Chomsky's classic back-pocket primer on US government propaganda and media bias is the Open Media Pamphlet Series's best-selling title of all time, with more than 100,000 copies in print. Arguably more important now than ever, this newly expanded edition furthers Chomsky's analysis with his January 2002 comments regarding media coverage of terrorism and US foreign policy in the post-September 11 world.
Media Control, Second Edition
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103 of 105 people found the following review helpful
By filthmonkey
Format:Paperback
Chomsky's famous books "Necessary Illusions" and "Manufacturing Consent" (co-written with Edward S. Herman) stand as excellent assessments of the propaganda inherent in the current media system. The thing is with those books is that they are quite detailed, and for someone seeking a nice route into thinking about the issue of propaganda, government spin, and how the media are complicit in it, Chomsky's "Media Control: Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda" is a much better choice. It is good because it introduces some basics. For example, how did the modern PR (public relations) industry start? Who gave rise to the way propaganda is used in modern society? So, all this is good entry-level stuff. The book itself is short and could be read in about an hour to two hours (depending on how quick you read). A couple of things to note is that Chomsky likes certain themes to illustrate his points (I guess the ones that he's done most research on in his time), such as what happened in Nicaragua, for instance. You'll find some of that in this book, so if you've read it elsewhere, you may get a little frustrated that he's using the same examples. If you don't know anything about propaganda or Nicaragua, you're looking at the right book. I'm not saying Nicaragua is where the propaganda happens. The propaganda is in OUR culture, but Nicaragua is relevant for other reasons - and its a nice way to learn some history you may not know. So a lot is squeezed into this little book, and moreover it's written in a much simpler style than most of what Chomsky puts out. The one drawback I think the book suffers from is that it isn't referenced as well as all his other work. I think this is because the majority of the material comes from speeches he's made and it's difficult to reference them in retrospect. However, if you go to the more heavy-duty books I mentioned above, you'll find references a-plenty. Overall: good for the beginner, interesting for the intermediate person or Chomsky lover, a bit mild for the expert.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By J. Maher
Format:Paperback
Chomsky comes up with another classic this one probably his very best, accessible open and less of the references than he normally provides.
The basic premise is that the media creates the agenda, drives it along creating moral panics causing crisis which governments react to so fueling the media to create more moral panics. Anyone familar with Stanley Cohen's seminal work on Moral Panics will know what Chomsky's writing on American media and White House reaction about will come as no surprise.
To others Chomsky says that the media creates panics and crisis to fulfil its own agenda and its own politcal masters to panic the general public into pressing its Governments to fight the enemy or create an enemy. Has anyone forgotten the media fuelled Paedophilla panic back in 2000 ?
So Mr Chomsky's onto something isn't he then?
The basic premise is that the media creates the agenda, drives it along creating moral panics causing crisis which governments react to so fueling the media to create more moral panics. Anyone familar with Stanley Cohen's seminal work on Moral Panics will know what Chomsky's writing on American media and White House reaction about will come as no surprise.
To others Chomsky says that the media creates panics and crisis to fulfil its own agenda and its own politcal masters to panic the general public into pressing its Governments to fight the enemy or create an enemy. Has anyone forgotten the media fuelled Paedophilla panic back in 2000 ?
So Mr Chomsky's onto something isn't he then?
45 of 48 people found the following review helpful
By "punkman_51"
Format:Paperback
This was the first Noam Chomsky I'd ever read and apart from Stupid White Men by Micheal Moore it was the first political book I'd read and I think it is an excellent book if your just starting to look at politics. It is very informative and it MAKES SENSE, after reading this book when you look at the world you see it more clearly. The essay about the war on terror at the end is essential reading and is easy to read. 5 thumbs up.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Don't bother
Little booklet, kind of insipid. I expected more meat in the book, but it's just platitudes. Research feels rushed. I would pass.
Published 4 days ago by Jen Butler
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very useful
I am using this book as part of my University dissertation and have to say it was one of the most useful sources i have used. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Thomas318
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Simply tells the truth, exposing the media for what they really are. A must read for all those fed up with being brainwashed. A jolly good read.
Published 1 month ago by Michael Anderson Josiah
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
Noam is a very good writer, he is easy to follow and understand. Its always refreshing to read essays like these.
Published 3 months ago by Maja Risovic
5.0 out of 5 stars
A necessary read for a well balanced worldview
This little book (/primer) is a very concise presentation of the control on modern western society. Although it is mainly aimed towards Americans in its content, it is extremely... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Rob
3.0 out of 5 stars
Meh
There's nothing in this you won't get from 'Manufacturing Consent'. If you've already read that, give this one a miss. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Owen Retsof
1.0 out of 5 stars
about everything and nothing. Picture on the cover much better.
about everything and nothing. It should be called a brochure rather than a book. Too far general, although i agree with Chomsky, but nothing really enlightening. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Lukasz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good. An eye opener.
The book proved (to me at least) that since WW2 governments have used many of the techniques used by the Nazis in their various campaigns. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Mr. Dan M. Littlewood
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tel the truth!
This is a short but good review of the growth of propaganda, as a means of placating and manipulating populations. Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2010 by bedbear
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good primer to introduce Chomsky's radical world view
For 50 years, Noam Chomsky has been the articulate voice of the tiny (by European standards) American socialist left, an icon of educated intellectual dissent separated by a... Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2010 by The Guardian
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