Manufacturing Consent

The Political Economy of the Mass Media

Manufacturing Consent examines how ownership, advertising, government sources, and public pressure shape the selection and framing of news in the United States. Herman and Chomsky present a propaganda model that argues mainstream media often serve elite interests rather than acting as fully independent watchdogs. The book applies this framework to case studies including elections, foreign policy, and coverage of wars and human-rights issues. It is a work of media criticism and political economy, not a general history of journalism.

by Noam Chomsky

Pantheon Books · First published 1988 · 412 pages