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[MUTANT GEN-X CYNICISM SUPER POWERS ACTIVATE]
Them's the nuts - Mass Media is a bottom line corporation with the stated goal of selling papers, gaining viewers, getting hits, etc. Why do they report what they report? I think the equation looks something like this:
"President Gets BJ in Oval Office" = more papers sold
"A roundtable discussion of the proposed Universal Healthcare program" = less papers sold
"US Troops Storm Baghdad, People cheer in streets" = more viewers
"How is Augustine's 'Just Warfare' theory understood by President Bush as supporting preemptive action?"= fewer viewers
"Those communist whores should be shipped to France! We'll never play their records again" = more redneck listeners
"Following in the proud, open minded traditions of Country Music, here's the latest from The Dixie Chicks" = fewer redneck listeners
CNN/NY Times/Slate = high numbers of like-minded viewers.
FOX/Washington Post/Drudge = high numbers of opposing like-minded viewers.
To assume that there is anything more significant than bottom line economics is to give too much credit to the beast.
[/MUTANT GEN-X CYCNICISM POWERS DE-ACTIVATE]
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