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TechnoratiHouse Votes to Ban Pentagon Propaganda: Networks Still Silent
You probably didn't hear about the House voting to ban Pentagon propaganda last Thursday -- since the television networks have once again conveniently failed to cover the story.
But in a surprise move, a 2009 defense policy bill passed with an amendment, sponsored by Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.), that outlaws the Defense Department from engaging in "a concerted effort to propagandize" the American people. The measure would also force an investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) into efforts to plant positive news stories about the war in U.S. media.
An April 20 front-page New York Times article first reported how the Pentagon cultivated and coached more than 75 former military officers who became regulars on Fox News, CNN, the broadcast networks, and even NPR. One week later, the Pentagon announced that it would suspend the "briefing" program pending an internal review, which is continuing. On May 13, watchdog Media Matters documented that analysts in the Pentagon's program appeared or were quoted in major outlets more than 4,500 times.
If the Senate also passes the propaganda ban, it will send a strong message to the Pentagon and other government agencies that the Congress will not allow the continued manipulation of public opinion.
But let's not forget that this is just the most recent major government propaganda revelation in recent years. In March 2005, the New York Times revealed that several federal agencies were producing fake "video news releases" that local television stations aired as if they were bona fide news reports.
Two months before that, several "payola pundits" were discovered to be receiving lucrative government PR contracts to opine in favor of Bush administration policies -- without disclosing their financial arrangement. Armstrong Williams was the poster-child, with his $240,000 contract from the Department of Education to promote the president's "No Child Left Behind Act."
It is crucial to understand that with or without the Pentagon's program, there will always be well-credentialed analysts pushing to get on the air who are eager to toe the administration's line for fame, ideology or money. And the right is historically much better at training them and getting them in front of cameras.
But at the end of the day, it is the television newsroom producers and "bookers" - and the executives who hire them -- who decide who gets on TV and who doesn't. And the vast majority of them consistently turn to government officials, major politicians and party insiders. They seldom turn to dissenting voices, critical public interest advocates and fierce critics of government policy.
On May 5, MSNBC's Chris Matthews revealed that "all my bosses [were] ... basically pro-war during the war. ... and I was up against that." Again, a major revelation ignored by most of the press that explains the culture that subsumed every major network newsroom.
On Friday, the GAO said it had already begun looking into the program and would provide a legal opinion. On the same day, the inspector general's office at the Defense Department also announced that it would investigate the Pentagon program.
The House spending bill will be taken up by the Senate after next week's recess, and legislators will have to insert a similar amendment. The White House has threatened to veto the entire bill, citing concerns with several provisions.
Congress should hold high-profile hearings to get to the bottom of the Pentagon program and force the issue into the news. If the networks won't cover it, at least C-SPAN will.
Two things are certain. First, consolidated, corporate media is failing to provide critical journalism, and is aiding and abetting government propaganda. Second, this is not the last time this media blight will rear its ugly head, and as long as it does, the American public will continue to be led by the nose to support disastrous wars, policies and politicians.
Josh Silver is the Executive Director of Free Press a national, nonpartisan organization that he co-founded with Robert McChesney and John Nichols in 2002 to engage citizens in media policy debates and create a more democratic and diverse media system.
© 2008 Huffington Post
28 Comments so far
Show AllArvy,
Thanks for the post on inverted totalitarianism. I saw an interview with Chalmers Johnson once years ago, and was very impressed with his analysis. He wrote an excellent book review on Wolin's work. I think it is safe to say that the days of the American empire are truly numbered. The only remaining question is: what else gets destroyed in the process of the fall of the empire?
Thankfully, the Congress and the Bush administration have failed in their efforts to de-fund and destroy public television. As a result, journalist Bill Moyers of the PBS program "The Bill Moyers Journal," the PBS programs "Frontline," "NOW," "Independent Lens" and the BBC World News broadcast by PBS up here in Ohio are some sources through which I can keep myself informed without total corporate ownership and censorship. And we cannot dismiss American journalists such as Seymour Hersch, whose investigative journalism has revealed much about the more sinister schemes of the Bush-Cheney White House and Pentagon. It seems there are at least 2 or 3 good American journalists left . . . what a travesty.
