The Growing Elitism of the News Media


     
     Have you noticed that today’s media discussions of politics have become elitist conversations? Or to state it another way, have you noticed that social and economic news reporting, in the United States, seem to be entirely concerned with the affect policy decisions will have on the wealthiest Americans, revenue enhancement for wealthy corporations, and preserving the “Bush Tax Cuts” for the richest one percent of Americans? I have, and I find it troubling and downright worrisome.
      I find it worrisome because I believe the United States will only remain a strong nation if it protects, develop, and address the real concerns of its middle class. I believe that America will only remain the number one super power in the world if it keeps middle class communities vibrant, provide middle class workers with well-paying jobs, develop an effective education system, and create a long range strategy for increased growth and prosperity for all its citizens.
     In order for these things to happen, the media must become an ally of the middle class and the poor. (It cannot allow itself to remain the voice of the wealthiest Americans.) It can begin to make this change by insisting that its discussions go beyond the surface issues relating to job statics, mortgage foreclosures, and the impact of taxes on employment. Instead,  the media must turn its discussions into authentic analysis of cause and effect with visual/concrete evidence to support claims. For example, the “Bush Tax Cuts,” is 12 years old. What are the visual/concrete proofs that it is benefiting the middle class? How has the tax cuts contributed to raising student achievements? How has it helped to make college more affordable? Are middle class communities becoming more vibrant as a direct result of these cuts? What can we learn from current events in middle class communities concerning what the actual policies should be: Should we be doing more? Should we be doing less? Should we scrap the policy and start a new one? The point I am trying to make here is: Understanding the results policies are creating should always be a major consideration in determining the “next steps” in the lives of the policies. Blindly creating and maintaining policies without assessing and evaluating the results they’re creating are ineffective and inefficient.
   The trust of media discussions should be to increase the public's focus on the results of policies. It should help the citizens to analyze the data. It should assist them in brainstorming strategies, and it should empower them to make informed decisions.
   Media discussions about wealthy Americans, the tax on the richest one percent, and the challenges of wealthy corporations need to be continuing segments of the news. But media discussions concerning the lives of the other 99 percent of Americans, the rise and the fall of the middle class, and (literally) the future of the United States should be the most prevalent part of the news.

By
James A. Porter  
  

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