Media bashing has become a reflex for many, but critical analysis of what we read, listen to, and watch is what’s essential. As Media Alliance’s mission statement puts it, “To ensure the free and unfettered flow of information and ideas necessary to maintain a truly democratic society, media must be accessible, accountable, decentralized, representative of society’s diversity, and free from covert or overt government control and corporate dominance.” The basic principle here was stated more succinctly by Jim Hightower, quoting unknown cowboys: “Always drink upstream from the herd.” It is with these thoughts in mind that we assembled this media criticism reading list. Continue reading READ ‘EM AND THINK (CRITICALLY): A media criticism reading list, by Gabe Martinez and Akilah Monifa →