Thankfully, the Congress and the Bush administration have failed in their efforts to de-fund and destroy public television. As a result, journalist Bill Moyers of the PBS program "The Bill Moyers Journal," the PBS programs "Frontline," "NOW," "Independent Lens" and the BBC World News broadcast by PBS up here in Ohio are some sources through which I can keep myself informed without total corporate ownership and censorship. And we cannot dismiss American journalists such as Seymour Hersch, whose investigative journalism has revealed much about the more sinister schemes of the Bush-Cheney White House and Pentagon. It seems there are at least 2 or 3 good American journalists left . . . what a travesty.
Gripe and complain? Loudly? Whoa! Then we'll deserve a good government! All talk!
Contrary to the beliefs of some, we get the government we deserve.
It is up to each and every one of us to gripe and complain loudly to the news media, their sponsors, our Congress critters and in the voting booth.
After we have replaced a few of the long-time corporate whores in Congress, the rest might pay a little better attention...
I say vote against practically every INCUMBENT... with just a few exceptions... for example a few of the newbies from 2004-2006 who have actually done what they promised to do and stood up against the administration!
ALL elected officials are on the take in one way or another. The system is broken and we are not allowed to fix it as even our votes are controlled as well.
As I posted on other stories, I am moving out of America forever. I feel even after the clown who gets in the WH in 08 things will NOT CHANGE.
Ah, yes, "Bagdad Bob" would be proud of all these military propagandists and "news fixers."
J. Conrad: Great Post.
The shame of this mea culpa is that it's so damned late, not to mention banal, as if a referee called a bad play in some kind of mass sporting event when the reality of this "bad play" has resulted in over a million dead, at least one nation devastated, with several more compromised, and the workings of our government ripped out like the 20 plus feet of intestines on a man in need of a more competent professional healer.
It's not journalism, it's propaganda. Journalists sold out to keep their jobs. They think that is alright. It's not. Ordinary people stand up every day and damn the consequences. They are mature people who understand their obligation to their family, community, and the constitution. Yes they do suffer economically for their strength, yet they remain strong. Selling out to keep one's job is no excuse, it's cowardice and weakness and deserves condemnation.
As for the Generals who are supposed to be courageous, they are not men they are mice.
It's not just military puffing by the media. I do believe the media has a campaign underway to avoid mentioning the beer business of the McCains prior to the election.
How else could one explain an Associated Press story on Cindy McCain's tax returns appearing in newspapers that mentioned her $300,000 salary (inside $6,000,000 income) but did not mention from whom or for what? Did they "forget" who, what, when, where and why?
"Two things are certain. First, consolidated, corporate media is failing to provide critical journalism, and is aiding and abetting government propaganda. Second, this is not the last time this media blight will rear its ugly head, and as long as it does, the American public will continue to be led by the nose to support disastrous wars, policies and politicians."
That's like saying the Pope's Catholic.
Fox was under some tax investigation a few years ago. Now they are the Bush regime cheerleaders.
Samson:
good point just stop watching and I would write the head of each sponsor saying you are not watching.
One trouble with that, one of the big sponsors will just put their product on sale in a store for a week and look at every shopping cart in the store will have that product. That is where they make the money not buying ad space.
The only ethical jornalist left in America, HELEN THOMAS. Congress remains silent, media knows TRUTH as well yet remains silent, COMPLICITY AMOK.
This godda@n end run that eliminates the legislative and judiciary branches is F$$KED. Yes they have acted like PU$$YS, YES, They have not Represented US, but this shit of totally saying F$$K YOU to the Constitution of the United States must end NOW.
I truly admire Congresswomen Lynn Woolsey, Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee. They, although not up to snuff on certain pertinant facts, actually open their mouths for their constituents and are indeed humane, but they are 3, we also have Sheila Jackson-Lee and my love Dennis Kucinich.
We all know Iran will occur by mid-October so we are again F$$KED!!~!
"Those Who Forget History Are Doomed to Repeat It"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Plot
"The main backers of the American Liberty League were the Du Pont family, as well as leaders of U.S. Steel, General Motors, Standard Oil, Chase National Bank, and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. The 2007 BBC radio documentary The White House Coup[3] alleged that Prescott Bush, father and grandfather to the 41st and 43rd US Presidents respectively, was also connected with companies owned by Fritz Thyssen. The BBC found no evidence of involvement by any leading American businessmen in any Fascist plots.[3]"
................
