Succession, Media Conglomerates, and Democracy.
Succession, Media Conglomerates, and Democracy
I was deeply inspired to write this piece after finishing HBO’s Succession. While at first glance the show might seem to focus on four siblings vying for their father’s approval and control over the family business, the series actually offers a profound critique of media conglomerates and their influence on shaping not just national but global narratives.
Succession reflects a theme central to Noam Chomsky’s work on media and public opinion. For those unfamiliar, Chomsky’s arguments—particularly in his book Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda—explore how the public forms opinions about their country’s welfare. Are these opinions shaped by independent, well-reasoned thought, or are they influenced by the media's carefully curated narratives?
Chomsky’s key argument is that the media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion. Every headline, every story, every news segment has an agenda. Even when reporting appears neutral or objective, there is often a subtle, underlying purpose. This doesn’t mean we should distrust the media entirely, but rather approach it with a critical eye. After all, every journalist, every media outlet, is ultimately tied to larger corporate or political interests.
This is where Succession shines. Spoilers ahead, be careful.
Logan and Kendall's Power Struggle: When Logan Roy, the media mogul patriarch, sees his son Kendall as a threat, he uses the media to his advantage. Tabloid stories about Kendall’s drug abuse are strategically released to damage his image and permanently undermine his credibility as a potential successor. This highlights the dangerous weaponization of media for personal gain, even within a family, and portrays Logan as a master of manipulation.
Election Manipulation: The Roy family’s search for a controllable candidate in the upcoming Presidential election is a stark commentary on how media elites influence political discourse. They don’t just support candidates; they create them, shaping the political landscape to suit their business interests.
The Vaulter Acquisition: The acquisition of Vaulter, a small but popular online media company, mirrors real-world buyouts like Vice, BuzzFeed, or Gawker. In Succession, the purchase isn't about supporting independent journalism—it’s about absorbing and manipulating alternative media voices to strengthen their empire.
PGM and the Pierce Family: The family’s pursuit of PGM, a prestigious news network, feels reminiscent of Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of The Wall Street Journal. Murdoch famously vowed to reshape the Journal’s legacy to compete with The New York Times, much like Logan’s efforts to control and redefine his own media empire.
Through these plotlines, Succession brilliantly illustrates Chomsky’s argument: the media is not a neutral player. It serves the interests of those in power, often dictating the narratives we consume. Whether you lean left or right politically, the media has a hand in shaping the stories we see and hear, reinforcing the biases we already hold.
Ultimately, we all consume the news and content that align with our preferences. It’s human nature to seek convenience over complexity, and in today’s world, where truth is subjective and narratives are fluid, it’s easy to overlook the bigger picture.
Do we need another revolution to balance the capitalist mindset with democratic values? Perhaps. But it starts with us, the consumers. Question everything you read, watch, and hear—even this very article.
Huzzah!
