|
|
|
|
There are many population growth addicts, some hardly aware they have become addicted. Others are so badly addicted they have entered what psychologists would call a state of tolerance. That is, they have reached a state where increasingly larger doses (of population growth) are necessary to produce desired effects. |
|
|
|
CHAPTER 4: THE ADDICTS
Media Owners And Executives
How do media owners and executives measure success? Readers. Viewers. Listeners. The more newspaper and magazine readers, the more television viewers, the more radio listeners, and the more ad revenue, the more successful media owners and executives feel. Even when a media outlet is losing money with every issue or with every broadcast, they still crave more readers, viewers, and listeners.
And what makes more readers, viewers, and listeners? More people! A larger population!
If you find a newspaper, news magazine, radio or television newscast which has staff journalists who are allowed to present anything but the “growth is good” party line, count yourself as lucky. A few such organizations exist, but not many. In my experience, most adhere to a more typical pattern: They are quite generous in the space they provide to letter writers who express concern about population growth in their areas. At the same time, they expect their columnists and journalists, as well as their editorial page writers, to present only one view: “Growth, good or not, is inevitable.” And when they write “growth,” that is a code word for population growth.
Of course, to criticize American media executives--in press, radio, or television--for wanting more Americans is like criticizing bird hawks for wanting more song birds in their territories. That’s how each survives!
Find a media executive who is willing to go to his or her Board of Directors and say, “I’ve decided America is crowded enough. From now on, we’re going to let our readers/listeners/viewers know that rampant population growth is not good for America and it is not inevitable!”
Show me a media executive who is willing to say something like that and I’ll show you a media executive whose employment contract has a fabulous severance clause! |
|
|
|
|
©2006 Edward C. Hartman. All Rights Reserved
|
|
|
