In Manufacturing Consent (1988), Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman examine how mass media influences public opinion through propaganda. Their propaganda model identifies five key filters—size, ownership, sourcing, flak, and ideology – outlining how mass media operates within an economic and political power system. Chomsky and Herman said that media outlets are not independent actors but are deeply influenced by the interests of their owners and sponsors. Sometimes, news coverage is shaped, often distorting facts to serve the interests of powerful elites. A clear example of this is how media reports on the genocide and ethnic cleansing Israel is carrying out against Palestinians.
How Media Bias Shapes Public Perception of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The situation in Palestine offers an example of how these filters function in real time. The Israeli government has long been accused of committing genocide against Palestinians, but mainstream media often fails to frame it like that. Instead, media outlets around the world use selective language, misleading terminology, and biased reporting to manufacture consent for Israel’s actions.
The media frequently uses ambiguous words like “conflict” or “clashes” to describe the violence in Gaza. These terms suggest an equal battle between two sides, downplaying the disproportionate violence Israel inflicts. Derogatory terms like “human animals” or “monsters in Gaza” are also used in some journals, which strips Palestinians of their humanity and makes violence against them seem more acceptable. The use of passive voice in news stories also deflects blame. While Israeli casualties are described as being “killed” or “butchered,” Palestinians are simply said to “lose their lives” or “die” without naming those responsible. This difference minimizes Israel’s accountability and describes Palestinian cities as passive victims instead of targets of violence.
Chomsky and Herman argue that in a functioning democracy, the media should act as a watchdog, holding those in power accountable and providing a platform for diverse voices and ideas. However, in the modern media landscape, the public may get a narrow range of viewpoints that serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful. The consequences of manufactured consent are profound. When the media presents a skewed or one-sided view of events, it limits the public’s ability to make informed decisions. This distortion of reality fosters apathy, disillusionment, and a lack of critical engagement with important issues.
Conclusion
Overall, the manufacture of consent is a powerful mechanism used by those in power to maintain control over the public narrative. By understanding the filters that influence news production and dissemination, people can become more critical consumers of media, question the narratives presented to them, and find alternative sources.
Reference
Herman, E. and Chomsky, N. (1988a). MANUFACTURING CONSENT The Political Economy of the Mass Media. [online] New York: Pantheon Book , pp.1–24. Available at: https://www.monvoisin.xyz/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Noam-Chomsky-Edward-Herman-Manufacturing-Consent-1988.pdf.
Jones, J. (2017). An Animated Introduction to Noam Chomsky’s Manufacturing Consent and How the Media Creates the Illusion of Democracy | Open Culture. [online] https://www.openculture.com/. Available at: https://www.openculture.com/2017/03/an-animated-introduction-to-noam-chomskys-manufacturing-consent.html.
Edibe Beyza Caglar (2024). How the Western media is manufacturing consent for genocide. [online] Trtworld.com. Available at: https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/how-the-western-media-is-manufacturing-consent-for-genocide-18216178 [Accessed 17 Nov. 2024].
CAIR Los Angeles. (2024). How the Media Manufactures Consent for a Genocide in Gaza. [online] Available at: https://ca.cair.com/losangeles/updates/how-the-media-manufactures-consent-for-a-genocide-in-gaza/ [Accessed 19 Jan. 2024].
Freedland, J. (2023). Israel wants to slay the monster next door, but with this lethal bombardment, it is feeding it. [o(Freedland, 2023b) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/08/israel-bombardment-hamas-gaza
Hi,Junyu
I read your blog and you have a lot to say about the theory of “making consent”. Most of the time, the media serves as a bridge between the government and the people, and the voices of many mainstream media represent the attitude of the government and guide the direction of things. But I always wonder if using similar words to obscure the truth is the real purpose of the news media.