The Media is Slacking: It's Hot.

As McChesney states, one of journalism’s main duties is to be the “watchdog” of the powerful and those who want to become powerful. I would have to say that journalism at this time is failing its duty. McChesney states that “...the eight or nine largest media firms now rank among the two or three largest corporations in the world” (McChesney 21). Therefore, those who are powerful are in fact the media and the journalists who contribute to its success. Media outlets are some of the most powerful corporations in the United States. There are multiple stations on satellite television spouting news for CNN or MSNBC, all of which have elongated commercial segments to earn money from advertisers and segments “brought to you by..” Entertainment media has even more to gain from hungry consumers. With entertainment magazines, “rag mags”, and television shows reporting on gossip in the entertainment industry, the media that report on entertainment stand to gain quite a profit.

With money comes power, and with the power the entertainment media has it can make almost anything into an entertainment money maker. For instance, Paris Hilton. What does she do? Does she have a job? Does she really need to create a 12-episode reality show to find a new best friend? No. However, because her family name is such a money maker, Paris is now in every magazine shown eating in a cafe with her gaggle of clone friends. Fascinating.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sehDaPB5Hqw (Embedding was disabled on this video)



The media has fallen down on its duty to watch over the powerful because the media itself has grown into such a powerful entity. It wouldn’t put limitations on those who make it the most money.

(FYI: I wouldn't waste your time watching these videos. They are literally videos of Paris Hilton eating for three minutes, walking into a club, and a three minute news segment from Australia of her arriving to the airport to shop. The description under her name in the 15 second interview with the news crew says simply 'socialite.' I posted these videos because I was amazed and honestly felt a little sad for the people that actually took the time to video tape and post this nobody.)