The Ideological State Apparatus

The Mass Media has now replaced the Pulpit as the main pillar of the
Capitalist State Apparatus, which is even more fundamental to maintaining
Capitalist rule than are the FBI, CIA, JTTFs and the Pentagon.

So the ruling elite is not going to let anybody interfere with the
efficient working of something as important to them as the media, if they
can help it. The trend now is for them to increase and intensify ever
closer control of it. The potential to influence mass information processes
via "normal political channels" or processes is at present nil.

The only chance that this trend can be even partially reversed lies in the
possibility of mobilizing a Mass Movement so powerful that it will change
the entire political climate in the country.

Mobilization around "media issues", of campaigns for "media reform", "media
access" etc are an important component of any such strategy -- maybe the
key component, since it is largely via media that other movements and
campaigns can potentially be united.

But "single-issue politics", like band-aid solutions, are a recipe for
creating much ado about insignificant results.

The applicable principle is Concentration of Forces. "Concentrate your
forces to make a breakthrough at a key point".

There will be major demonstrations against the war in Iraq etc on March 20.
The role of the media will be addressed -- but how prominently? If the
media reform organizations were to take a major part in planning and
mobilizing for these actions, it seems likely that it might be possible to
place media issues nearer the top of the agendas, the fliers, speaker lists
etc.

Putting pressure on the existing mass media outlets: start with massive
picket lines; follow with carefully considered selective boycotts of
advertisers, picket lines around advertisers places of business? Find out
where TV execs etc live, and picket their houses?

When they are ready to negotiate, people with professional media expertise
can sit down and discuss, presenting specific demands. Negotiating teams
need to include, in addition to attorneys, several experienced labor
negotiators, who know how to spot the gambits and tricks that will be tried.

But it is the street level mass mobilization that provides the owners with
incentive to negotiate. For this, the media activist organizations will
need support from other movements and popular organizations.

So: media activism needs to cajole into existence a massive Coalition of
Everybody: every progressive organization, every leader, every activist,
all who are actively opposed to the Status Quo, by persuading all to focus
our Concentrated Forces on the media, as a way to gain leverage in the
overall society and political setup, and thus to bring about desired
changes in existing conditions.

That's my best take on it -- I looking forward to reading your improvements?

Dan Elliott
Sacramento

PS: The phrase "Ideological State Apparatus" is lifted from the late Louis Althusser: cf his "Reading Capital" and other works.