Where is global media today? Big business is in control in many countries and we are reminded that media plays an essential role “as part of a system of checks and balances”.

Over the course of 16 essays, journalists and academics in the field examine the affect of ‘media capture’, around the world. Defined by Alina Mungiu-Pippidi as when media are controlled “either directly by governments or by vested interests networked with politics”, with the emphasis on vested interests and their influence to change the politics, this has been redefined to where the “goal of most media is to promote vested interest to the detriment of classic media objectives”.

The consequences of this is felt throughout society and the effect of media capture is an important debate in the digital age. The book does offer solutions and how it can be controlled and tech companies regulated but the editor considers “we are on a trajectory in which matters could become even worse”.

Media Capture: How Money, Digital Platforms And Governments Control The News, edited by Anya Schiffrin published Columbia University Press later this month.

Media Capture gives an insider look at the issue of media takeovers by entities that have an interest in manipulating what information is fed to the public. The book is a collection of chapters written by different authors, all from various fields involved in the media.

Each chapter examines one aspect of media capture. Taken together, they give an overall picture of how media is influenced by outside forces worldwide. It’s not just social media, but also print and television, etc. The influencers can be government or private. All have their own agenda and message.

The picture looks bleak and I found myself feeling a bit overwhelmed with the extent of media capture happening globally. It is something to think about long and hard. Which media outlets are free from outside influences? Which have been ‘captured’ by interests whose goal is not specifically to deliver straight news? As media consumers, it is up to each of us to carefully vet each source that we consult. This becomes more difficult as the ownership of each outlet becomes murkier.

The authors are journalists and also scholars who study this phenomenon. Their combined experience brings a thorough picture to the reader. There are chapters about the U.S., but also other countries such as India, Turkey, and the UK. The chapters document the many alliances between the media and government in these countries. It is written in a documentary format and does not seem to take one side or the other. As a reader, I think I bring my own biases to the story. To me, the marriage of government and media is distressing. So, I may interpret some things as negative, while another reader may come away with a different perspective.

Overall, this book paints a picture that more media consumers need to be aware of. Most of us are aware of the influence of social media, but we also need to pay attention to the more traditional media, such as newspapers. The affects of outside influence can creep in anywhere. It is up to the consumers to be wary of our sources of information these days.

Highly recommended if you are interested in the truth behind media capture and how this can influence public opinion.

An interesting read for everyone interested in freedom of speech, democracy and independent media. It is a collection of articles, written by professionals and experts, covering a broad range of topics - from the recent history of journalism to contemporary examples to possible solutions. I very much appreciate including cases from other countries besides the US. However, it is worth mentioning that it is rather a textbook than an essay or typical nonfiction.

Thanks to the publisher, Columbia University Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

DNF. 3.5 stars.

I enjoyed this book to a degree, it made for a fast read detailing the influence of technology in America.

I did, however, find some aspects and ideas repetitive which meant I did not finish the book. It takes a far more academic form than the title would suggest - I would imagine it’s good for research, it is just not what I was looking for at this exact moment in time.

Many thanks to NetGallery for providing me with this in exchange for an honest review :)

This was a good book on media and how the news we get is controlled. The book covers all the media from newpapers, tv news and social media news. There is given a clear view of how govenment and media combine to controil what we see and watch. They can control our emotions and values by showing what they deem necessay for the public to see. This book is quite an eyeopener.I recpmmend this book for all who question what we see and hear and question. I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley as a reviewer but my thoughts and opinions are my own.

It reads very fast. In fact, the topics covered in the book are very timely and give a good look at the media environment in the United States.

While the main focus is on the United States, the media, and how the media and big companies enter into - to put it mildly - unpleasant alliances in the name of visibility and profit, this book is not hate. On the contrary, the articles and essays collected in this book are by authors who have extensive experience and know what they are talking about.

The authors draw from their experience and participate in media life. There are interesting data and tips for the whole field.

Thanks to the publisher, Columbia University Press, for giving me a glimpse via NetGalley of this book before it is published.