Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire

No News Is Bad News: The Death Dance of Journalism and the Twilight of Democracy
Bill Quigley
20 May 2009
🖨️ Print Article

by Robert McChesney

In this 90 minute address, Dr. Robert McChesney argues that the disappearance of journalism from newspapers and broadcast media marks the twilight of democracy.  Back in the days when Frederick Douglass and other abolitionists started their newspapers, the US Postal Service was mailing them for free.  At the time, newspapers were 90% of post office volume, and accounted for 2% of its income, a massive government subsidy.  Only a massive subsidy --- a stimulus program for journalism, and stripping corporate owners of dozens and hundreds of stations that some of them own, can begin to make real democracy possible.

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles? Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


More Stories


  • Jeremy Kuzmarov
    Renegade African-American Soldier Should Be Remembered For Resisting White Supremacy and Colonialism
    04 Mar 2026
    David Fagen's defection demonstrated the history of Black solidarity with oppressed people.
  • BAR Radio Logo
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio February 27, 2026
    27 Feb 2026
    In this week’s segment, we discuss Trump administration proposals to disenfranchise voters and unconstitutionally give the federal government control over elections. But we begin with an analysis of…
  • Jacqueline Luqman
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution In the Aftermath of U.S. Aggression
    27 Feb 2026
    The Simon Bolivar Institute in Caracas, Venezuela, hosted a delegation from the International Brigade for Peace and Solidarity with Venezuela. We’re joined by one of those delegates, Jacqueline…
  • Black voters matter
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Voting Rights Threatened by SAVE Act and Federal Election Takeover Plot
    27 Feb 2026
    The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act was passed in the House of Representatives and would disenfranchise millions of people, as would Trump’s plan to unconstitutionally “nationalize”…
  • Black Alliance for Peace
    BAP Condemns Kidnapping and Torture of Kenyan Revolutionary Leader
    27 Feb 2026
    Kenya presents itself as a regional stable democracy. The torture and framing of the Marxist party leader belies this narrative.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us