ABC News… New State Propaganda Arm?
ABC News… New State Propaganda Arm
Dear Reader and Friend,
What has just been announced that is going to take place this evening June 16, 2009 is simply amazing. It shows the death of independent journalism. At least ABC is being honest about their beliefs and politics. They have dropped their facade of being unbiased in reporting.
Don’t believe me?
Could this be the start of some form of Journalistic Totalitarianism and Fascism?
Read on dear reader…
The following has been excerpted from Taken from the newsletter dated May 1938 by the Institute for Propaganda Analysis the issue entitled
PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES OF GERMAN FASCISM
Their newsletter starts…
“ ‘What is truly vicious,’ observed The New York Times in an editorial, September 1, 1937, ‘is not propaganda but a monopoly of it.’ This monopoly is seen most clearly in totalitarian states where all channels of communication are controlled by the government. The extent to which the propaganda machinery of a country has been brought under the control of one organization or a group of related organizations is a useful measure of the degree to which absolutism dominates it, of the extent to which democracy has been eliminated.
In democratic countries this monopoly aspect of propaganda is held in check by rivalries between competing organizations. Political, economic, educational, and religious spokesmen are able to and actually do disseminate rival propaganda. This gives those at whom the rival propagandas are directed some freedom of choice among the alternatives offered them.”
Think about that for a minute…
“What is truly vicious,is not propaganda but a monopoly of it.”
In democratic countries this monopoly aspect of propaganda is held in check by rivalries between competing organizations.
Let’s change the word democratic to free thinking… or better yet, populations who think critically
So let’s make that read…
In democratic countries this monopoly aspect of propaganda is held in check by rivalries between competing organizations.
A few paragraphs later in the newsletter they state the fact “The power of propaganda increases as its control becomes more centralized, as the trend to monopoly increases.”
Remember this point… it is very important to understand what is going on today.
The power of propaganda increases as its control becomes more centralized.
The article continues…
“This process is stimulated by the centralization of the control of the economic structure of a country. A tendency toward a monopoly of wealth is accompanied by a corresponding tendency toward a monopoly of propaganda.
Contrasted with the relative freedom for the dissemination of propaganda in democracies is the complete or nearly complete elimination of this freedom in totalitarian countries. Fascist Germany illustrates how propaganda is used both to bring a dictator into power and to aid him in maintaining that power. In Germany the propaganda which helped convince the people of the efficiency of the National Socialist solution for the country’s political and economic problems was reinforced by an army of storm troops that weakened opposition through terrorism. Such methods made difficult and dangerous the promulgation of competing propagandas. The power of the Nazi propaganda was increased further by the financial support of certain business men and by the political intrigues of Colonel Franz von Papen and other officials of the Weimar Republic.
With the establishment of the National Socialist regime its monopoly of propaganda was rapidly achieved. Suppression of opposition was thorough. Every source of public information and nearly every instrument capable of affecting public opinion came under its control. Although some of the church groups were difficult to dominate, in general the National Socialist propaganda drive went forward with a thoroughness which exceeded at of World War propaganda.”
Basic Totalitarian Propaganda Control
Let’s have a quick look at what this teaches us about how a dictator, or group can gain complete control… the first basic steps.
- Shut down the ability of opposing voices to be heard.
- Once the ability of opposing voices can easily be heard, there is no major dissention. The party controlling the message gets their way.
- In totalitarian states all channels of communication are controlled by the government… or at least the major ones are in sympathy with the government and have lost their objectivity in their reporting
- The extent to which the propaganda machinery of a country has been brought under the control of one organization or a group of related organizations is a useful measure of the degree to which absolutism dominates it, of the extent to which democracy has been eliminated.
- This process is stimulated by the centralization of the control of the economic structure of a country. A tendency toward a monopoly of wealth is accompanied by a corresponding tendency toward a monopoly of propaganda.
Chicken Little?
So am I a Chicken Little?
I invite you to consider this… In pre-Nazi and Nazi Germany, the government forcefully took over the message. The broadcasters and news reporters had little choice. Get arrested, or beaten up by Storm Troopers, or Killed… or go with the government.
