I'd take it a step further and ask a parallel question. The American media traditionally has been regarded as "the fourth estate," an institution that checks and balances government outside of governmental control.
However, in the information age, the media has had to diversify its products in order to keep its ratings share. We've seen an explosion in news shows, analysts, and commentators, all with their own biases (despite the golden rule of journalism, "The truth... no matter what.") With so much news "product" on the air, 24/7, media producers must choose what to broadcast because they can't broadcast it all. Thus, it could be argued that individual media companies influence viewers and consumers of news according to a specific bias (see the examples of FOX News and The Drudge Report).
My question then is this: What is the MEDIA prepared to do to adapt to the legal aspects of information age conflict? Should it not be accountable for biased programming that may influence audiences in different parts of the world, not only domestically?
I ask this question because I believe the independent media MUST be considered in any revision or reform of the laws governing America's propagation of information.
That is a very good question and I'm interested to hear from those in the media who can speak to it.
I'd take it a step further and ask a parallel question. The American media traditionally has been regarded as "the fourth estate," an institution that checks and balances government outside of governmental control.
However, in the information age, the media has had to diversify its products in order to keep its ratings share. We've seen an explosion in news shows, analysts, and commentators, all with their own biases (despite the golden rule of journalism, "The truth... no matter what.") With so much news "product" on the air, 24/7, media producers must choose what to broadcast because they can't broadcast it all. Thus, it could be argued that individual media companies influence viewers and consumers of news according to a specific bias (see the examples of FOX News and The Drudge Report).
My question then is this: What is the MEDIA prepared to do to adapt to the legal aspects of information age conflict? Should it not be accountable for biased programming that may influence audiences in different parts of the world, not only domestically?
I ask this question because I believe the independent media MUST be considered in any revision or reform of the laws governing America's propagation of information.