

> >    http://www.dangillmor.com/