# Project censored: legit or baloney? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 24, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-censored-legit-or-baloney/203608 "2003-09-24T18:55:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-censored-legit-or-baloney/203608/21 "2003-09-26T15:17:23Z")
Posted by **JRDelirous:** > [@](#): > > However I’ve always laughed at the idea that the Big Corporate Media in the USA are agents of a “leftist agenda”. They’re agents of their bottom line, relying on what will keep their target audience segment happy. It’s not that simple, JR. They want to keep their audience happy, but they also want to keep their parent company happy. Reporters and editors are not their own masters; their paychecks are ultimately issued and signed by MBAs, whose attitudes on certain public issues are in general very well known. Do you really think that circumstance doesn’t have some influence on their editorial decisions? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-censored-legit-or-baloney/203608/22 "2003-09-26T15:41:05Z")
Posted by **JRDelirous:** > [@](#): > > However I’ve always laughed at the idea that the Big Corporate Media in the USA are agents of a “leftist agenda”. They’re agents of their bottom line, relying on what will keep their target audience segment happy. It’s not that simple, JR. They want to keep their audience happy, but they also want to keep their parent company happy. Reporters and editors are not their own masters; their paychecks are ultimately issued and signed by MBAs, whose attitudes on certain public issues are in general very well known. Do you really think that circumstance doesn’t have some influence on their editorial decisions? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-censored-legit-or-baloney/203608/23 "2003-09-27T19:45:27Z")
Sure, **BrainGlutton** ; but that’s included in the “agents of the bottom line” concept. After all, the parent company accounting trolls will be quite understanding if your piece that is contrary to their preferred political bias results in ratings and ad sales going thru the roof. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-censored-legit-or-baloney/203608/24 "2003-09-27T21:15:21Z")
> [@](#): > > _JRDelirious said:_ > …the parent company accounting trolls will be quite understanding if your piece that is contrary to their preferred political bias results in ratings and ad sales going thru the roof. And the story isn’t considered considered offensive by any of their major advertisers (which is where they actually make most of their income, subscription is a pittance). It doesn’t matter what your ratings are if you don’t make the sponsors happy. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-censored-legit-or-baloney/203608/25 "2003-09-28T22:20:41Z")
Oy, gevalt… what’s the matter here? Are you telling me _that_ is not a known, given factor? Notice what I said: what the audience _wants_, not what the public needs. And the audience wants stories that make them feel good: they want to be told it’s Morning in America Again. Which suits the advertisers just beautifully, IMO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-censored-legit-or-baloney/203608.md?page=1)