Worry about losing out to New Media Gatekeepers

“When Apple CEO Steve Jobs put the New York Times at the center of the ceremonious unveiling of his company’s iPad tablet device, the implication was clear: this is the future of the news–or at least Jobs wants us to think it is. He stands to gain not only financially but politically as Apple becomes a major gatekeeper for information….

…Before critics of liberal bias rejoice, however, consider that the tech world is probably just as far to the left as the journalism world. Jobs has given a total of $241,700 to the Democratic Party, and has donated to the campaigns of Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy, and Rahm Emanuel, according to OpenSecrets.org.

Google only last year allowed Christian and pro-life groups to place anti-abortion advertisements on its search engine. It made the decision grudgingly, and in the face of a legal battle.

With records like these, the gatekeepers could actually consolidate a liberal hold on the news media, even while wresting control over distribution from (overwhelmingly liberal) content providers. The result: Old Media lives on, and very little changes in terms of its political bent.

“Silicon Valley used to be libertarian, but we are all Keynesians now,” one technology entrepreneur told the Wall Street Journal. The Valley’s liberal bent showed through late last year when Twitter ended a list service that blatantly favored Democratic politicians.

If the devices consumers use to consume news control what news is delivered and how–the Kindle’s control over eBooks and Apple’s control over music iTunes suggest that they will–the companies that manufacture those devices will in effect retain control over the consumption of news. If those companies continue to be made up primarily of people with liberal leanings, technology will only drive the news further to the left.”