Manufacturing Consent, The Symbiotic Relation Between Government And The Press

Noam Chomsky’s concept of “manufactured consent” is largely correct. The media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and creating a consensus around certain issues, and this power can be easily abused by those who control the media. The symbiotic relationship between government and the press also allows for this manipulation of public opinion, as the media may become too reliant on the government for information and access, leading to a lack of critical and independent reporting. It is important for the media to be willing to challenge and scrutinize the actions and decisions of those in power, in order to effectively serve as a check on government power and hold elected officials accountable.

This concept suggests that the media, which is often controlled by powerful corporations or individuals with their own agendas, works to present certain viewpoints and narratives in a way that influences public perception and reinforces existing power dynamics.

The relationship between government and the press is often described as symbiotic, meaning that both parties rely on each other to fulfill their own goals. Governments rely on the media to disseminate information to the public and shape public opinion, while the media relies on governments as a source of information and access to events and decision-making processes.

However, this relationship can also be problematic, as it can lead to the media becoming too reliant on the government for information and access, which can in turn lead to the media becoming biased or overly deferential to the government. This can create a situation where the media is unable to fully hold the government accountable and fails to provide a critical and independent perspective on issues.

In order for the media to effectively serve as a check on government power and hold elected officials accountable, it is important for there to be a healthy balance between the two parties. This means that the media should not be overly reliant on the government for information and access, and should be willing to challenge and scrutinize the actions and decisions of those in power.