...the mass media. What are they? They're huge…
“...the mass media. What are they? They're huge corporations, massive corporations, linked up with even bigger corporations. They sell audiences to other businesses, namely advertisers. So when you turn on the television set, CBS doesn't make any money. They make money from the advertisers. You're the product that they're selling, and the same is true of the daily newspaper. They're huge corporations, selling audiences, potential consumers, to other businesses, all linked up closely to the government, especially the big media. What picture of the world do you expect them to present?”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Mass media are corporations that sell audiences to advertisers, making viewers the product.
In simple terms: Media sell you, not news.
Key Takeaway
Question media consumption.
Themes
media
economics
power
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
commentary
explanatory
When to use this quote
- news watching
- advertising strategy
- policy debate
- media literacy workshops
Key Concepts
advertising
corporate control
public sphere
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you see yourself as a consumer or a product?
- How can you reduce reliance on such media?
A Different Perspective
Audience agency is limited by corporate interests.