I don't think anyone on the entire planet is surprised to learn that the U.S. military bought positive 'news' coverage in Iraqi papers. Rather than just moan and groan about the corrupt administration, I have a different question - does it work?
In today's age, these things invarriably get found out and people act liek it does more harm than good - but does it really? I mean, no one believes or trusts the U.S. anymore anyway - does this really undermine our credibility more than having Whitehouse officials indited for outing a CIA agent as retribution for uncovering their lies about Iraqi intelligence?
Aside from the moral issue, maybe this kind of approach is worth it. Maybe the short term advantage gained by planting the story is more significant than the longer term harm done when we eventually get caught. I'm not saying it IS worth it, I'm wondering if there have been studies etc.
Possible 'Improprieties' to Be Investigated
By Josh White and Bradley Graham
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, December 3, 2005; Page A01
The U.S. military command in Baghdad acknowledged for the first time yesterday that it has paid Iraqi newspapers to carry positive news about U.S. efforts in Iraq, but officials characterized the payments as part of a legitimate campaign to counter insurgents' misinformation.
In a statement, the command said the program included efforts, "customary in Iraq," to purchase advertising and place clearly labeled opinion pieces in Iraqi newspapers. But the statement suggested that the "information operations" program may have veered into a gray area where government contractors paid to have articles placed in Iraqi newspapers without explaining that the material came from the U.S. military and that Iraqi journalists were paid to write positive accounts.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120201454.html
2 comments:
having actually worked at "news headquarter" for a few years, what makes you think any of the news you read/listen to/hear/see isnt "bought"... "non-for profit" organizations do pretty well on the bu$ine$$ end dont you think?!? a little too well.....
Having worked in the PI department of a nonprofit and having friends that worked at a PR firm, I'm not fooled at all. It's not the idea that news is being bought that intreagues me, but the public contradiction that the government faces when they get caught breaking the very principles they espouse. It's one thing for our leaders to lie to us; it is different for them to invade a country and overthrow the government using (some) moral justifications and then get caught doing things that are contradictory to their own moral highground.
At any rate, that conversation is less important to me because I find that on issues such as this, people generally become too polarized and constructive discourse breaks apart.
Thanks for posting - I checked out your blog & will be adding it to my links.
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