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IF THE GLOBAL MEDIA WOULD SAVE THEMSELVES, THEN...
There is a reason for the muted media voices which have been covering the Wall Street protests, which have increased unabated worldwide for more than a month, and it has nothing to do with the protesters' apparent lack of a unified voice. Rather, it concerns the bewilderment of the media in responding appropriately to the populist outcry for justice.
While attempting to retain their privileged status as reporters of the impact which this movement is having on the power elitists, they sense their own imminent demise as the messengers and protectors of the failed status quo. Media moguls find themselves in the precarious position of falling from the tightrope suspended between two opposing factions. Should they err on the side of the power elites who grant their current power or side with those determined to wrest power from these same power elitists?
By what method can such public media outlets avoid the bias which dooms them to the precipitous plunge which is inevitable? Can they continue to magnify the voices which increasingly clamor for changes which would radically transform their position as buffer between the power elites and the have-nots?
The media's wait-and-see attitude is palpable as they struggle to simply report the news without partiality. Should they position themselves as sympathetic observers of the protesting victims of this massive economic collapse, they will appear to be abdicating their position as supporters of those who have profited from the status quo. Should they continue to cast dispersions on the overwhelming 99% majority, they risk further alienation from the masses and their representatives who will eventually come to power.
Since there is no middle position, and the tightrope walker will eventually fall, logic would suggest that a safer place would be that of an unbiased street reporter who senses that real change is inevitable. That way, as the no-longer firmly-entrenched power-and-wealth establishment begins their decline, the media can set about rebuilding neglected populist relationships. Honest and unbiased reporting is always good policy, the truth is eventually recognized, and those who would remain relevant need to embrace it.
There is merit in visualizing the objectives of these Wall Street protesters as a means of clarifying their message. Without risking irrelevancy, media should concentrate their reporting on the issues which have been identified by those who represent the vast majority of the victims. A good beginning would value justice, honesty, social reform, equality in form and function, orderly transition, peaceful assembly, responsible and responsive leadership, and integrity of purpose.
The American people are educated, fair-minded and forgiving, and we love our country to a fault. We recognize that we have the power to make meaningful changes which will affect the lives of our children and our fellow global citizens. As such, the 99% need a media which accurately reflects their positions and will give voice to their legitimate and long-overdue grievances. Please join us and be a real part of our national transformation!
Mark Overt Skilbred
