All over the world, wherever there are capitalists, freedom of the press means freedom to buy up newspapers, to buy writers, to bribe, buy and fake 'public opinion' for the benefit of the bourgeoisie.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Freedom of the press under capitalism is effectively the freedom of the bourgeoisie to buy and manipulate media, shaping public opinion to their benefit.
- In plain terms
- Press freedom under capitalism means the rich can control news.
- What can you take from it?
- Media ownership influences public discourse.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can press freedom be protected in a market economy?
- What role does public funding play?
Another view
Some independent outlets still exist despite capitalist pressures.
More from Vladimir Lenin
Trade unions and strikes cannot help in times of crisis when there is no demand for this 'commodity', they cannot change the conditions which, convert labour-p…
Permalink to quote #44 Only by abolishing private property in land and building cheap and hygienic dwellings can the housing problem be solved.
Permalink to quote #46 Modern militarism is the result of capitalism. In both its forms it is the 'vital expression' of capitalism-as a military force used by the capitalist states i…
Permalink to quote #43
Related quotes
Milne: No matter how imperfect things are, if you've got a free press everything is correctable, and without it everything is concealable. Ruth: I'm with you o…
Tom StoppardTom Stoppard quote #27 I know the British press is very attached to the lobby system. It lets the journalists and the politicians feel proud of their traditional freedoms while givin…
Tom StoppardTom Stoppard quote #29 'Freedom of the press is the mortar that binds together the bricks of democracy -- and it is also the open window embedded in those bricks.' -- Speech at the U…
Shashi TharoorShashi Tharoor quote #35