One threat would be state regulation of the media. If the state is able to threaten to shut down, censor, or punish media outlets, the free discussion of public issues is imperilled. Without information and the capacity to talk about it, democracy could be stilted. Dependence of the media advertising could impel media outlets to cater to those doing the advertising, resulting in slanted news coverage or less information disclosure. Excessively concentrated ownership of media enterprises could limit the sources available to the public. (pp. 393–395)

Concentrated ownership limits the range of ideas, opinions, and information that reaches the public; conglomerates that include media and non-media interests may be reluctant to cover stories and interpret events in ways that would put the non-media interests in a bad light; concentrated ownership is said to produce a degree of uniformity in the partisan orientations of newspapers within the chain. (pp. 391–399)

Brooks and Ménard argue that commercial advertising conveys much more than the intended message. We are, in fact, urged to buy, period. Its effect is to create a high-consumption society comprised of consumers with a high-consumption mindset. It also creates stereotypes and images of the ideal individual. Brooks and Ménard identify some: the youthful, the slender, the muscular, the large-breasted, the materially successful, the extroverted, and the “cool.” Others are excluded from the advertiser’s message, such as the poor, visible minorities, and men and women who do not conform to the “ideal.” There are exceptions, of course, but by and large advertisers find it more profitable to appeal to conventional beliefs and prejudices and to very basic emotional needs and insecurities and fantasies. (p. 402)

It has been argued that dependence on advertising may reduce the likelihood that powerful economic interests will be portrayed in a negative light. Brooks and Ménard produce evidence against this argument. But the authors suggest that, because the most lucrative advertising slots are associated with entertainment programming, news and public affairs shows may be marginalized, that is, relegated to off-peak viewing times or left to state-owned or viewer-supported broadcasters. (pp. 402–403)

The much larger American market enables US magazine publishers to produce a glossier product and pay better rates for articles at a lower cost than their small-market Canadian counterparts. (pp. 408–409)

The CBC’s role, Brooks and Ménard say, is to show Canadians what is distinctive about their society and culture. Far more than other broadcasters, the CBC has Canadianized the airwaves, particularly in its dramatic programming and during prime time viewing hours. Its main challenge is the budget cuts that began in the 1970s. This makes it difficult to rely on Canadian programming because increased revenue is more likely to come from showing non-Canadian programs. (pp. 409–410)

The visual character of television lends itself to the personalization of reality—an emphasis on individuals and personalities rather than ideas and broad social forces. Reality is depicted, say Brooks and Ménard, as a constantly shifting pastiche of images, based on the assumption that the average viewer has a short attention span. Brooks and Ménard also say that television depends on a repertory of stereotypes. Recognizable images are preferred over unfamiliar or confusing images. Television also relies on confrontation because it involves action and because it allows for the presentation of news in a way that people can easily grasp. (pp. 412–413)

The essential criterion has to do with influence. Those who are known to be influential or who occupy official positions of power are more likely to make the news than those who have no influence. In addition, all news organizations operate within a budget. Generally, it is cost-effective to concentrate resources where news is most likely to happen (e.g., Parliament Hill). (pp. 414–415)

There were two main findings: first, English-Canadian journalists tend to be more left-of-centre than the general public, and secondly, the left-leaning tendency of journalists affects the way news stories are reported. (pp. 415–416)

First you need to determine if a news item is indeed newsworthy based on certain factors such as low cost information, instant analysis etc. The predictability factor is also important in determining what becomes news. Finally, the visual appeal is just as important to portray facts accurately to the public. (pp. 414–415)

There are two biases associated with the visual character of television. Firstly, there is a dependence on repertory of stereotypes perpetuated by technological reasons. Secondly, there is an emphasis on confrontation in television, which involves action and conflict. (p. 413)

There are many ways that the media differs from their audiences. Firstly, journalists are less religious than the public, some public sector journalists are more left leaning than the public, the public tends to be more conservative on social issues than the media, and journalists are more likely to vote for NDP than the public. (p. 416)