Robert W. McChesney is the author of seven books, including Rich Media, Poor Democracy: Communication Politics in Dubious Times (New Press, 2000). He is also a Professor of Communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and co-editor of Monthly Review. His website is robertmcchesney.com.

Recent articles

The renowned critic sees in the inadequacies of US coverage of Enron, the 2000 election, and the ‘war on terrorism’ ample evidence of his argument that the dominant media system fails democracy.

In the wake of Benjamin Compaine’s challenge, Robert McChesney reaffirms his view that the concentration of media ownership is a danger to democracy, as it augments the limitations of a corporate and commercial system. This is a global issue, and not simply a US one. But since US media corporations are so powerful and influential across the world, the conclusions that follow from a focus on the US experience have a much wider relevance.

The global media are integrating and their ownership is concentrating in fewer hands. This process threatens to undermine democracy. We need more independent and non-commercial media to challenge the corporate stranglehold on the culture.