They can't manufacture my consent.
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For several years, I wrote a media column for a magazine called Veg News. Yes, a media column for a vegetarian publication. Sounds odd at first but even the most cursory glance at how the corporate media covers vegan issues demonstrates why my column made a whole lot of sense.
Like anything outside the "work, consume, obey authority" mainstream, veganism does not fit neatly into the corporate media paradigm. It challenges the status quo, it pisses off advertisers, and it encourages independent thought. Therefore, it must ignored for as long as possible and then—when it reaches a point of critical mass—it becomes the target of mockery and misinformation.
Here's the good news
The corporate media is totally powerless when confronted with an open mind (in fact, it's almost laughable). That's it. That's all it takes. Like Dorothy exposing the Wizard or the the kid who declared the emperor to be without clothes, we are as programmed as we allow ourselves to be. All we have to do is rediscover the subversive pleasure of thinking for ourselves.
This task can become even easier once we realize that we're not alone. Despite efforts by the elites to marginalize dissent and disguise or discredit any progress we make, plenty of people desire fundamental change. If we succumb to a fabricated feeling of alienation or isolation, nothing will change. Rather, we must seek out others to work with and share ideas with. It is precisely the function of the elite media to make us feel isolated. When they get you thinking, "Am I the only one who thinks this way?" they've won. Therefore, it is a debilitating mistake to assume you are alone and that others will not work with you.
3 Mandatory Methods of Media Mendacity
1. Lies of Omission
It's not so much a case of the media reporting untruths; it's more about what's no said. Go ahead, peruse articles about global warming in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and on CNN and see how often they mention the number one reason for climate change: the meat-based diet.
2. Discredit the Source
Vegans are often portrayed as everything from irresponsible parents to wackos. Once the mainstream perception of vegans is established in such negative terms, it no longer becomes necessary to engage in as much mockery. News consumers will happily assume that role.
3. Quote the Enemy
There is no shortage of "experts" ready to offer soundbite criticism for anything that challenges the standard American diet. Talking heads in suits and ties with important-sounding titles superimposed under their faces are typically called upon whenever veganism is given any notice in the media. If they ever called upon, say, Dr. Michael Klaper, things might just get interesting.
3 Directions for Decoding the Deception
1. Understand Corporate Media Ownership
The vast majority of major media outlets are large corporations. These are owned by or aligned with even larger corporations, and they share a common goal: to make a profit by selling a product—an affluent audience— to a given market: advertisers. Therefore, we shouldn't find it too shocking that the image of the world being presented by a corporate-owned press very much reflects the biased interests of the elite players involved in this sordid little love triangle.
2. Open Your Mind
As the gang at Vegan Freak explain: "It is patently clear that if you consciously separate yourself from others through everyday choices about food and other aspects of your life, you're going to be viewed differently by those around you. This difference isn't something you should run from. On the contrary, you should embrace this freakdom, be at home with it, and fully own it, not only for your own sanity, but also for the efficacy of building a vegan social movement as a whole. This ownership of your vegan freakdom is also the first and most critical step towards keeping you a happy vegan and building genuine vegan community."
3. Find Non-Corporate Information Sources
- Read The Media Monopoly, by Ben H. Bagdikian
- Read Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
- Check Out Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR). Perhaps the first line of defense for Corporate America is the corporate media. FAIR has been wearing down those defenses for decades. You can sign for action alerts http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=6 to stay ahead of the corporate curve.
