Great comments. I agree with you about the importance of historical context and economic powers (along with their motives) in developing effective strategies for social change.

I’ll think carefully about the role of historical context in the cultivation of new frames within an existing social order. We might need to expand our capacities when this comes up for specific issues to include thoughtful people (like yourself) who have valuable insights into the historical context of strategic issues.

Thanks for sharing!

Joe

Without a solid understanding of relevant historical context, as well as the economic interests shaping the frames, understanding the media is next-to impossible.

I write from Venezuela, where we are witnessing (over the last few years) a masterful effort on the part of US and international corporate media to shape US public opinion on this country.

Without understanding history or economic interests at play, it is impossible to ask the right questions about US corporate media content. Without these two elements we will never fully understand the frames shaping our thoughts.

Decontextualizing and removing an official enemy from its surrounding history (be that “enemy” a welfare mom, a state health care plan, or a foreign country) is a time tested approach to shifting public opinion.

In addition, blurring lines of class and the economic interests at play (done so well by Reaganomics… if the wealthy do well we all do well, right?) bring us to tie our hopes to the fortunes of the global economy and its many actors, as nearly any “news” program invites us to do.

In the case of Venezuela, for example, is vital to know that in the last 200 years there is not one single example of a Latin American country that has deviated from US economic interests that has not been subjected to US-backed coups, invasions, blockades, assassinations, etc etc etc.

It is also crucial to know that not one of those US foreign policy adventures in the region would have been possible without media collaboration. The recipe is nearly identical, and the examples run into the hundreds.

Understanding both history and economic interests goes a long way to contextualize the frames in question.

Great suggestions! We’re planning to develop resources of value to the citizen activist, and will want to be sure they are accessible and affordable to those who will benefit most from having them. Your idea of having a subscription feed is something we’re already considering. It offers access at a low monthly rate that individuals can afford, while ensuring that our new developments are delivered to the progressive community continuously on a month-to-month basis.

Thanks for the great suggestions. We’ll have resources to share with the world soon!

Best,

Joe

Great suggestion! I agree that we need to help clarify the short-comings of many standard assumptions, including the problematic nature of striving for objectivity in news reporting.

We definitely plan to offer insights into (a) what contested concepts are; (b) how to identify them; and (c) how competing “truths” of different contexts can be recognized and worked with effectively. The example Eric gave in the article you reference is an excellent example of how the purpose of the author shapes which “relevant truth” is more appropriate… in particular because both contexts present legitimate and accurate facts that lead to contradictory conclusions.

Thanks for the suggestion,

Joe

I think this is important because this mythical idea of objective reality is not just present in journalism, but in factual resources such as textbooks and encyclopedias. (Nicely addressed in this article by Eric Haas: http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/rockridge/wikipedia-white-washing-there-s-truth-in-facts-and-frames/view.html)

So while we can create a media without spin, we cannot have one without frames. And power over the frames we use gives us clarity over our communication. I’d like to see more examples like the ones presented in Eric Haas’ article that might help me recognize it in my daily life.

Thanks!