The term 'politico-media complex' (PMC) refers to a close and symbiotic relationship between a nation state's political classes, particularly any ruling class, its media industry, and any dependencies such as an analogous military-industrial complex.
History
The term appears in mainstream media (MSM) from at least 2001.
Political Control
In such a system, the political classes are critically dependent on a close-knit web of connections to ensure the 'correct' placement and appropriate amplification of insider-information (often characterized as a political leak), in an attempt to control mass public perception of events - the business of what has become known as political spin.
Mainstream Media
The mainstream media set - the collection of individuals and any enclosing organizations that are regularly a part of long established media channels, (a definite sub-set, at any given time, of the mass media) in western liberal democracies - in return, depends on the political classes for a steady stream of these leaks to expand upon.
The typical MSM set, at any given time, will range from politicians themselves, political journalists and commentators, together with other popular members of the 'celebrity' class who are invited to participate.
Notable, in the MSM set, is the frequent appearance of its members - the standard terminology now being 'usual suspects' (a characterization made famous by Casablanca (movie)) - as they circulate among programmes that are concerned with current affairs. These programmes can range from concern with straight news items through subsequent commentary and assessment, to comedy.
Professionally Organised
- United States Information Agency (USIA)/Public Diplomacy
- Downing street 'media monitoring' project
- Public relations (PR) companies
- Chatham House/Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA)
- Tavistock Institute
Critics
Perhaps the best description of the process of concern to the politico-media complex, most of the individuals participating being unconscious of their actual roles, is 'manufacturing Consent' with Noam Chomsky's and Edward S. Herman's 'propaganda model' at it's heart.