The authors of Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass media, Edward S Herman and Noam Chomsky, wrote the book in 1988. Using the propaganda model of communication, it makes the case that the American mass media “are effective and powerful ideological institutions that carry out a system-supportive propaganda function, by reliance on market forces, internalized assumptions, and self-censorship, adn without overt coercion.”. The phrase “the manufacture of consent” as used by Walter Lippmann in Public Opinion (1922) is the source of the title, which alludes to the consent of the governed. The Orwell Award for “outstanding contributions to the critical analysis of public discourse” was given to Manufacturing Consent in 1989.
Morden mass media has been manipulated by powerful individuals and institutions, attempting to control discourse and perpetuate their power. In 2021, Mars, Hershey, and Nestle faced as lawsuit for sourcing their chocolate from child slavery-ridden cacao plantations. The company changed the Green M&M’s design, sparking protests from both liberal and conservative outlets. Some argued Mars was repressing the mascot’s sexuality, while others criticized the corporate “wokeism” and the Tucker Carlson segment.
The increasing centralization of mainstream media in the US, owned by six megacorporations, creates a conflict of interest that limits the scope of discussion. Outlets and studios owned by these companies are unlikely to publish material critical of capitalism or defend the neoliberal world order that enriches the US and its wealthy western allies. This conflict of interest is evident in the bipartisan coverage of foreign affairs in the political landscape.
The US has attempted 72 regime changes, meddled in over 80 foreign elections, launched over 251 military interventions since 1991, and currently has over 750 documented military bases in over 80 countries. This lack of coverage raises questions about the state of democracy and the potential for change. The media’s focus on sensational stories, such as the fetishization of chocolate, is depressing and undermines the collective energy that society has to channel towards meaningful change.
Bibliography
Edward S Herman, Noam Chomsky(1988). Manufacturing Consent.
Nathan Metcalf (December 12,2022). M&M’s and manufacturing consent | Bad Business.
