MSM, RIP - It’s time for new terminology

a Paulunteer exclusive by Vince Mross

Not long ago it occurred to me that back when the internet was young and fresh it was often referred to as the “New Media”. Well now it’s pretty firmly entrenched in just about everyone’s lives, and the freedom and creativity it has spawned made me really stop and think about how we access our information, and in particular how it pertains to the political process.

I’m sure many people have heard or read those in the Old Media deride Ron Paul supporters for using the term “Main Stream Media”, as if we are the ones who are out of touch. Now, we all know how blatantly false this is, and also how the OM are trying to save face by saying that we are “wackos” and “kooks” who live on the fringes of society. Well, it’s time to turn the tide. We need to abandon the whole “MSM” terminology and replace it with something that expresses the true nature of what is going on with mass communications - not just here in the USA, but around the world.

Since I became a dedicated supporter of Dr. Paul, I have been amazed at the diversity and integrity of the people I have met in this movement - not just in my meetup groups or at campaign functions, but also in the total strangers I have swayed to support Dr. Paul with just simple, short conversations full of common sense and truth. Contrary to what the OM try to tell their subjects, this movement is full of wonderful people from all walks of society - young and old, fresh faced college kids and successful entrepreneurs, retirees, brave members of our military (active and retired), doctors, lawyers, farmers, accountants, firefighters, policemen, artists, scientists, musicians, disenfranchised Republicans, Democrats, Greens, Libertarians, and yes, even a few anarchists as Dr. Paul likes to joke about. In other words, average Americans.

What we are definitely not is a handful of slackers who have nothing better to do than noodle around on the internet, as the OM would like everyone to believe. The creativity and ingenuity that flows from this movement is evidenced on this and hundreds (thousands?) of other websites that have sprung up in our country and around the world in support of the good doctor, as well as the obvious efforts of people like Trevor Lyman, Lew Rockwell, whoever thought of the blimp, etc., etc., etc… Creativity flows wherever freedom exists - look no further than the “world famous high fashion malls” of Soviet Russia for proof - they don’t exist…

Meanwhile, like an over-the-hill and punchdrunk prize fighter, the OM just keeps churning out the same loud and righteous proclamations of their own greatness. Do a Google search for “what percentage of americans watch network news?” and look at the results… they speak for themselves. Only 30-40% of Americans are even tuning in to network news any more (or reading OM newspapers), but meanwhile 80% of adults in the USA are now using the internet. While they rant on and on about how Dr. Paul’s support is only on the internet - well, duh - we agree, and we’re the majority now! We don’t need your trash TV and your endless advertisements for junk anymore, thank you… and we’ll see you at the polls!

So, I am proposing that every Paul supporter (heck, Kucinich & Gravel supporters are welcome too) STOP using the term “Main Stream Media” and replace it with “Old Media”. The (formerly) major media outlets are outdated and are no longer the voice of the people, and we cannot let them hold onto this perception of influence any longer. If it also becomes part of our daily vocabulary, then it’s an easy way to initiate conversations about media bias without coming off sounding like a (enter your favorite smear here: “conspiracy nut”, “flake”, etc.). Just drop it casually in everyday conversation, or better yet when you are out canvassing your neighborhood (we are all doing that, right?)…

Part of the beauty of the term is that it has a certain finality to it, in that it relates just as much to the message and the messenger as the medium. It is subtle enough to be taken seriously, but truthful enough to carry some weight. So let’s use this to our advantage when we approach people with Dr. Paul’s message, and start spreading the word about the “Old Media”!

Vince Mross

San Diego, CA