Understanding the Propaganda Model

The propaganda model serves as a critical framework for analyzing how mass media operate under specific constraints. This model explains that news media must comply with a set of criteria dictated by powerful interests to effectively shape public opinion. Chomsky and Erman emphasize that there are both material individuals benefiting from these operations and broader ideological systems, like capitalism, that influence how news is produced and consumed. As a result, the media’s role often shifts from informing the public to molding their perceptions, particularly in justifying governmental actions and military interventions.