Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media

Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media examines the life, work, and ideas of political activist Noam Chomsky. Expanding upon the book Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, filmmakers Mark Achbar and Peter Wintonick take a deep dive into Chomsky’s central arguments.

At the core of Chomsky’s model is the idea that corporate media, driven primarily by profit, serves elite interests that are rarely criticised. As an example of this thesis, the film offers a critical examination of The New York Times, focusing on its coverage of East Timor during the Indonesian occupation. According to the film, Chomsky argues that this reporting exemplifies how elite interests are protected by mainstream media.

Through new interviews and archival material, the documentary brings to light the political, economic, and ethical issues at the heart of Chomsky’s work, subjecting them to detailed and sustained examination.