Shadows Of Liberty

Shadows Of Liberty — WHO controls the MEDIA?

Q&A session

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Shadows of Liberty

SHADOWS OF LIBERTY rallies the right-on troops against the mass corporate consolidation of media in the United States since the 1980s. Inspired by the Ben Bagdikian book “The New Media Monopoly”, the film pummels its audience with repeated examples of corporate owner interests interfering with journalists trying to cover stories from Nike sweatshops to plane crash cover-ups to drug links to the US-backed Contras in Nicaragua. The results are predictably chilling.

questions

What major American corporations are mentioned in the film and how have they influenced the media?

You may also want to read the interview with the film’s director Jean-Philippe Tremblay, editor Gregers Sall and composer Tandis Jenhudson.

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How does the concentration of media ownership in the hands of a few affect diversity of opinion?

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What specific media cases or scandals are discussed in the film?

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How did the law passed by Congress in 1934 influenced the business?

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What was Ronald Reagan’s take on the freedom of speech and what legislation did he propose?

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What is the FCC charged with? Which ban did Kevin Martin remove?

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How can the independent media counteract the censorship from the most influential corporations?

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Is there a way for society to ensure that their freedom of speech is not violated in any way both by the governments of their respective countries and by commercial companies?

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What measures can be taken to explain to the readership that it is them who are responsible for the information contained in news outlets? Who should explain that?

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Why do you think the government adopted legislation contributing to the monopolisation of media? What consequences did it have on the political life of the US?

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“First the decision to enter into a war is taken, only then a cause is chosen” (rough quotation) Do you think it is accurate and proves to be true throughout history? Or is it a recent development?

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What role do you believe your media enterprise plays in shaping public perception about important issues like war?

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How do you respond to concerns about media monopolies and their impact on diverse voices in society?

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What actions do you think the public can take to influence media policy and ensure a variety of perspectives are represented in the news?

conclusions

Ninety percent of American media is controlled by five big, for-profit-conglomerates, creating a media monopoly of informational and social control never before possible. The overwhelming collective power of these firms raises troubling questions about democracy.........