" ... That's the way these modern media work in the not censored world. Infotainement vs °embedded° journalism "
Actually Michael, I know considerably about the modern media, I would even say I have some expertise, having been a photojournalist for a decade and a half for major market newspapers and wire service and a wife who was a news producer/writer for a major market television network.
"BTW: Do you know how much your goverment spendt on PR?
"Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Rep. George Miller, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, and other senior Democrats released a new Government Accountability Office report finding that the Bush Administration spent more than $1.6 billion in public relations and media contracts in a two and a half year span."
Go figure - thats a lot of money!"
While yes, the US government spends a sizable amount of public relations, the amount spent does not minimize the fact ALL news sources and stories must be authenticated as true, factual and representative, firstly by the reporter and secondly by an editor. If a government spents $1 or $1trillion on PR, each and every story the government produces must be checked for factual and accurate representation of the story.
"Another example:
The italian
prime minister owns several newspapers and tele stations - that's been one of the keys for his elections."
I cannot comment as I have little knowledge of European/Italian media and Italian government/law/politics, (while we do get some pretty interesting stories over here from Italy). Usually there is more than one side to every story. Here in the States one can choose a conservative media coverage or a liberial media coverage, a centralist media coverage, et al. Many people will hear/read the same story from different views.
I can comment on a free press in the United States:
In the US press freedom is of such importance that it is protected by the First Amendment of our Constitution.
First Amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Thomas Jefferson, one of the primary aurthors of our Constitution, has stated this about press freedoms (and I parapharse), I would rather live in a country with a free press and no government than in a country with a government and no free press ... and ... In the marketplace of free ideas, the truth will prevail.
I can only hope that Thomas Jefferson would have an impact on the importance of a free press in other parts of the world.
Gary