Expression or digression?

El Godkin gives us a forecast of future problems that media outlets. It comes by way of the balancing act between readership and commercialism. Godkin states that Newspapers prior to the commercial revolution served as gauge of public opinion because the expressed the same thoughts as there readers. When superscription's were no longer the only means of subsistence for these newspapers advertisers began to emerge as influential figures with regards to newspapers. As a result newspapers would slant there reporting towards companies. Also they would change there reporting to gain numbers for the subscriptions to gain more money from there advertisers.

Newspapers were now entering a relationship that was not present before. It was one of there dependence on there advertisers. This of course is quite prevalent today with GE's ownership of NBC, as well as Murdoch's NY post. Readership was still of the utmost important but commercial factors would now be as important as well.