Robert Mcchesney Quotes

Powerful Robert Mcchesney for Daily Growth

About Robert Mcchesney

Robert W. McChesney, born on December 16, 1953, is an eminent American media scholar, activist, and author who has made significant contributions to the study of communication and its impact on democracy. Growing up in the Midwest, McChesney developed a keen interest in politics and media from a young age. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1975 and went on to earn his Ph.D. in Political Science from the same institution in 1982. McChesney's academic career began at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he taught for over two decades. His research focused on media politics, communication policy, and the role of corporate power in shaping public discourse. In 2014, he joined the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication as a professor. One of McChesney's most influential works is "Rich Media, Poor Democracy: Communication Politics in Dubious Times" (2004), which critiques the U.S. media system and argues for democratic alternatives. Another notable book is "The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again" (2010). He is also a co-founder of Free Press, a nonprofit organization that advocates for diverse and community-rooted media. Throughout his career, McChesney has been a vocal critic of media consolidation and its negative effects on democracy. His work has been widely recognized and has influenced scholars, policymakers, and activists alike. Despite facing criticism from some quarters, McChesney remains a leading figure in the struggle for a more democratic and equitable media system.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If the market were the solution to our democratic deficits, then the American people would be thrilled with the performance of their democracy."

This quote suggests that the traditional "market-driven" approach to solving societal problems may not be effective in addressing democratic deficits or issues related to the health of a democratic system. In essence, McChesney is implying that if the market (i.e., free enterprise) were an adequate solution for our democratic challenges, citizens would be content with their democracy's performance as it stands. However, the fact that people are dissatisfied with the state of their democracy indicates that market solutions are not sufficient to overcome democratic deficits. Instead, we may need to look beyond the market and consider alternative approaches to strengthening democracy.

"The greatest threat to democracy is not too much government intervention in the economy; it is too little."

Robert McChesney's quote underscores a crucial aspect of modern democracies - economic power significantly influences political power, shaping societal structures and public policy outcomes. Too little government intervention can lead to undue economic concentration and disparity, which may hinder the full exercise of democratic principles such as equality, fairness, and representation for all citizens. Thus, the statement suggests that a lack of regulation or intervention in the economy poses a greater risk to the health and sustainability of democracy than excessive intervention might.

"In a corporate-controlled media system, the public has no chance to really understand the world around them or make informed decisions about how they want their society to be organized."

This quote by Robert McChesney underscores the concern that when the control of information, which shapes our understanding of the world, is concentrated in corporate hands, it significantly limits the public's ability to comprehend the world accurately and make informed decisions about their society. The corollary being that an uninformed public can't effectively participate in shaping the organization of their society, as they lack essential knowledge and understanding. This highlights the importance of diverse media sources, promoting media literacy, and advocating for a free press in ensuring an informed citizenry capable of making thoughtful societal choices.

"The most profound impact of our commercialized media culture may well be that it teaches us to value consumption over citizenship."

Robert McChesney's quote suggests a troubling dynamic in today's media culture where the focus is more on consumerism rather than active civic participation. This shift, as McChesney points out, could have far-reaching consequences for society at large. The commodification of information and entertainment in commercialized media encourages people to prioritize buying goods and services over engaging in meaningful debates, community building, or political action that fosters true citizenship. Ultimately, this state of affairs undermines the very foundations of a democratic society, where informed and active citizens play a crucial role in shaping their communities and nations.

"Corporate power is the great unaddressed issue of our time, and if we do not take on corporate power, we will continue to see the destruction of democracy."

This quote highlights that the excessive influence of corporations in society poses a significant threat to democratic principles. By dominating political and economic landscapes, these powerful entities can manipulate decisions, curtail public participation, and ultimately undermine the very essence of democracy – equal representation for all citizens. Unless addressed, this imbalance will continue to erode our democratic values and institutions, leading to their progressive decline. It underscores the importance of enforcing regulations, promoting transparency, and empowering citizens in the face of corporate power to preserve a healthy balance between private enterprise and public interests.

If you look at the history of broadcasting, what you find is the National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association whose mission is to protect the interests of the commercial broadcasters.

- Robert McChesney

Commercial, The History Of, Broadcasters

The commercial broadcasters have tremendous influence in Washington, D.C., for a couple of reasons. First, they're extremely rich and they have lots of money and they have had for a long time, so they can give money to politicians, which gets their attention.

- Robert McChesney

Commercial, Couple, Reasons, Broadcasters

The number one lobby that opposes campaign finance reform in the United States is the National Association of Broadcasters.

- Robert McChesney

United, United States, Broadcasters

Maybe if you and ten of your friends could pool your savings and borrow some money and actually buy some obscure station in Sonoma, and then take some chances and have some fun.

