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


  • Black Agenda Radio
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio November 22, 2024
    22 Nov 2024
    This week, we discuss the COP29 climate summit and why the earth is still warming despite prior climate agreements. But first, we analyze the 2024 presidential election results and why Donald Trump…
  • Election results map
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Election Analysis from Anthony Monteiro
    22 Nov 2024
    Dr. Anthony Monteiro joins us to discuss the 2024 presidential election results, why Kamala Harris failed to connect with millions of voters, and what will happen under a Trump presidency.
  • COP 29
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    COP29 and Climate Agreement Failure
    22 Nov 2024
    Anthony Rogers-Wright provides his analysis of the latest United Nations climate change summit, COP29, now being held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Biden Leaves Office But Risks War with Russia
    20 Nov 2024
    Democrats are in a collective state of panic because Donald Trump is returning to the presidency. But Joe Biden is escalating conflict in the Ukraine proxy war against Russia and endangering the…
  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    ESSAY: Revolution and the Negro, CLR James, 1939
    20 Nov 2024
    Haiti’s Battle of Vertières reminds us that resistance is not futile, that victory will come.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us