ANTI-WAR

 BLOG #9

Personally, I tend to favor mainstream media outlets over alternatives because I consider them to be more reputable. Smaller media outlets, such as ANTIWAR.com and the “American Conservative”, appear to be more biased/one-sided, which diminishes their credibility in my eyes. While I appreciate journalists who present strong viewpoints, I prefer when they substantiate their arguments with evidence, provide counter-arguments for refutation, and openly acknowledge any biases they may hold. 

Another factor that may be contributing to the marginalization of dissenting voices is that mainstream media outlets primarily operate off of ad revenue, giving the advertisers substantial influence over their media content. Media outlets may shy away from airing strong anti-war views for fear of losing advertising dollars. This economic dependency creates a media environment that favors content alignment with the interests of their advertisers over providing a platform for diverse perspectives. 

Additionally, societal attitudes towards war may also influence media content. In America especially, there is a prevalent belief in the necessity of military strength for national security and global influence. In fact, it is sometimes even deemed “anti-American” to protest against wars (which is absolutely ludicrous). As a result, anti-war voices face an uphill battle in changing public opinion and garnering widespread support. Media outlets, keen on maintaining viewership and readers, may align their content with these dominant societal attitudes, further marginalizing anti-war perspectives. 

Finally, it is known that the consolidation of media ownership has led to the homogenization of content, greatly reducing the diversity of viewpoints available to the public. With fewer independent media outlets, the range of perspectives, including strong anti-war voices, is significantly narrowed. This media consolidation creates an echo chamber where mainstream narratives are amplified while dissenting opinions are increasingly marginalized. 

All in all, I think that the main reasons why I don’t often come across strong anti-war voices on mainstream media is due to economic dependencies, societal attitudes, and the consolidation of media ownership. While I stated at the very beginning that I typically skewed towards mainstream media because I thought it to be more reputable, my research has proven me wrong. Between their reliance on ad revenue and the influence of powerful stakeholders that can sway content towards supporting any prevailing narratives, mainstream media is not any more reputable than independent journalism. That said, moving forward I will do my due diligence and support more independent journalists, especially the ones brave enough to come out with dissenting opinions, even if I don’t quite agree with them myself. 

Antiwar.com. (n.d.). https://www.antiwar.com/

Whitlock, J. (2024, July 25). Home. The American Conservative. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/

Corcoran, M. (2016, March 30). Twenty years of media consolidation has not been good for our democracy. Moyers & Company. http://billmoyers.com

Media Consolidation Meaning & Definition. GoodParty.org. (n.d.). https://goodparty.org/politicalterms/media-consolidation