Manufacturing Consent, The Political Economy of the Mass Media

Manufacturing Consent examines how mass media serves the interests of government and corporate elites through propaganda.

The book introduces the 'propaganda model,' detailing five filters that shape news: media ownership, advertising, sourcing, flak, and anticommunism.

These filters create systematic biases, limiting the range of opinions and information presented to the public.

Herman and Chomsky argue that these filters lead to self-censorship and a skewed perception of reality.

The book critiques media coverage of various events, illustrating how these filters operate in practice.

It remains a seminal work in media studies, influencing discussions about media bias and power.