How the US right wing is taking over news media and choking press freedom

Edward Helmore

the Guardian

The US right has appeared to increase its influence on mainstream media in America in recent weeks, especially in television news which has been a major target of the Donald Trump administration.

CBS News – once home to legends of US journalism such as Walter Cronkite and Edward R Murrow – installed a Trump ally as its ombudsman, weeks after the family of Larry Ellison, one of the world’s richest men, and a friend of the US president, sealed control over Paramount, the owner of CBS.

Now Paramount is reportedly looking to buy Warner Bros Discovery, the media behemoth behind CNN, which would potentially bring the influential news network under the roof of an increasingly Trump-friendly conglomerate.

Imagine a giant game where, instead of everyone having their own toys, just five people own almost all the toys in the world. This is what people mean by a "New Media Gilded Age." A few super-wealthy families are buying up the TV channels and websites that tell us what is happening in the world.

The merger of major media organizations like CBS News and CNN into a single entity controlled by Trump allies Larry and David Ellison threatens the very foundations of digital democracy..

Here are the five main things you should know about how this is changing your news:

1. The "Local News" Trick

Consolidation has allowed a handful of corporate entities to bypass local editorial independence entirely. You might think the news anchor you see on TV every night lives in your city and decides what stories are important for your neighborhood. But actually, big companies like Sinclair own hundreds of these local stations. They often force local anchors to read the exact same script written by bosses far away in a different city. Because you trust your local anchor, you might not realize the message is coming from a giant corporation instead of your own community.

2. The Great Media Shopping Spree

In the past, there were 50 different companies that owned the news; now, it’s mostly just five big groups. For example, a very rich man named Larry Ellison and his son, David, are currently trying to buy massive networks like CBS and CNN. When just a few people own everything, they get to decide what you see and, more importantly, what you don't see on TV, TikTok, and HBO.

3. Only One Side of the Story

When these big companies take over, they often stop talking as much about local things—like your school board or city parks—and focus more on national politics. The new owners are often friends with powerful politicians, which can lead them to cancel shows that are critical of those leaders. This means the news can start to sound like an advertisement for one political team instead of just telling the facts.

4. The "Referees" are Taking a Break

The government is supposed to act like a referee to make sure no company gets too big or powerful. There is even a rule that says one company shouldn't be allowed to reach more than 39% of the homes in the country. However, big companies are asking the government to change these rules so they can get even bigger. Some people are worried because the "referees" (government officials) sometimes used to work for the very companies they are now supposed to be watching.

5. You Have to Be a "News Detective"

Because a few people have so much power over what we hear, you can't just believe something is true just because a person on TV says it very loudly or looks serious. To find the truth, you have to be a detective:

• Check other sources: See if different news companies are saying the same thing.

• Ask "Who owns this?": Think about if the person telling the story might be trying to help their friends or their boss.

• Look for facts, not feelings: Some news is designed to make you feel scared or angry instead of just giving you information