Media tends to create reality rather than reflect it.
Modern civilization increasingly is being shaped by the emergent global network of interconnected networks. The world Internet is transforming how we think and feel about ourselves and each other. Humanity is evolving a globalized economic system, but who rules the system remains unclear, puppet masters or the educated masses? Propelled by mounting population pressures, stunned by the speedy pace of fresh inventions shifting society too fast for us to handle, we risk whole populations seeking escape by abdicating their rights and responsibilities for the security of despotism. .
Some people interpret that the media is liberal. A close examination, however, reveals that even if reporters are liberal, their bosses are clearly not. Most media outlets are businesses, which tend to be conservative like the corporations whose advertising income keeps the media afloat. The media does not reflect reporters" wishes and ideology because the editors and their bosses are too closely tied with the corporate philosophy and interests. Although reporters might want to cover stories that reflect their ideology, it's their editors who determine what will reach the audiences. If the media reflected a liberal ideology, for example, there would be a lot in the news about corporate greed and how executive salaries are extremly high while those of workers continue to decline. To be sure, some of this reality does emerge in some media outlets, particularly the print media, but it's not being emphasized. The answer is obvious. If a TV station or a newspaper gets thousands of advertising dollars from corporations and does lots of stories about the failures and frauds of capitalism, it's quite likely that the advertising revenue would quickly disappear. In essence, you don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Money, of course, does not buy influence directly, but affects what the media covers and how it is covered.