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American people with so little actual information about the ongoing conflict. The reasons for this phenomenon vary in complexity. One reason is, quite simply, that the media, specifically televisions news networks, follow much the same set of rules as other television programs. Like any other TV show, news programs need to garner sufficient ratings. Also, as illustrated by Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman in their book Manufacturing Consent - A Propaganda Model, this difficulty is exacerbated by the fact that all modern mainstream news networks are owned by corporations, NBC by General Electric Power Systems, ABC by Disney, MSNBC by GE and Microsoft, FOX by News Corp., CNN by Time Warner, and CBS by Viacom. Because these mainstream news networks are corporate owned and funded, they must, to an extent, represent the best interests of their corporate owners. Also, mainstream news shows, like any other show, rely on funding from advertisers to retain their airtime. Herman and Chomsky also assert that the mainstream news media may be little more than a medium for attracting the attention of the educated (and economically strong) decision-makers in society to see advertisements and feed the funding from advertisers. After all, news networks are businesses; they demand profit to remain operational. Therefore, Propaganda Model theorizes, the news may face a bias in that it reports some stories as entertainment value to keep viewers interested, rather than focusing on relevant issues that need their unbiased attention and vigilance. For instance, an arguably disproportionate amount of airtime is devoted to stories which are sensationalist in nature. The recent media stir over the abduction and murder of Natalie Holloway is one such story; the story was granted, particularly by the FOX news network, an extreme amount of airtime. The coverage of the investigation, lasting for months, explored the abduction and murder, even mere rumors, in incredible detail and length. The reason for this gross misappropriation of the news media's focus is simple: ratings. As Bill O'Reilly stated in response to a written request that he poll the audience and gauge its interest in his extensive coverage of the Holloway case, "Our ratings are huge. That's the poll." Thus, objectivity in the mainstream media faces a double threat: the risk of running counter to the corporate owners' financial interests on the one hand, and those of the advertisers on the other.

Another example of the potential

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