Maybe they tried again..although the evidence for the business plot in 1933 is disputed...but something is really rotten with the US news media
You're right, CJM---Why should Congress have to vote this when DOMESTIC PSY-OPS ARE ALREADY ILLEGAL? It's just the "Cover Your Asses Congress" bill....Pumpkin-head Chris Matthews covering his ass right away, no surprise: "I was up against" the media fever for a war (which as usual would save them doing any work at all). Yeah sure you were, Chris---you vapid, spineless, grinning prostitute like the rest of your fake "profession"....
Since, I believe, it was already unconstitutional, I hardly think "House Votes to Ban Pentagon Propaganda" was necessary. Obviously just smoke and mirrors. If they really meant it they would have kicked ass but, as we know, that's off the table.
There is free press in America. It's called the internet.
I'm sorry to be so rude, but only idiots still derive their information from the MSM. I'd dare say even Common Dreams is becoming to mainstream-middle America for my taste. They actually still think sucking up to MSM is acceptable. F*** the mainstream corporate media. Let them finish digging their own graves. Enlightened folks know how to seek out real news. The rest are basically hopeless cases.
Where have all the Journalists gone?
Indeed. Gone to Murdock every one!
O gie the lass her fairin', unbalanced lad,
An' something else she'll gie to you,
The mair she bangs the less she squeels,
Our Ship `O State's come off `er wheels.
`tis a Highly Deceptive Telly Vision (HDTV)
that Congress mandated we suffer through it
lest, just to save energy you see, I unplug it.
The same small class of millionaires and billionaires who has bought off the politicians in Washington also owns the mass media. That is why they are always "silent" about stories like this. They have no interest in deeply criticizing the government that they own.
Cynthia McKinney for president: http://www.runcynthiarun.org/
Case in point.
I continue to battle with local editorial boards to have non-military views of the conflict while countering a weekly syndicated columnist - Col. Austin Bay - who is paid by the military.
Col. Bay has since flown to Iraq on the Pentagon's dime and served as part of MNF and been paid by DoD for his "analyses" and to "conduct training" - even as he wrote editorials as an "independent journalist". He is also a "war game designer" and receives a military pension.
From his bio "His current reserve assignment is with U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, where he is working on rapid force deployment projects." http://www2.mysanantonio.com/aboutus/expressnews/columnists/bio.cfm?pid=28
His commentaries frequently appear on NPR, and he has also appeared as a guest commentator on CNN, C-SPAN, and ABC News Nightline. He is a weekly feature columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and is frequently republished by other national newspapers.
P.S. I have made three civilian "peace" trips to Iraq during the past six years and plan another one this fall. However, even though I have even met in person with Moqtada al-Sadr (2005) and witness directly what is going on in Iraq, I have difficulty getting any regular news sources to cover these trips or to publish my information.
Charlie Jackson
Texans for Peace
http://www.texansforpeace.org/endthewar - Daily News From the Iraq War Zone
Times have changed since Eisenhower coined the term, "military industrial complex".
We now have the military industrial Big Oil corporate media congressional complex, or in other words, the fix is in and Pentagon/corporate "psyops" (psychological warfare) is now part our daily information lives.
Try Googling , corporate media interlocking directorates oil military complex, and explore the method behind the madness.
American media literally participated in the process of initiating American war crimes in Iraq. They actively promoted the WMD lies. The continue to present Pentagon and corporate global agendas.
American corporate "journalists" have become complicit war criminals manufacturing consent for American 21st century imperialism.
The propaganda pundits should face the same international laws used in Nuremberg to prosecute the Nazis for "preemptive strikes".
Then just follow the bloody money trail and go after their corporate masters and other villains in the Whitehouse, Congress and the Pentagon…etc.
THE "FOURTH ESTATE" OR A "FIFTH COLUMN"????
What the FUCK is going ON in this country? Where are the Journalism Students that desire TRUTH more than they desire a BOOK DEAL?
Where are the "REPRESENTATIVES" that we elect when it comes to keeping the main Stream Media HONEST?
Who are the CONSUMERS that listen to this crap, and accept it as "TRUTH", when all around them there are the rest of us telling them that they are being lied to...WHY do so many of our FELLOW CITIZENS take obtaining the TRUTH so lightly..and ACCEPT that they are being LIED to by the Government...WHY?
