Blog 9B_Week6_ Critical Concepts Dictionary by Alex Elliot

Noam Chomsky theorized that the media is a means on control; particularly a system of control that benefits the elite of society by controlling the lower socioeconomic classes. He states in his theory that about eighty percent the population follows orders as part of their job description, and that the media is a means of controlling people or issuing “orders” for the masses to follow. An example of this is the east timor genocide, the media didn't cover the event and censored information about the genocide, the American people knowing nothing to little didn't protest, vote politicians out of office, or boy cot any thing and in a sense the lack of coverage manufactured a passive consent by the American people. An other example of Noam Chomsky's theory would be media coverage in a presidential election; the candidates being covered by the media are portrayed in a particular way, according to bias of the reporting broadcast company, and though a series of adds and publicity stunts the politician creates the consent form the general public needed to govern over them.
The main point that you should take away is that broadcast media always serves the interest of someone and that the system is a bias means of controlling people by selling ideas or limiting information. When viewing broadcast media one should always ask who does this serve, and what is the intended effect, as well as the reason for airing the broadcast.