Commentaries

Ben Bagdikian Interview
Interview with media analyst about effect of corporate media ownership, using tobacco issue as example. From PBS Frontline.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/smoke/interviews/bagdikian1.html

Blithe Spirit
Articles by Jim Bowman.
http://blithe-spirit.com/

Bloodbath in the District of Columbia
An essay from UnquietMind.com about the destructiveness of the Washington scandal culture.
http://unquietmind.com/bloodbath.html

Chris's News and Views
Media analysis and criticism from a former TV news anchor, reporter and meteorologist. Also includes links to media research groups and organizations committed to creating a more democratic, citzen-based media environment.
http://members.tripod.com/chris.shumway/

Consent, American Style
Analysis and commentary by Steve Mizrach about manipulation of the public through the media. Based on views of Michael Parenti, Noam Chomsky, and Ben Bagdikian.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Media/Consent_AmerStyle.html

Hold On to Your Phone Bill -- It's Merger Time
Commentary on lack of FCC concern about the effects of consolidation of telephone and broadcasting services on consumer interests and democracy. From Mother Jones.
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/1999/10/fotc6.html

Making Media Democratic
Article that critcizes the effect of commercial corporate media on society, and that calls for reform that brings diversity of ownership and access. By Robert McChesney from The Boston Review.
http://bostonreview.net/BR23.3/mcchesney.html

OpinionJournal - Best of the Web Today
Running commentary about current events. The work of James Taranto and Elizabeth Crowley of the Wall Street Journal editorial page.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/

Tabloids, Talk Radio, and the Future of News
Technology's Impact on Journalism by Annenberg Senior Fellow Ellen Hume
http://www.ellenhume.com/articles/tabloids_contents.html

The Television Thing
This article by Jeffery Scheuer summarizes The Sound Bite Society, a study of television and ideology. (Dissent Summer 1995).
http://www.jscheuer.com/essays/dissent.htm