This is something everyone should watch/listen to.
It is a great lecture by Tariq Ali discussing the inter-relationship between media and global politics.
I recommend skipping to the middle of this clip, so you get right to the Speaker, as opposed to sitting through the introductions. There are 10 clips making up the lecture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd3IlWJE1g8&feature=related