Journalism is one of the devices whereby industrial autocracy keeps its control over political democracy; it is the day-by-day, between-elections propaganda, whereby the minds of the people are kept in a state of acquiescence, so that when the crisis of an election comes, they go to the polls and cast their ballots for either one of the two candidates of their exploiters.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Sinclair claims journalism maintains industrial control by keeping people passive between elections.
- In plain terms
- He says the news keeps people quiet so they only vote for the same exploiters during elections.
- What can you take from it?
- Media can be used to maintain power between votes.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does news shape voting?
- Who controls the narrative?
Another view
It assumes uniform passivity across the electorate.
More from Upton Sinclair
The first thing brought forth by the study of any religion, ancient or modern, is that it is based upon Fear.
Permalink to quote #20 The methods by which the 'Empire of Business' maintains its control over journalism are four: First, ownership of the papers; second, ownership of the owners; …
Permalink to quote #22 Man is an evasive beast, given to cultivating strange notions about himself. He is humiliated by his simian ancestry, and tries to deny his animal nature, to p…
Permalink to quote #19
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