Marxism & Pluralism - Alain de Botton on the news

1) To what extent do you agree with Alain de Botton's views on the News?
I agree with Alain de Botton's views to some extent as I also believe that we are "passive consumers" of news and are unable to really understand or acknowledge the events that happen around the world, in the right way. However his comment towards the end of the lecture "the news is the most wonderful tool of distraction ever invented" is quite exaggerated. The news is not a "distraction", but rather a "distorted picture of our society". News provides us with information on current world events, but I believe that they way in which it is provided in fact diverts us away from what really happened. The perspective from which it is reported plays a key role in the way the news is consumed and therefore brings up the argument of whether news is reliable. Therefore I agree with de Botton's view of the news to some extent however there are some parts in the video where he contradicts himself. 

 2) How can you link Marxism and Hegemony to de Botton's criticisms of the News?
Marxism revolves around the idea of an 'elite group of people' controlling the rest of society. This links to de Botton's criticisms of news as he explains that it it constructed by major news institutions (the 'elite') and forces the audience to accept or view the news in a particular way. The constant act of 'bombarding' audiences with news, therefore leads us to become 'passive consumers' of news and not question the way in which it is shown to us. This also links to the idea of the 'elite' controlling the media is seen as normal to society. Similarly the way in which we react to the news, makes us seem like violent acts of terror or scenes of poverty are the norm as we are being subjected to these stories on a daily basis- this leads to a lack of sympathy. 

3) How could you use Pluralism and new technology to challenge de Botton's views on the News?
Pluralism is the idea that audiences have the power to control and challenge content that is usually in the hands of the "elite". Pluralism and new tech could be used to challenge de Bottons views on the News, as audiences are able to produce content (UGC) that is shown on the news- citizen journalism. By providing first hand accounts of significant events, audiences can challenge the way in which media institutions shape news stories, and share content that shows another side to he story. This therefore goes against the idea of audiences being "passive consumers of news as we are able to challenge what is provided to us my institutions. 

4) Choose two news stories from the last six months - one that supports de Botton's views and one that challenges his belief that the News is used for social control. 
Supports- Trump endorsing Fox News continuously, while denouncing other news networks e.g CNN and claiming that they're "fake news".

Challenges- Labour party, sub-group, "Momentum" used social media to challenge ideologies of opposing party and MP's within labor party who were against Corbyn leadership; 86,000 followers on Twitter
Accuracy of reports from BBC Journalist Laura Kuenssberg were challenged by Momentum as unfairly criticizing Corbyn

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