News Article

The Northwest Alliance for Responsible Media (NWARM) will present a viewing of “Rich Media, Poor Democracy” at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 25, at the Magic Lantern Theatre, located at 25 West Main Ave., downtown Spokane. A moderated open-forum discussion will follow the film, which was produced by Loretta Alper and Sut Jhally. This event is free and open to the public (donations welcome).

Based on Robert McChesney’s book, “Rich Media, Poor Democracy,” the film addresses the corporate media explosion and the corresponding implosion of public life that characterizes society today. McChesney argues that the media, far from providing a standard for freedom and democracy, has become a significant anti-democratic force in the United States and, to varying degrees, worldwide. Through numerous examples, McChesney and media scholar Mark Crispin Miller demonstrate how journalism has been compromised by the corporate bosses of conglomerates to produce a system of news that is high on sensationalism and low on information.

 NWARM, which works in partnership with the Gonzaga University Master’s Program in Communication and Leadership, is an organization committed to monitoring the influence of media on our society, educating the media about this influence, and working with service professionals to influence the media to act responsibly in helping create a healthy environment for all.

“Rich Media, Poor Democracy” is the first in a NWARM series of films and discussions aimed at helping the community critically examine media’s role in society.

 For more information, visit the Web site for NWARM or contact the organization at (509) 323-3578 or via e-mail at nw-arm@gonzaga.edu.