- Robert McChesney

Some, Maybe, Could, Chances

Which is supposed to mean they're doing something in their broadcasting they would not do is they were simply out to maximize profit; if they were really public service institutions, not purely profit maximizing institutions.

- Robert McChesney

Doing, Which, Purely, Profit

So that what you tend to see is someone like a Rush Limbaugh, he's the classic case because he's the most successful, he didn't sort of like come out of his mother's womb with the highest ratings in the country.

- Robert McChesney

Country, Out, Tend, Ratings

Because Hightower's problem, among other things, is that advertisers would be a lot less interested in his show than in Limbaugh's, even if they have similar ratings, because of what Hightower is saying.

- Robert McChesney

Other, Show, Similar, Ratings

And understand that scarce spectrum is used today for example for cell phone operators, they have to pay for the airwaves they use, for their services.

- Robert McChesney

Understand, Pay, Use, Airwaves

The public gets not one penny from them in return for those airwaves.

- Robert McChesney

Public, Them, Gets, Airwaves

Because what's going on now, and this applies mostly to television stations in the largest markets too, but TV stations basically are now the primary receivers of campaign spending.

- Robert McChesney

TV, Largest, Mostly, Primary

One survey that I saw that was published I think in Variety or Electronic Media within the last three weeks says that now the average hour of radio in the United States has 18 minutes of commercials.

- Robert McChesney

Average, I Think, Weeks, Survey

Local television news, on both radio and television, is so appalling. Makes print journalism look like the greatest stuff ever written.

- Robert McChesney

News, Like, Television News, Journalism

The whole process of getting licenses to broadcast, which took place decades ago, was done behind closed doors by powerful lobbies, and wealthy commercial interests got all the licenses with no public input, no congressional input for that matter.

- Robert McChesney

Behind, Broadcast, Decades

The cost of congressional and presidential campaigns has been leaping every two or four years. I think this year it will be 60 percent more than 1996; well over twice as much as in 1992 in the presidential and congressional races.

- Robert McChesney

Been, I Think, Congressional, Presidential

As the mainstream media has become increasingly dependent on advertising revenues for support, it has become an anti-democratic force in society.

- Robert McChesney

Society, Increasingly, Dependent

So it's a much more difficult issue to organize around, because you can't get media at all to make your case. And that's where cases tend to be made politically.

- Robert McChesney

More, Cases, Issue, Organize

When the government picked companies and gave them monopoly rights to frequencies in San Francisco and Los Angeles and New York and Chicago, it was picking the winners of the competition; it wasn't setting the terms of the competition.

- Robert McChesney

Competition, Francisco, Monopoly

When the government allocates monopoly rights to frequency, and there are only a handful in each community, it's picking the winners in the competition.

- Robert McChesney

Community, Winners, Handful, Monopoly

The relationship between the media owner, their relationship isn't strictly with people and audiences. It's also with advertisers, and that's the most relationship in radio; in fact it pays the bills.

- Robert McChesney

Fact, Owner, Also, Strictly

If you're running for reelection in the House of Representatives race, you know, it's very important to you that you be on fairly good terms with the local affiliates in the largest market in your area. I mean you don't want to antagonize them.

- Robert McChesney

Very, Your, Largest, Representatives

Our existing media system today is the direct result of government laws and subsidies that created it.

- Robert McChesney

Result, System, Existing, Subsidies

So the competition isn't once you got the license, running the station; it's getting the license.

- Robert McChesney

Running, Once, Getting, License

Basically what they're saying is, if you want to be on TV, if you want to be a credible candidate, you've got to buy ads. And if you're not buying ads, you're not a credible candidate, we don't cover you.

- Robert McChesney

Want, Credible, TV, Ads

But having said that, what's happening with campaign finance reform and our political culture is devastating.

- Robert McChesney

Campaign Finance Reform, Devastating

What I've found is that there is a tremendous interest in these issues, across the political spectrum, sort of left-right terms we used to describe people don't really hold here exactly.

- Robert McChesney

Political, Here, Sort, Spectrum

So the system we have in radio and television today is the direct result of government policies that have been made in our name, in the name of the people, on our behalf, but without our informed consent.

- Robert McChesney

Television, Informed, Been, Behalf

Also, the commercial media in a superior position, really, to any other corporate lobby, because where would people hear about commercial media or corporate media criticism, where would they hear criticism of them other than in the commercial media?

- Robert McChesney

Other, Commercial, About, Lobby

You know, a left-winger, the barrier to success if you're on the left in commercial radio is a mile and a half higher than it is if you're on the right.

- Robert McChesney

Commercial, Half, Mile, Barrier

And they've got to be held accountable; our broadcasting system has to be made accountable; and unless it is, it's going to be very hard to change anything else for the better in this country.

- Robert McChesney

Country, Very, Accountable, Broadcasting

But having said that, there's also a sea change in attitude towards media.

- Robert McChesney

Change, Having, Sea Change, Sea

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