Twitter
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Delicious
Digg
Newsvine
Google
Yahoo
TechnoratiWhy Big Media Is Mum About Its Propaganda Habit
Big surprise -- the American people are taking it upon themselves to stop pro-war propaganda in the news, and the corporate media aren't reporting on it.
When hundreds of thousands of Americans protest the Iraq war year after year, the corporate media portray peace activists as zealots on stilts.
When Americans across the country voice their outrage and concern about global warming, the corporate media feed us pundits who deny or misconstrue the facts about the environment.
Now, tens of thousands of Americans have urged Congress to investigate the Pentagon's pervasive program to embed at least 75 "propaganda pundits" on every major news network. But the corporate media haven't batted an eye -- or said a word. (And even the Bush Administration is dodging the scandal, while insulting the only journalist in the White House gaggle with the guts to ask the question.)
In the same way that the corporate media refuse to report on the issues that affect and anger us the most, almost every news outlet has instituted a news blackout on this explosive story, opting to sweep under the rug a scandal that reaches deep into their own newsrooms.
Since the story broke in the New York Times, appeals to stop Pentagon propaganda have been flooding Congress. Senators John Kerry and Carl Levin have picked up the baton, and are calling for an investigation. Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have issued statements expressing their dismay about the Pentagon's program. And even the Pentagon, at least "temporarily," is backing off from siccing their coached "experts" on the American audience.
The Cozy Lapdog
But there's a deeper illness here that can't be healed by promises from the Pentagon. U.S. journalism has been struck with a paralyzing case of consolidation, and the corporate hands that own our media don't want a cure. The Bush administration's propaganda wouldn't have spread far if it weren't for its cozy relationship with media outlets like Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS and CNN.
This failure of the watchdog not only undermines every standard of journalism, it also poses a fundamental threat to our democracy.
The effects of Big Media have never been more apparent. First and foremost, the corporate owners protect themselves with a phalanx of lobbyists, and then dole out favors to the politicians and regulators who allow Big Media to consolidate their power unbridled.
Our media should have properly challenged the Bush Administration's case for the Iraq war and countered the official version with dissenting views. Instead, we've gotten unapologetic propaganda from mainstream outlets that are too closely aligned DC power and politics to rock the boat.
The Netroots Go Where Fox Won't
It's obvious that the mainstream media won't help us keep this story alive. But the netroots and noncommercial media are going where Big Media won't, with extensive coverage of the scandal on independents ranging from The Nation, Salon.com, DemocracyNow and PBS to PRWatch, OpenLeft and DailyKos. Combine that with the growing public outcry and we're close to a tipping point in Congress.
Media organizations and the Pentagon have a lot of explaining to do. The debate about America's military involvement in Iraq should be based on facts, and not on the spin of propaganda pundits and an enabling media.
It's time we knew the truth about the war. And it's time Big Media answered for its propaganda habit. Now Congress must act.
Timothy Karr is the Campaign Director for Free Press and SavetheInternet.com. Megan Tady is a freelance journalist living in Western Massachusetts.
19 Comments so far
Show AllI am a little uneasy about what I have read here. It is agreed that there is a problem with the power our media organizations represent, as well as the ever increasing problem of our politicians distancing themselves from the foundational principles of our constitution. No one can disagree that this war and the straws of reason used to defend it's necesity must never be allowed to manifest itself again.
I have a difficult time making blanket condemnations of our elected officials, while we can agree there are those who most definitely are not conducting themselves in the interest of their constituents. The illness is not so simple. In my opinion there was one man who stood as a visionary and most of the people and the media turned a deaf ear. Ron Paul was a clear thinking candidate. He is a man who has real wisdom and the depth of understanding of where our country is failing.
I have no previous experience with regards to the authors of this article, but I can say that I am certain, should they be inclined, it would be good for us to become acquainted. Truth is critical and when we speak of what we know and understand it is responsible use of information, but when we merely echo or join in a chorus because the tune is catchy then we are as irresponsible as the big media. Criticism is easy, being articulate and endowed with evidence that can empower others to make decisions based in truth is a much more stable and desirable position. I would foster and encourage the truth be told.
