The biggest taboo in media
When you think of taboos in American media, you think of anything sexual or something along those lines. I have a different opinion on this. I think the biggest taboo in media is to criticize the American people. Here is how it works. Broadcasters show ads to make money. If the media start criticizing people, people are not going to like it and they will tune out and hence no money.
In the past few weeks many in media have asked a question like this “80% of American people think the country is on the wrong track. Why does this election not look like a landslide?” And many political pundits and strategists have to beat around the bush and come up with nonsensical answers. Answers like “People need to get to know Obama more.” or “Obama has to lay out the details of his plans”. I think people have heard more about Obama and his story more than any other candidate and Obama has laid out his plans. Most of it is on his website, if anybody bothers to read. I think the answer is much simpler. Many white Americans would not vote for a black man, period. They would rather have four more disastrous years than have a black president. Racism can be more powerful than slavery. Bob Herbert of New York Times gently explains it.
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August 28th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
” Broadcasters show ads to make money. If the media start criticizing people, people are not going to like it and they will tune out and hence no money.”
i’m somehow suspicious of this reasoning/excuse. at least it’s more complicated: it’s not a simple cause and effect relationship like that. it’s more of a loop. the other side of the loop is the media/education-system first brainwashing the people not to deviate too much in their thoughts and actions/reactions from a certain norm. it also actively, but perhaps implicitly, teaches them to be actually offended by any criticism of US culture, etc.