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• What role does McChesney think the media could (should) play in the creation of a functioning democracy and a healthy culture? How does his view fit with the ideas set forth by Charon and Becker?

• What are the effects of private ownership of the media on the achievement of that role? Think about some of the specific consequences of private ownership such as its effect on two of the following: journalism, knowledge about candidates’ election platforms, the ability of new media outlets starting up, the presence and perception of bias (both conservative and liberal), hyper-commercialism and the shaping of human nature, or the depth of factual coverage and diversity of opinion in the news.

• Discuss the effects of concentration of ownership across the various types of media on the process of ideological hegemony. Sallach speaks of hegemony, McChesney speaks of synergy; what is the relationship? Be sure to include the consequences of horizontal and vertical integration of the media to map out the structural form of concentration. Then link these structural realities with the social-psychological consequences that flow from them (e.g. uniformity of message, the introduction of externalities such as violence in programming, etc.).

• Would McChesney’s analysis concern Becker and Charon? Why or why not? What are the problematic consequences of the capture of the media by powerful interests on the nature of human nature, social reality, and democracy?