I realize that the "STUPID STUBBORNS" actually WANT to believe whatever they are told to believe..as it is usually something CONFRONTATIONAL, IRRATIONAL, DEVISIVE...ALL THE EARMARKS OF THE MODERN MEDIA PROPAGANDA MACHINE....AS WELL AS THE NEO-CON CORPORATE FASCIST THEOCRACY..WHY THEY SEEM CONTENT TO ONLY HAVE THAT MUCH INFORMATION, THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION, WHY THEY ARE CONTENT TO BE LIED TO...WHY...WHY..WHY????????????????
HOW CAN WE REALLY...I MEAN REALLY...WAKE THEM UP?
MAYBE IF WE ALL STOP PAYING FOR THE LIES...MAYBE THAT WOULD DO IT...MAKE THE MEDIA PAY ATTENTION..0 MILLION PEPLE JUST DON'T PAY THEIR INCOME TAX...LET THOSE WHO WANT TO BE LIED TO FOOT THE BILL..MAKE THEM THINK ABOUT IT...OR MAYBE SOME WATER TORTURE OF A FEW 'JOURNALISTS'...TAPE IT...POS TIT ON YOUTUBE AND SEND IT TO THE MEDIA...SHOW THEM THE TREALITY OF A PERSON SAYING ANYTHING TO STOP THE ABUSE...WAKE THEM UP...OR SPY ON THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES WITH THEIR OWN EQUIPMEMNT.."TONIGHT ON NIGHTLINE..LOCAL USES REMOTE CONTROL HELICOPTER TO SPY ON LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT...HAS SURVIELLANCE GONE TOO FAR?...TUNE IN TO FIND OUT.."...MAYBE..OUTLANDISH..BUT HOW TO STOP THIS CONVERSION OF ALL THE "NEWS' INTO PURE PROPAGANDA? HOW?...AND ...WHY?...TWO BIG QUESTIONS...THAT MUST BE ANSWERED IF WE ARE TO SURVIVE AS A DEMOCRACY...TIME TO GO SPIT ON SOME CARS WITH REPUGNICAN BUMPERSTICKERS...SPIT..THE LAST SATISFYING FORM OF PROTEST...
If there is any chance of changing the networks behaviour, here's how to do it.
Turn them off. Let them see their ratings numbers plummet. That means they'll see their advertising revenue plummet with them. If you want to get the attention of a corporate exec, that'll do it.
Let them know why you've turned them off. Make it very, very obvious to them. Otherwise they'll just convince themselves there's some other reason for it like 'its those dang internets'. Tell them in letters and such exactly why you've turned them off.
If enough people did that, it would force change. The problem is, you aren't likely to like the change. They'll just create more spin to mask that they are doing the same old things. As long as people accept corporate ownership of their information sources, the fundamental equation is not going to change. Corporations are going to do what's best for their bottom line.
It is not surprising that the networks willingly hoodwinked by the Pentagon are staying away from this like the plague. Who ever wants to admit they were a stooge to a hustle? The corporate media is already distrusted by a wide swath of the audience (as their falling ratings attest to), so why admit to those of your viewing audience still hanging around that might possibly still believe your channel actually practices journalism and news gathering that the Pentagon played you like a violin. American corporate news media is about as trust-worthy as CCTV (Chinese state television) or ZBC (Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation). If CDer's want an english language news source with a smidgeon of journalistic integrity, try the BBC or Deutsche Welle on LinkTV.
This has little chance of passing in the Senate when they just finished voting 70-26 to keep funding the invasion and occupation.
Each new "pop-up" about the level of corruption emanating from the Ministry of Defense is no surpise. The average American has some choice. Consider the following this fine weekend of celebrating war: Shrug in disgust, grill more burgers and grab another beer, or clench a fist in anger at the destructive thieves in the DOD.
Poor Chris Matthews, just a used car salesman while corpses piled high in Mesopotamia.
They could vote for a constitutional amendment and it would make no difference in a country where "supreme law" is just a goddamn scrap of paper and where so-called "freedom and democracy" is actually a misnomer for inverted totalitarianism.
the networks in this country are not working for the people. There is no free press in America. It is big business and don't rock the boat that runs the show. An uninformed public is a controlled public.