Gnken1 (May 3rd, 2008 11:36 am), they did indeed pay attention to the evisceration of Dan Rather, even though his story on Bush's TANG service was true and was validated by other sources than the copied documents he was given, and it's scared most of them off any sort of 'controversial' investigative journalism. (You might also recall the two CNN producers who were fired a decade ago for preparing a well-researched story about the US illegally using biological and chemical weapons during the Vietnam War -- that sent a chill through newsrooms as well.) These days we're subjected to that shameless imbecile Dr. Phil for the 'full-hower,' but electronic election theft or Bush confessing he lied and violated his oath of office by condoning illegal wiretaps and torture and hey, look, Obama isn't wearing a flag pin! I keep thinking I'll wake up one day and find out it was all a satire on the news.
Let's not forget some of the major players in causing our current mess, the massive diversified multi-national corporations that own most of what we see and hear -- Time Warner, The News Corporation (Rupert Murdoch), General Electric ('We bring good weapons to life!'), Disney, Viacom, The New York Times Company, The Washington Post Company, The Tribune Media Group, et al. They are all owned by, and their boards are stocked with, very wealthy people who appreciate the Republicans' generous tax breaks for the rich and corporations, and they all want to expand their media empires, which they have, thanks to GOP rule. Most of the Big Media Worker Bee reporters and news 'analysts' collect a paycheck from one of these corporations and the ones who maintain their careers always keep in mind what company name is printed on the top. It is any wonder they assiduously protect an aging nutcase like McCain?
The only thing that will change this power structure is if the rubes (that's us) wake up and realize who is calling the shots. This shouldn't be hard since most of America is sick of the Big Media anyway. Next, we have to make it unprofitable for the BM to continue supporting the Plutocracy at the country's expense. In the current public mood, that may not be hard to do. Letting your Congress creatures know how you feel is a good start.
The only advantage to electing a large majority of Democrats is that some of them actually are populists working for the people -- such Senators as Russ Feingold, Barbara Boxer and Independent Dem Bernie Sanders; and Representatives like Dennis Kucinich, Bob Wexler, Louise Slaughter, and Luis Gutierrez -- and the rest are cowards who will fall in line if it looks like they're are going to lose their soft Congressional jobs. The Republicans in Congress are more likely to dance to the rich man's tune even if it means losing their seat.
There is historical precedent for this kind of change: 1932, when America not only elected FDR in a landslide, but installed a large Dem majority in Congress. Even with a conservative and recalcitrant Supreme Court, Roosevelt and Congress managed to make vast changes in the US government and correct much of the 'business of America is business' idiocy of the GOP-dominated decade that resulted in the crash of 1929. (In the process, Roosevelt saved the bacon of the wealthy who then graciously tarred him as a traitor to his class.)
In many ways, we're in worse shape today than we were during the Great Depression and the citizens of Fly-Over Country have been feeling the pain long, deep and continuously, like a case of flesh-eating bacteria.
The Big Media will do what's in its own interest and if it becomes a money-losing liability to continue to push GOP propaganda, they'll stop. (For example, premier right-wing radio network Clear Channel's stock price is dropping and their profits are down.) The corporatists may complain about increased regulation and higher taxes, but even they can see that the country is falling into a black hole under the GOP neocons and they are beginning to recognize that if Americans have no spending money, they have no one to buy what's advertised on their outlets -- that splash of economic ice water will make them straighten up and fly 'left' with a push from Congress. And we'll provide the push on Congress.
TURN THE TV'S OFF ---
PUT THEM IN THE CLOSET ---
BE BRAVE --- DO IT --- !!!
We saw what happened on 60 Minutes 2 in Sept. of 04. You saw what happend to Dan Rather. And as others have posted, people only want to believe what they see on the Major Networks. Fox News viewers are the worst. They dont want the facts, they only want to hear what Fox News gives them. If you mention other sources that give the real information you get responses like "oh that is such a liberal media company. Hopefully Independent World Television will be able to start broadcasing soon, but the real problems is with our population. Many just dont care and dont follow current events. It's sad but true.
