-- a study and critique of advertising and its corrosive effects on society,
-- the political economy of the Internet and the kind of digital world we want and deserve,
-- the study of global communication to close the circle by internationalizing research - and more.
These and other areas (in all realms of teaching such as cultural studies) are vitally needed but must be thorough, ongoing and credible to be effective. Yet it's only a beginning to make communication a prominent academic field and for its research to be vital ammunition in the media reform struggles ahead. But it's only one part of them.
The outcome of this critical juncture is very much in play, and success depends on "the quality and quantity of public participation in core communication policy issues." If corporate interests control the debate, the digital communication future "will be a shadow of what it might be otherwise....It will be their system, not ours."
A viable, independent, free and open media is "indispensable to a true participatory democracy "generating social justice" like the one developing under Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. This requires an active, "informed popular participation in media policymaking." Failure will be catastrophic and a huge opportunity lost at a crucially important time not to fail.
McChesney ends by paraphrasing a hopeful address by sociologist Pierre Bourdieu before he died: "what we need today is to rekindle reasoned utopianism - the notion (that people have the right) to use their imaginations to construct the media (as a necessary starting point), the economy, and the world to suit their democratically determined needs." Why not, and we have "more control over our destiny than we usually do" at critical juncture moments like now. We can't afford to blow it at a time we need a "real communication revolution" and have a great chance to get one.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also, visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
I am a 72 year old, retired, progressive small businessman concerned about all the major national and world issues, committed to speak out and write about them.
