A Foreigner Asks: Who Controls Your Media?

So many of us are so absorbed with local media matters, it’s interesting to hear a broader take on the business. That’s what I got this morning talking in Dallas to 24 foreign-national “spokesperson” types attached to U.S. embassies in Africa, Europe, Asia, etc. Many of the hard-copy newspapers in their countries are under siege by evolving tastes, just like ours, it seems. And, one guy doubted that the demise of the American newspaper would be much of a loss. “They’re all controlled by corporations or the political parties anyway, aren’t they?” he asked. I said that wasn’t true, but wondered later if he might not have a point. The skull session was arranged by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.