Propaganda Blitz

1. Corporate media systematically distorts reality to serve elite interests

The media are, in effect, the public relations wing of a planetary-wide network of exploitation, abuse and destruction.

Media as propaganda system. The corporate media functions as a propaganda system that serves elite interests rather than informing the public. It systematically distorts reality by:

• Framing issues from the perspective of power
• Amplifying establishment voices while marginalizing dissent
• Uncritically repeating government and corporate talking points
• Ignoring or downplaying information that threatens elite agendas

This bias stems from:

• Concentrated corporate ownership of media
• Dependence on advertising revenue and government sources
• Journalists' career incentives to avoid challenging power

The result is news that manufactures consent for wars, economic policies and social arrangements that benefit elites at the expense of the majority.

2. Propaganda blitzes are orchestrated to manufacture consent for war

Propaganda blitzes are fast-moving attacks intended to inflict maximum damage in minimum time.

Anatomy of war propaganda. The authors identify key elements of coordinated media campaigns to build support for war:

• Claims of dramatic new evidence of enemy threats or atrocities
• High emotional intensity and moral outrage in coverage
• Appearance of informed expert consensus
• Attacking and marginalizing dissenting voices
• Conveniently timed to align with political agendas

Recent examples include:

• False WMD claims before Iraq invasion
• Exaggerated threats of massacre in Libya
• Dubious chemical weapons allegations in Syria

These blitzes exploit journalists' deference to official sources and unwillingness to challenge patriotic narratives. The public is left misinformed about the real motives and consequences of war.

3. The BBC's claims of impartiality mask its role in protecting power

The BBC is part of a 'conspiracy' preventing the 'radical changes' needed to UK democracy.

Facade of neutrality. Despite claims of impartiality, the BBC systematically protects establishment interests:

• Senior staff have close ties to government and corporations
• Reporting uncritically amplifies official sources and narratives
• Dissenting voices and perspectives are marginalized
• Coverage of wars and foreign policy aligns with UK government positions

The authors argue this bias stems from:

• BBC's financial dependence on government
• Revolving door between BBC and political/corporate elites
• Institutional culture that equates establishment views with objectivity

By masking its pro-establishment bias with claims of neutrality, the BBC helps legitimize the status quo and constrain democratic debate.

4. Coverage of Israel-Palestine exposes media bias and self-censorship

We wait in fear for the phone call from the Israelis.

Skewed reporting. Media coverage of Israel-Palestine reveals pervasive bias:

• Palestinian perspectives and suffering downplayed or ignored
• Israeli government framing and talking points dominate
• Context of occupation and international law violations omitted
• Intense pressure from pro-Israel lobby groups

This results in reporting that:

• Portrays Israel as acting defensively rather than as occupier
• Fails to convey scale of Palestinian civilian deaths and displacement
• Ignores or justifies Israeli war crimes and human rights abuses

Journalists admit to self-censorship due to fear of backlash. This perpetuates public ignorance of the conflict's realities and impedes peace efforts.

5. Western interventions are falsely portrayed as humanitarian efforts

Machiavelli commented: 'It is not essential, then, that a Prince should have all the good qualities which I have enumerated above, but it is most essential that he should seem to have them.'

Façade of benevolence. Western military interventions are consistently framed as humanitarian efforts to:

• Protect civilians from dictators
• Promote democracy and human rights
• Respond to humanitarian crises

In reality, these claims often mask:

• Geopolitical power plays
• Control of resources like oil
• Arms industry profits

Examples include:

• 2011 Libya intervention justified as preventing massacre
• Syria chemical weapons claims used to push for intervention
• Yemen war supported despite humanitarian catastrophe

By accepting official humanitarian pretexts, media become complicit in selling wars to the public.

6. Journalists who challenge power face intense criticism and smears

Establishment unites to crush popular movements. If movements protest, they're accused of bullying.

Silencing dissent. Journalists and public figures who challenge elite narratives face:

• Personal attacks and smears in mainstream media
• Accusations of being conspiracy theorists, apologists, useful idiots
• Career repercussions and marginalization

Examples:

• Jeremy Corbyn labeled extremist for left-wing policies
• Julian Assange vilified for exposing US war crimes
• Nafeez Ahmed fired from Guardian for Gaza gas article

This creates a chilling effect, discouraging critical journalism and narrowing the scope of acceptable debate. It protects power by making the personal cost of dissent prohibitively high for many journalists.

7. Social media and independent voices threaten elite media control

There is no longer any need to pay or otherwise support media corporations selling corporate-owned politics, perpetual war, unsustainable materialism and climate disaster.

New media landscape. The rise of social media and independent journalism is disrupting elite media control by:

• Providing platforms for marginalized voices and perspectives
• Enabling direct communication between public figures and audiences
• Facilitating fact-checking and challenging of mainstream narratives
• Reducing public reliance on corporate media gatekeepers

This has led to:

• Growing distrust in mainstream media
• Emergence of alternative news sources and analysts
• Grassroots mobilization around issues ignored by corporate media

While presenting new challenges like misinformation, this shift threatens the propaganda model that has long served elite interests.

8. Climate crisis reporting fails to convey urgency and corporate culpability

We are literally talking about the end of human life as we know it. And the corporate media, politicians, business and modern societies carry on regardless. If this doesn't equate to madness, we don't know what does.

Deadly disconnect. Despite overwhelming scientific evidence of catastrophic climate change, media coverage:

• Downplays the urgency and scale of the crisis
• Ignores or minimizes corporate culpability
• Fails to connect extreme weather to climate change
• Gives false balance to climate deniers

This results from:

• Fossil fuel industry influence and advertising
• Short-term thinking of political and media elites
• Unwillingness to challenge economic status quo

By failing to convey the existential threat of climate change, media hamper the public pressure needed for meaningful action.

9. Objective journalism requires equalizing self and other

Objective journalism is thus rooted in the understanding that 'my' happiness does not matter more than 'your' happiness; that it is irrational, cruel, unfair and self-destructive to pretend otherwise.

Redefining objectivity. True journalistic objectivity means:

• Viewing the rights and needs of all people as equally important
• Rejecting nationalistic bias that prioritizes "our" interests
• Applying consistent ethical standards to all actors
• Acknowledging one's own biases and blind spots

This contrasts with false objectivity that:

• Uncritically repeats official sources
• Gives equal weight to demonstrably false claims
• Avoids moral judgments about powerful actors' harmful actions

Genuinely objective journalism challenges power and amplifies marginalized voices rather than reinforcing the status quo.

10. Non-corporate media can effectively challenge the status quo

If media activists devote themselves sincerely, and wholeheartedly, to working for the benefit of others, the public will be happy to support their efforts.

Alternative model. Non-corporate, reader-supported media can effectively challenge elite narratives by:

• Prioritizing truth and public interest over profit and access
• Critically analyzing claims of the powerful
• Amplifying voices and perspectives excluded from mainstream discourse
• Explaining complex issues clearly without oversimplification

Keys to success include:

• Building direct relationships with audience
• Maintaining independence from corporate and government influence
• Focusing on important stories ignored by mainstream media
• Collaborative approach with other independent journalists

By providing a genuine alternative to corporate media, such outlets can help create a more informed and engaged public.

Last updated: October 10, 2024