Marxism & Pluralism: Alain de Botton on the news

1) To what extent do you agree with Alain de Botton's views on the News?

Alain de Botton believes that the news is a tool that can numb you, as it gives you access to information that can erode any sense of real priorities. In order for people to accept the status quo, he said there is two ways in doing this. You can give people no news or you can do the exact opposite, where you drown them in news. De Botton's view sides very much with a Marxist view as he believes 'the news is the most powerful force out there shaping how we see the economic and historical problems'.

2) How can you link Marxism and Hegemony to de Botton's criticisms of the News?

Marxists believe the media is a tool used by ruling bodies to maintain control over divides in society. The theory of Marxism can link to De Botton's opinion as he believes that the news decides what the viewers deem as 'interesting'. This just goes to show that the ruling bodies decide what we should find interesting and what they choose to deliver to their audiences will have to be what they watch. The lady beside him said that audiences need education, as the news is corrupting us, due to these opinion leaders feeding us information. The news is said to 'not be made by the people', thus leading to a lack of connection between audiences and the news, going against the pluralistic values of a society.

3) How could you use Pluralism and new technology to challenge de Botton's views on the News?

Pluralism, the thought of a classless society with free choice to media goes against Alain's point about 'being force fed the same stories all the time.' Alain believes that the news is 'chosen' for the audiences. A Pluralist ideology could challenge De Botton's views as they would argue that the 'audience has the ability to choose what they want to watch and consume'. Every consumer has freedom of choice, and if they happen to choose that news channel to watch, where they deliberately portray a negative portrayal or mis information, then it is down to them to differenciate between the real and false. New technology may change his view as social media and online news articles give viewers more autonomy in what they want to view and consume. Ahmed also says tthere news gives us a moral purpose: to create a sense of community, inform us, and change and improve the world.