Has the internet rendered the propaganda model obsolete?

           

Alan David

6th hour media study's 

Industrialization in the United States started a whirlwind of advances in our economy and in turn, our technologies. Along with these advances came new and improved ways to get the latest news, from newspapers to the daily newscast and now, through the internet. Though the creation of the internet has crippled other forms of news and media, keeping up with the times online is just one way we are evolving and big corporations refuse to fall behind.

            In the past, newspaper, magazines, and television were created and allowed the public to get their news as soon as possible. Nowadays, breaking news hits the internet and the information is available worldwide in just minutes. Though Chomsky’s propaganda model is strictly based on older forms of media, his model still applies to the internet. Bias in the news is controlled by corporations’ need to control their image and though this is evident in newspapers and television newscast, this is also shown on the web.

            Many websites that provide news to the public are owned by the same corporations who own other media outlets, such as television networks, therefore, the companies that have control over what those news stations release, also have control over their websites. Another part of Chomsky’s model is centered around the funding these news networks receive from the corporations. Because they receive such significant amounts of funding, they also advertise for them on their websites, as well as do other smaller corporations only adding to the networks obligation to keep good relations with their contributors.

            Some might say that because the internet is vast that lesser known networks can release information that would be unfavorable to large corporations, thus eliminating Chomsky’s model. Though this is true to an extent, these websites still need funds to remain functional, and if a company offered them a large check, it would be hard for a developing website to turn it down. Also, because they have to receive funding from someone, it is likely that companies who feed smaller websites are also under the dictation of big businesses trying to protect their own interest who can then manipulate the money as they please. Furthermore, because websites trying to release news that would have a negative effect on the image of some larger businesses, because they are lesser known, they would be considered less credible and any business could claim they are inaccurate.

            The internet has brought news to us in ways we never imagined possible, and faster than we

 could have ever imagined. Though it may seem like the internet has made the propaganda model 


obsolete, it is evident that big business is still a large player in the news even online. Some websites 


may attempt to reveal unfavorable information about large corporations, but the amount of 


control they yield is small in comparison and would not take much for any business angered by 


their actions, to shut them down.