Fast Food and Fast Media: the Transformation of Fast Consumers to Slow Citizens

The developed world is awash in ubiquitous food and media. Fast media, like Fast food is a heavily processed product that has become corporatised, centralised, commoditised and simplified. Like modern supermarket food, Fast news and media can be said to lack diversity, local taste and historical context, transparency, accountability and authenticity. This book briefly outlines a framework of parallels between Fast food and Fast media in their related vertical integration, production, distribution and consumption. Responses to problems identified with Fast, and successes of Slow movements embracing ethical consumption of our finite and human resources, are considered in looking at the potential for value shifts in consumers' treatment of modern news media towards transforming complacent consumers to responsible citizens.