The Republican Noise Machine : Right-Wing Media and How It Corrupts Democracy

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating history/analysis of the right-wing and the media
Review: The Republican Noise Machine is an exhaustive, although occasionally ponderous study of forty years of conservative consolidation of influence and control over the public media. Brock's ambitious and detailed work runs along dual paths: It is, on the one hand, a fascinating history of nearly a half century's efforts by a dizzying spectrum of conservative groups and individuals to influence and be the media. Juxtaposed with the historical context, he provides analysis of current right-wing influence on the media and the dangers it poses to a functional democracy. With nearly 13 pages of endnotes, there is plenty of reference material for the interested reader to check his facts and dig deeper. The level of detail is almost excruciating at points, particularly in the middle third of the book and makes for a bit of a slog. All in all, I found it to be worth the effort.

One of the most interesting sections of the book for me was a very short section (pp 280-282) about a study of the "Rush Limbaugh phenomenon" (Rushed to Judgement by David Barker). It definitely rang true with respect to some friends and family who are dedicated Rush listeners.

On the negative side, Brock does succumb to casting too broad a net from time to time when he paints even thoughtful, responsible journalists who take conservative positions in a negative light. This is much more the exception than the rule however, and doesn't meaningfully undermine his fundamental thesis.

A complementary and much less rigorous book for interested readers is All the President's Spin: George W. Bush, the Media, and the Truth by Ben Fritz, et al.

While you may disagree with Brock's analysis and conclusions, you can draw your own conclusions based upon the well documented and verifiable facts. The ability to do so, in my humble opinion, is the whole point.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: There is nothing more scary than the new right and their moral majority. The radical right is a threat to our democracy true evil indeed. David Brock does an excellent job in bringing the harbringers of evil Hannity, Fox News, OReily, Rupert Murdoch, Jerry Faulwell,Limbaugh, Ann Coulter etc to our attention.

Rating:
Summary: A BOOK THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN
Review: This is a book that should have been written a few years ago. It appears the author did his homework on this one and has pointed out problems that do exsist and that all of us should be aware, if we are not already. I must admit that I did not agree fully with all of the author's comments and assertions, but do feel he pointed out some terrible flaws in our society presently taking place. Works from the left, such as this one, must of course be ballanced with works from the other side. The one overall important weakness in this particular work, I felt, was that the author was as guilty of one sided reporting as much as those he is pointing the finger at. On the other hand, I have often felt that the religious right along with Mr. Limbaugh and his ilk are doing our country far more harm than good. The author well points this out. This book should be read by both conservative and liberal and we all should give some deep thought as to what Mr. Brock is trying to tell us. All in all, recommend highly.

Rating:
Summary: It's all how you phrase the question .....
Review: This is an exhaustive documentation of how the right wing came to power, starting out with their frustrations during the Nixon years. Some of the players were extremists during the rise of Goldwater, and continued in their goal to make a unified right wing agenda as mainstream. There is an extensive list of the major players, both personal and corporate and how they work in unison to provide a single message. A drawback is that clearly some of the major players were racists and bigots at one time, but there remains to be seen if they continue with their extremist agenda, or have pulled in their horns, so to speak. There is a good layout of how the right wing set about to make the myth of a liberal media into a fact, regardless of the facts. A bottom line to be taken is that it is very important in how one phrases a question, and the comparison group being used. A poll on attitudes on abortion would come out quite different if Priests were used as a reference point. So it is in the media, if hard core conservatives were used as the measure against to compare the information in the newscasts. The issue of bias would come out very different. He also brings out that the liberal and progressive think tanks are more diverse, and more interested in seeking facts and data rather than bringing forth a monolithic point of view. On the other hand, the conservative think tanks are more focused on PR, and maintaining a unified point of view, regardless of the facts. And, with right wing think tanks feeding off each other, it becomes clear how opinion came be accepted as fact. Repeat the same thing through enough voices, and quote 'authorities' without disclosing their conflicts of interest and people will begin to assume what started out as opinion is now a fact. Add into this a corporate point of view or agenda, and opinions quickly get dessiminated through multiple voices, and with a concentation of media in the hands of a few, many people only get this one sided view. While it is clear that this concentration is a threat to democracy, the book clearly shows how masterfully the right wing has manipulated opinions and bias to showcase as facts. If one has a platform in which to espouse one's viewpoint, then scholarly discourse and investigations are not important. And as he had shown throughout the background of the major players and think tanks of the right, scholarly discourse is not a requirement and indeed often plays no role. If you get the connections and the money, that is all that is important. If you can grab power, but still fool people into thinking you are the underdog, it is brilliant. This is a very scary book, but unfortunately I feel it is preaching to the choir. This will not get much play in the right wing media but the right wing media will demand 'equal time' to rebut.
If one grew up listening to Walter Cronkite, one would not be able to ascertain his leanings. Only after he left broadcasting and wrote some opinion pieces did you get any idea of where his passions or heart on issues was. There is a great loss to the media of the pioneers who reported on the news, not just read from the teleprompter. It seems now it is all about style and ratings, and we are all the poorer for it. This book demands that people speak out, or we will all be the poorer for it, and some much worse. A true democracy requires informed decisions, and as this book points out, the ability to make informed decisions by many in this country is lost due to media concentation and a drumbeat of right wing propaganda purporting to be facts.