Week 6 - Barker 11

Certainly TV plays an powerful role to both shape our culture and display it. The power TV wields as text can be easily seen today in the advocacy Journalism that is the News. CNN, NBC and CBS are seen as being left leaning, while Fox describes themselves as neutral. Fox says, "We report you decide." Or, this is a "No Spin Zone." However, it seems most would agree that Fox is right leaning. This clearly demonstrates the kind of hegemony that Barker talks about. The News network is in the dominant role and we have little choice other than to be subjected to it. The News dispenses ideology whether it wants to or not. The News network has the subtle but immensely powerful tool of focusing our view of the world on whatever corporate executives decide. This focus may be based upon an agenda as Barker discusses. This in turn shapes out atitudes and beliefs about people groups, ourselves, ethics and the economy.