Good luck,do you seriously think Hillary and Obama will be much better? Just look how most of the dems in Congress, have sold out their oath to uphold the Constitution! Anyone that has power and goes counter to the Corporatocracy will not last long.The only hope is if enough sheeple wake up! I know you feel like the good citizens of Nazi Germany must have felt in the 1930's,so I do not blame you, but we still have a slim chance to change things, but like the old joke: our chances are between slim and none and slim just left town when Bush became President select!
Time to move????
If John McCain wins the election in Nov my advice to America is move out of the country if you can.
I feel the election in Nov is the most important in American and world history. If the media continues its control of the american public the country is lost forever. People are outraged now what would happen if they knew the whole truth? Is that what they are afraid of the truth and public outrage? Maybe a flooding of 80% turnout at the polls and voting for a better America and not some corporate controlled puppet who answers to to many task masters, and not the people who elected them is the way to vote.
Anyone in Congress and MSM, as well as academia and corporate america, have been told by the elite their fate if they go up against the NWO neo-malthusian elite.
They and their families will be part of the herd that gets culled. Play along, and they live well, if not as well as the elite class, so they are told.
Do not look for hope from the top. It will come from the bottom, or not at all.
I thought you'd like to check out the political allegory of mine that I just found a literary agent for. It's a story set in the context of a teacher discussing with his class all of the evidence that the Bush administration is as corrupt as it is incompetent...and how to rectify the Constitutional crisis we face. It's couched in a discussion about the urgent need to stop abusing Mother Nature. I wrote in 3 dozen celebrities to play the students, so it's very funny despite how infuriating it is. You can read it at www.stoplittering.com/theswitch.htm and, yes, StopLittering.com is my site.
Clang! Litt_Wmn wins the kewpie doll.
The other thing that must be remembered is that while people like us pore over liberal (and other) websites seeking out reality, most Americans don't. I have friends my age that don't even have computers. They are actually surprised by much of what I tell them. Others simply don't want to think about unpleasant things.
We have a long ways to go.
Siouxrose: I have written tons of letters about the current run-up to our (and/or Israel's) invasion of Iran, but to no avail.
The media are now parroting propaganda from the current crop of ACTIVELY SERVING GENERALS like Petreaus and Odiorno (spelling?), the Pentagon including Secretary Gates, and the Administration. On Cheney's trip to the Middle East in March, he asked Turkey and Saudi Arabia for help in an invasion. I'm assuming they were smart enough to say No.
Everybody. Write millions of letters, please, and bedevil your members of Congress.
Shark Attacks!
Curmudgeon99, you nailed it. I was there.
Litt Wmn,
You stated the true root of the problem.
That the american major media is a functional arm of the Pentagon is accepted as fact in the rest of the world. An american with a television camera is the enemy of the poor anywhere in the world.
The TV camera crew is never there to help you. They are a functional arm of the police state.
If the media realizes the public is enraged and steps down its military drum beat for war against Iran, consider that a good and blessed thing, if a bit late for the now deceased citizens of Iraq.
The revolution will not be televised.
The utter lack of coverage on the anti-war shutown of West Coast ports by MSM should be a real red flag. The control of news by the government began in earnest after 9/11. US guv officials regularly meet with MSM editors and owners and tell them what stories to tell and how to cover them (or not).
Don't kid yourselves.
But a lot of people LIKE propaganda. It saves them the trouble of thinking for themselves. For example, see how the Chinese are about the Olympic torch and the Tibet issue. The majority will always remain comfortable with propaganda, because it makes them feel good about themselves and absolves them of responsibility. I think you are overly optimistic, Mr. Karr. A large number of Americans love their role as the world's bully and lap up any media output that keeps them in their cocoon. Perhaps only the sack of Rome will bring them to their senses. It is always thus.
litt_wmn@yahoo.com