This is all you need to know about the state of TV news. There are those who refuse to believe that 1% media has an agenda that serves the 1%. This is another example of why these people should be ignored.
Over The Past Six Months, Network Evening News Shows Have Completely Ignored The TPP.
A Media Matters transcript search of CBS Evening News with Scott Pelly, ABC's World News with Diane Sawyer, and NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams from August 1, 2013 through January 31, 2014 found no mention of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. TPP received one mention on PBS' Newshour, when Doug Paal of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace argued that approving the TPP would improve relations with Asian nations.
And it's not just the Big Evening News:
Cable Networks Largely Overlook Trade Negotiations.
During the same six-month period, the three largest cable networks -- CNN, MSNBC, Fox News -- covered the ongoing negotiations 33 times during their evening programming. The overwhelming majority of these mentions (32) originated on MSNBC and aired during The Ed Show.
This is actually a stunning report. I have, over the years, seen plenty of evidence that the national mainstream corporate establishment 1% traditional media blacks out stories that would have been profitable to cover. For example, years ago,
CNET had a big story on how the FBI was able to turn some mafia guys' cell phones into extremely effective surveillance devices with a simple patch to the phone's OS.
This story went viral. But I did a Nexis search and discovered that almost no establishment media outlets reported it (there were a coup[le of mentions on blogs). The fact that this story was so popular on the internet puts proof to the lie that network and other corporate outlets only report what sells.
But while my little Nexis search was compelling, I don't think I've ever seen so blatant a demonstration of mass media bias as this blackout over the TPP. This story is incredibly important, has lots of juicy angles like the fact that even Congress hasn't been able to read it even though corporate lobbyists have, and has drummed up massive amounts of controversy across the political spectrum.
Yet it has never been mentioned once on the big three networks' nightly news broadcasts.
Coincidence? Give me a break. The most powerful force in our political world is the broadcast media. More powerful than presidents, politicians, and certainly more powerful than the people.
And it has been aimed at us as a weapon. To distract, divide, misinform and manipulate. It is widely accepted that there is too much power among the ruling billionaire class. How do they hold that power? By controlling the flow of information. By controlling the primary conduits of communication.
If this all sounds too conspiratorial for you then keep on believing that the reason why there are 50 right wing radio stations for every one "left" wing one is because Rush Limbaugh is more entertaining.