McChesney and Nichols, Our Media, Not Theirs, pages 46-80 and 114-140.

Respond to each question with a paragraph or so of your thoughts. Your answers should indicate that you understand the arguments made by the authors, and that you have spent some time thinking about these issues. Responses are due at the beginning of class on July 3.

1. What are the 2 "core observations" that underlay the chapter "The Problem with U.S. Media"? After reading the entire chapter, do you think those core observations are valid? Why or why not?

2. Summarize and analyze the authors' argument about the problems associated with corporate journalism. What evidence do they use to support their assertion that "the lack of journalism has fanned the flames of depoliticization and contributed to U.S. electoral politics becoming a commercial contest sponsored by a small group of billionaires, in which most Americans rationally assume that they have no role to play, or stake in the outcome"?

3. Evaluate the authors' proposals for starting points for media reform (pp 133-140). Given our readings and discussions about media reform, do you think that this sort of media reform is likely to succeed?