Page "Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media" Paragraph 8

# Flak and the Enforcers: " Flak " refers to negative responses to a media statement or program ( e. g. letters, complaints, lawsuits, or legislative actions ).

Flak can be expensive to the media, either due to loss of advertising revenue, or due to the costs of legal defense or defense of the media outlet's public image.

Flak can be organized by powerful, private influence groups ( e. g. think tanks ).

The prospect of eliciting flak can be a deterrent to the reporting of certain kinds of facts or opinions.