ABSTRACT
In the past couple of years, the issues of economic and social inequality have re-entered the stage of political attention and debate in many countries, after decades of benign neglect. This chapter is based on the research findings of an international and transdisciplinary project on the media coverage of economic inequality. Critical media scholars have highlighted a construction of reality of inequality that is centrally shaped by mass media. A key characteristic of the traditional newspaper industry is that it has been under enormous pressure from certain large and powerful, external commercial competition in recent years. Meritocracy refers to the idea that effort and talent should be the primary indicator for higher income and wealth, closely connected to success in the social hierarchy.
