American media Quote by Carl Sagan
““Trends working at least marginally towards the implantation of a very narrow range of attitudes, memories and opinions include control of major television networks and newspapers by a small number of similarly motivated powerful corporations and individuals, the disappearance of competitive daily newspapers in many cities, the replacement of substantive debate by sleaze in political campaigns, and episodic erosion of the principle of the separation of powers. It is estimated (by the American media expert Ben Bagditrian) that fewer than two dozen corporations control more than half of the global business in daily newspapers, magazines, television, books and movies!””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Media Landscape, 1990s, Unknown Source
The quote warns that a few powerful entities dominate media, limiting diverse viewpoints and weakening democratic checks.
In simple terms: Media concentration threatens democracy.
Key Takeaway
Support independent media sources.
Themes
media concentration
democracy
power
information control
corporate influence
Mood
cautious
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
warning
When to use this quote
- political campaigns
- news consumption
- media literacy
- regulatory policy
Key Concepts
monopoly
agenda setting
public sphere
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media ownership affect your news choices?
- What can individuals do to diversify information?
A Different Perspective
Concentration can also spur innovation and niche media.
![“It is the professed goal [of U.S. multinational corporations] to control as large a share of the world market as they do of the United States market.” quote by Harry Magdoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5a4/harry-magdoff-81422_corporations_it-is-the-professed-goal-of-u-s-multinat_1977929.jpg)
![“[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion, why do you not believe in materialistic science, which has an unparalleled record of fulfilled prophecy? Consider, for example, eclipses.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/875/carl-sagan-160_belief_when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-a_25095.jpg)
