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The emerging global media system reveals the newest stage of class struggle under capitalism. The neoliberalist call for government deregulation of the media & communications markets is essentially a call for their "re-regulation" to serve corporate interests. With stunning speed, seven multinational corporations -- Disney, AOL-Time Warner, Sony, News Corporation, Viacom, Vivendi, & Bertelsmann -- have gained global domination. The second tier in media industries has quickly emerged gaining national & regional dominance. They form ties & joint ventures with the global oligopoly that allows the major giants to showcase local control while they exercise domination of politicians, promote pro-business policies, & expand the global media market, at the expense of large segments of local populations. The demise of public broadcasting, the inefficacy of Third World resistance, & the hidden fist of the US military reveal much about renewed imperialism & the challenge to political democracy, & highlight the need for socialists to defend social justice & democratic values through making media issues part of their political platforms. L. A. Hoffman

Although socialists since the time of Marx have supported democracy, they have argued that democracy in capitalist societies is fundamentally flawed because the wealthy have control over the working class. Investment & control over production are the province not of democratic politics but of a wealthy few. For socialists, the purpose of class politics is to provide for genuine democracy to help the poor & eliminate class exploitation. It is important that the people have access to accurate information, & the US media system is failing to provide this. It does not serve democracy but exists to generate profit for its owners. This article details the rise & fall of professional journalism in the US & how it can be characterized as ideological class warfare. Media reform is an essential element for socialists. R. Larsen