Noam Chomsky- American linguist, philosopher and political activist.  A Laureate Professor of Linguistics at the University of Arizona and an Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is the author of more than 150 books on topics such as linguistics, war, politics, and mass media. Chomsky’s political values have changed since his childhood when he was influenced by the emphasis on political activism that was ingrained in Jewish working-class tradition. He thinks best meet human needs: liberty, community, and freedom of association.  “the father of modern linguistics”

Five filters of media:

Ownership– e.g if there are only a few companies

Part of bigger conglomerates with an end game of profit. Push for what gets them that profit that’s their interest. Chomsky is saying ‘the media is manufacturing consent look at the way it is organised’. ‘Critical journalism takes second place to the needs and interests of the corporation.’- Animation by Al Jazeera, Noam Chomsky- The Five Filters of the Mass Media Machine

Advertising

Not selling you products, they are selling advertisers a product. Advertisers are paying for audiences. Audience becomes the product.

Links with establishment (official sources) e.g. friends with the higher ups. Anyone that has power

Being friends with higher ups helps to promote your career. Risk of losing job if not.

Flack (strong criticism) – persuaded to think about something else

When the story doesn’t work in their favour they undermine and discredit journalists/media to manipulate audiences into believing them.

Uniting against a ‘common enemy’

To manufacture consent, you need an enemy — a target. That common enemy is the fifth filter. Communism. Terrorists. Immigrants. An enemy of an enemy