“The notion that journalism can regularly produce a product that violates the fundamental interests of media owners and advertisers … is absurd.”

That is why we need NPR!

I always go to NPR when I want the left wing view.

hmmm? What is the fundamental interests of media owners and advertisers? The vast majority of journalism is slanted to a hard left godless socialism while the rest slants hard right to a neocon fascist's perception. Advertisers, either agreeing with or, wanting to reach that specific segment of society then join in with the propaganda of choice. It is absurd to think media owners don't produce products that support their agenda. Waffler's comment (with jim's interpretation) is a great example of the quotes meaning - Waffler and the media owner's directors have the same fundamental interests. There may be a free, unbiased press out there but, if there is, it is in some small obscure out of the way corner some where.

Any media or anything else for that matter that has the word "public" in it is suspect to Mike, Jim and Carlton, and especially Archer. I am sure that they are not nor do they want to be members of such an entity as the "public". I assume they wish to convine folk of their views but the conundrum is that if more than 50% of us agree with them they will then change their mind and position, since they are eternally afraid of a majority view point.

Waffler, lol, I like it. Its not true but, it does show you have a sense of humor.

Love it! and if its not you are fired!

Considering McChesney has alleged Marxist leanings, at minimum, and is co-founder of FreePress, an alleged Marxist organization, his agenda is only government control of all media. NPRcome under the same restraints because, obtaining much of their funding from the Government, it is also going to serve only as a mouthpiece for Government propaganda. In this they are, in principle, as guilty as the so-called mainstream media in promoting Obamaganda. Even Anita Dunn, former Interim White House Communications Director, bragged on the record how the Obama campaign controlled the media to have it publish only what they wanted. Now McChesney and co. are prmoting Internet Neutrality, which would be another way to control what we as a free nation would be able to access. In the name of Diversity, Mark Lloyd, of the FCC wants to take the previous "fairness doctrine" further to gain government control of radio and TV programming. All totalitarians know that the best and quickest way to gain control over a population is to first gain control over the radio and TV stations. The price of liberty is eternal vigilence!!!

When watching broadcast television, always remember that what you are watching is paid for by the advertisers. Jot down the ads you see during the news and sitcoms -- these are the folks determining what you see. NPR, my friend, is no different, they have rules set by their benefactor on what can and can't be broadcast. If government had its way, it would regulate all broadcasting -- and we wouldn't get anything better. But the drug companies have more money than the government, and not only will we get non-stop drug advertising daily but non-stop drug legislation reported in the news. Big Pharma loves the health care legislation being pushed through Congress -- it guarantees that the government will pay them and perhaps even require every human being on the planet to be injected and prescribed with their drugs for life. It is indeed absurd that broadcasters would report on anything that would risk profits to their advertisers, hence 'Health Care Reform.' You want the truth? You can't handle the truth! ;-)

Following on from Mr Archer's point, " all ads "create an anxiety relievable by purchase" (David Foster Wallace) - non more so than ads promoted by blue chip drug companies who have cornered the market in making money out of anxiety. Who can you trust?