A powerful critique of how manipulation of media gives rise to
disinformation, intolerance, and divisiveness, and how we can fight
back.
"Mickey Huff and Nolan Higdon emphasize what we can do today to
restore the power of facts, truth, and fair, inclusive journalism as
tools for people to keep political and corporate power subordinate to
the engaged citizenry and the common good."—Ralph Nader
The role of news
media in a free society is to investigate, inform, and provide a
crucial check on political power. But does it?
It's no secret that
the goal of corporate-owned media is to increase the profits of the
few, not to empower the many. As a result, people are increasingly
immersed in an information system structured to reinforce their
social biases and market to their buying preferences. Journalism's
essential role has been drastically compromised, and Donald Trump's
repeated claims of "fake news" and framing of the media as
an "enemy of the people" have made a bad scenario worse.
Written in the
spirit of resistance and hope, United States of Distraction
offers a clear, concise appraisal of our current situation, and
presents readers with action items for how to improve it.
