Paramount’s Power Move: Kiss of Death for Biden-Harris Coverage?

It appears that Paramount, now under the dominion of CEO David Ellison, is endeavoring to add Warner Bros. Discovery to its list of subsidiaries, thereby bringing the curtain down on CBS News and blending CNN into its media dominion. It’s a move that turns a spotlight on the overaccumulation of power in the hands of a few billion-dollar individuals, inflicting a multitude of issues for CBS, and raising warnings about the state of media diversification in America.

Looking at the broader canvas reveals a gloomy picture – this consolidation is not merely an internal reshuffling of the media industry. Underneath its veneer hides an emerging menace that can influence the character, content, and ideological bearing of major news outlets in the nation.

One cannot ignore the elephant in the room – the potential acquisition of CNN, let’s face it, would transform the popular media firm tremendously, further deepening the wound struck upon CBS News. Can we blame onlookers for raising eyebrows and expressing their apprehension in response to this latest development? Certainly not.

News first broke via The Wall Street Journal. No sooner had they cemented their grip on Paramount Global than the Ellison Family unfurled their plans to raise the bidding paddle for Warner Bros. Discovery. Emulating a domino effect, this purchase would inevitably secure CNN within the Ellisons’ expanding media empire.

This theoretical new media behemoth, with a bifocal vision leaning more towards right-leaning ideologies, would bring about certain consequential shifts within the operational dynamics of CBS News. Subsequently, their influence on ever-evolving program styles cannot be underestimated.

Recent happenings hint at a major change in CBS News’ ownership. The Ellison family, infamous occupants of the Dexter’s laboratory for the world’s wealthiest, have moved in lockstep to assert their influence over it. In a world where money talks and the media listens, this appears to be another attempt at playing puppet master with public opinion.

The distant sound of change in ownership at CBS, coupled with the looming threat of CNN’s acquisition by the Ellison family, is causing a ripple effect in the media waters. The direction of these waves predict a narrative amendment favoring pro-Trump coverage, splashing cold water on the faces of those who believe in media balance and objectivity.

This could potentially set the stage for a far-reaching transformation in the political narrative echoed by these news stations, pushing forward the notion that a right-leaning tilt in media coverage is the new normal. As viewers, one can’t help but to ponder – where is the objectivity in this power play?

We live in an era where power and capital seem to go hand in hand. As such, increased control of major news outlets by a handful of affluent individuals sets dangerous precedents for the objectivity and impartiality of news coverage in the country.

These maneuvers remain subject to media and public scrutiny alike – a threat to the free speech cornerstone of news media. Media consolidation risks the promotion of singular narratives and the silencing of diverse voices. Ironically, the very people these outlets claim to serve might find themselves on the receiving end of thinly-veiled propaganda.

The lawsuit in question could have far-reaching implications for the media industry, accelerating the consolidation process further and inevitably leading to the creation of a conglomerate dominated narrative. But one can’t help but wonder: at what cost to viewers’ right to an unbiased and balanced reporting?

The emergence of this essentially right-populist media landscape presents a significant challenge to the theory and practice of democratic communication. It is, no doubt, a blow to the ideal of a free and pluralistic media environment that our society has long cherished.

As the dynamic shifts, concerns over systemic imbalances resulting from a media monopoly grow ever more poignant. It’s time to consider the potential risks and pitfalls inherent in allowing the commodification and politicization of objective news platforms.

As the landscape of ownership evolves in the American media industry, vehement debates about the appropriate level of government involvement and regulation in such a critical sector of public life are all the more pertinent.

The domino effect of these potential acquisitions may not have rumbled through yet, but we should brace ourselves for the shockwaves due to hit the media landscape. The question remains – Will this ever-narrowing scope of control lead to a more monochromatic world view?

To quote Spiderman’s Uncle Ben, with great power comes great responsibility. As we stand on the precipice of this new era, we must tread carefully to ensure that the balance of power in media industries do not skew too heavily in favor of those with deeper pockets, compromising our ability to access unbiased and comprehensive news.