Speaking to a crowd of students, faculty and community members Thursday, famous media critic and prolific author Robert McChesney presented his research on the current crisis in American journalism. According to McChesney, the crisis is now “conventional wisdom,” and has resulted in a “striking reduction in resources” and significant commercial pressures on journalism.

McChesney claimed that the public is responding by blaming the Internet and journalism’s obsolescence for the “crisis,” though it predates widespread use of the Internet. McChensey also pointed out that while many people get their news from comedy shows, films, and music, these sources must “have a base to work off of.”

“Everything rides on [journalism],” McChesney said, citing the field’s value to founding fathers James Madison and Thomas Jefferson for the prevention of militarism, empire and inequality. According to McChesney, democratic journalism requires the accurate and rigorous investigation of people in power as well as a wide range of views on the important issues of the day, not just those wealthy people find important.

People must demand greater resources for journalists and protection of media outlets from state and commercial harassment, McChesney said. He added that journalists must challenge local power and revise how stories are selected. “You can only raise an issue if someone in power is talking about it,” said McChesney.

Although the Internet is frequently blamed for the crisis, he said the public also wrongly believes that the Internet will be its solution. However, McChesney warns that without “ubiquitous Internet” access and guards against government censorship, the Internet may become just as commercialized as television and other media outlets. He asked the audience to support the House Internet Freedom Preservation Act (HR 5353), endorsed by Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Chip Pickering (R-Miss.), which will prevent the privatization of the internet. Freepress.net gives more information on how to take action.

“We’re at a tipping point,” McChesney said. In our “democratic society that is highly unequal, there are strong pressures to be depoliticized... People participate to the extent that they believe their participation matters.”