Fox News is not only not “news” – it is more specifically a communications arm of the Republican Party. Rupert Murdoch and fellow Republicans have intentionally built an extensive narrative-shaping Right Wing media ecosystem – TV, radio, podcasts, streaming content etc… Fox propaganda is only one engine in their larger influence factory. The Dominion lawsuit exposed explicitly that Fox, the Republican Party, and Rupert/Lachlan Murdoch work together to promote the Republican agenda. Worse than satisfying the desires of its viewers – it has addicted and radicalized its audience into a dangerous unreality. Come to one of our upcoming events to learn more – and what you can do to respond to the harms of Fox propaganda. (Photo: WikiMedia Commons)
Dear Media and Democracy Project Community,
Are you disappointed that Rupert Murdoch escaped testifying about his partisan propaganda empire?! Join us and bring a friend, for our upcoming phenomenal media and democracy virtual event – on ways you can fight back!
Tuesday, May 9, 7pm ET Thought leader and inspiring Professor
Bob McChesney will speak with the Media and Democracy Project! Professor McChesney authored “Rich Media Poor Democracy“. He is an expert on media and democracy issues – we will discuss with him his proposed solution to the “local journalism crisis” called the Local Journalism Initiative. We will ask him to discuss the impacts of Fox and NewsCorp on American media and democracy.
Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/mediademocracyproject/event/557996/
YOUR ACTIONS THIS WEEK:
ACTION #1 Your FCC is still non-functional since the smear campaign that sabotaged Gigi Sohn’s confirmation. Her candidacy and the best interests of the American people were undermined by Right Wing extremists, Big Telecom, and by Rupert Murdoch’s WSJ / Fox propaganda media empire.
So what can you do to help get a functioning FCC?
Call President Biden and ask him to “nominate a public interest-minded candidate for the FCC that is a champion of Net Neutrality, and supports affordable BroadBand access for all.”
White House Phone: 202-456-1111, or comments 202-456-6213 & https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
View our FCC Quick Guide for more information on your FCC.
Want to be a superstar to #FixMediaNow? Here is our bi-weekly guide with additional actions you can take.
In the news…
We are still watching how the media reports on the Dominion vs Fox lawsuit. Unfortunately, most media folks have framed the story as, “Fox viewers made Fox hosts lie” – which masks the intentional unreality fabricated by Fox propaganda over decades. Also under-reported is the relative small size of the Dominion-Fox settlement for the parent Fox Corporation (currently valued at $17.5Billion) and the likelihood they will get to write off some/most of it. We’ve got work to do. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work calling out “reports” that blame the viewers of Fox as opposed to the masterminds behind Fox.
Media Accountability Corner:
ACTION #2 Make certain that Media Coverage of the corruption of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas continues to be reported on – and accurately.
Please write Letters to the Editor/outreach to media organizations/journalists to hold them accountable with your feedback. Make sure the media reports on the corruption of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his hyper-partisan wife Ginni Thomas. It is worthy of front page news and further coverage and should not be buried – as is Ginni Thomas’ under-investigated alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021 coup attempt.
Our Media and Democracy Hero of the Week: Jen Reitman
Please read this powerful piece by Jen of DAME Magazine – calling attention to the immorality of neutral media coverage and calling for media orgs to apply a lens of morality to coverage of issues such as abortion rights, gun violence and racism. “The actions of elected officials, the lies knowingly told on Fox, the billionaires’ dark money. What they’re doing is not simply advancing their policies via “politics,” but rather fueling a wholesale movement of immorality. It’s time the media start to frame it that way“.
Link here: https://mailchi.mp/damemagazine/the-moral-lens-6047761
Join us at our upcoming events:
- Monday, May 1, 7:00p ET Our Media and Democracy Project bi-weekly General Meeting – newcomers are always welcome. We will discuss different ways you can help #FixMediaNow Sign up HERE (always Zoom)
- Tuesday, May 9, 7pm ET Thought leader and inspiring Professor Bob McChesney
Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/mediademocracyproject/event/557996/
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Thank you.
In community,
Noelle, Brian, Jonathan, Holley, Cecily, Al, Carolyn, Milo and the entire Media and Democracy Project
If you would like to speak at one of our meetings or have any feedback.
Email: Noelle@MediaAndDemocracyProject.Org
Website: MediaAndDemocracyProject.Org
Twitter: @MAD_Democracy & @FixMediaNow
Mastodon: http://journa.host/@MAD_democracy
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