(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“…commercial media are in the business of marketing the immediate and sensational and have no mandate to serve the public interest.”
In fact, the media profited from Trump’s celebrity and candidacy, and continues to do so from his presidency. It’s not just pro-Trump media that benefits; those media outlets critical of Trump profit with covering his every impulsive tweet and sensationalized statement. Corporate media has successfully replaced the concept of citizen with that of consumer. I admit that I am one who is addicted to all this drama.
So how did the American public become so distracted from urgent issues that affect us the most?
Mickey Huff and Nolan Higdon explain how in their book, United States of Distraction: Media Manipulation in Post-Truth America (And What We Can Do About It).
After the “must-read” foreword by Ralph Nader, the first half the book shows us in depth how we got where we are today, which started decades before this president. They explain how corporate commercialism has manipulated the media and how journalism has changed over the years, including the rollback of safeguards such as the Communications Act of 1934 and the Fairness Doctrine. Today’s media may show two sides and perspectives of an issue, but there are many more that are ignored.
Human rights, justice, equality must be free from the corrupting power of money and commercialism. But how do we get there? How do we become an “engaged, informed, and organized population.”? The second half of the book provides steps on what we as citizens must do to take back our power. This includes supporting non-profit news organizations. We must also demand that our schools teach critical thinking and media literacy education, instead of standardized test taking. I particularly appreciate that the authors provide numerous free online resources that encourage critical media literacy and civic engagement.
The downside of this is that it takes all of us, and I am pessimistic that Americans will see the urgency, at least enough to get involved. As a first step, I urge you to read United States of Distraction and then give this book to others to read.
After all, we must start somewhere to “Make America Think Again”.