The government here in the USA is not threatening the big media/mainstream media. Not with violence. Not with beatings. Not with organized protests. Not with taking away their businesses should they not toe the government line, or question government authority or proposals. None of that is going on.
While the majority of the news organizations in pre-Nazi and Nazi Germany had to be forcefully brought into compliance with the government leaders demands they (the independent and free news organizations) toe the government line. They did not willfully abdicate their independence. No my friends it was forced on them.
So What Is Going On Today?
News flash of today…
http://drudgereport.com/flashaot.htm
ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA; NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE HOUSE
Tue Jun 16 2009 08:45:10 ET
On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care — a move that has ignited an ethical firestorm!
Highlights on the agenda:
ABCNEWS anchor Charlie Gibson will deliver WORLD NEWS from the Blue Room of the White House.
The network plans a prime time special — ‘Prescription for America’ — originating from the East Room, exclude opposing voices on the debate.
ABCNEWS’ Unfair Use of Propaganda Devices
Can you see the propaganda tactics ABCNEWS is using?
Very Blatant for people who understand how to see propaganda being used.
Let’s enumerate them…
- Transfer — Remember the Propaganda Device of Transfer carries the authority, sanction, and prestige of something or someone respected and revered over to something or someone else in order to make the later acceptable; or it carries authority, sanction, and disapproval to cause us to reject and disapprove something the propagandist would have us reject and disapprove.
Good ol Charlie Gibson is broadcasting from the Blue Room of the White House. According to Wikipedia the Blue Room is one of three state parlors on the first floor in the White House, the residence of the President of the United States. It is distinct for its oval shape. The room is used for receptions, receiving lines, and is occasionally set for small dinners.
And the ABCNEWS Prime time special ‘Prescription for America’ originating from the East Room of the White House. The East Room is also where a lot of Presidents of the USA give press conferences, and speeches. - Card Stacking — this is taking place in the prime time special. Remember the Propaganda Device of Card Stacking involves the selection and use of facts and half truths and even lies, illustrations, distractions, and logical or illogical statements in order to give the best or worst possible case for an idea, program, person, or product. Just keep piling on “evidence” in his/her favor.
In the case of the ABCNEWS Prime time special, they are not allowing dissenting voices to be heard to refute their “journalists, and unbiased reporters” claims in their piece. - Testimonial, and Plain Folks — are being used in the title of their Prime time Special… “Prescription for America”. Remember the Propaganda Device of Testimonial this can either be telling a story of how someone or something got to this point, or it can be having a respected or hated person say a given idea, action, or person, or group is good or bad. And the Propaganda Device of Plain Folks is the method to make people feel the speaker or group the speaker represents is just like them “one of us” or the speaker attempts to convince his/her audience that he/she and his/her ideas are good because they are “of the people” the ”plain folks“
Now, bear in mind… President Obama did not force ABC to do this. He did not force any news organization to do or report anything, or eliminate reporting on dissenting voices. Not at all, though I’m sure he appreciates the brown nosing of the news organizations. They are doing it of their own volition. Their own free will.
Something Stinks!
Quite Frankly…
It’s Disgusting!
In protest I am boycotting ABC… Every show on ABC… Until they have a change in management that is willing to present balanced viewpoints. Not engaging in propaganda techniques, and not shutting out those who believe differently than they do.
I invite you to join me. There are better things to do than to watch ABC TV.
Rather than masquerading as a News Show… Charlie Gibson should just admit it is a political speech he is giving. He could run an editorial and state it IS and editorial BEFORE giving it. If he and ABCNEWS producers and staff believe their side is right. Give the editorial from wherever they choose. But clearly state it is an editorial.
For anyone… of any belief… If you believe your side is right, then you welcome debate. Because then you can show how right your side is and how wrong the other side is. That is the worst case. The best case is both sides eyes get opened, and an even better solution comes about.
So ABCNEWS… What are you afraid of?
But with the big media (newspapers, magazines, tv) behaving the way they are now…
No wonder people turn to Fox News, the Internet, blogs, etc. to get their unbiased and clearly stated biased information that does not toe the party line.
And before you attack me over “Fox News is a right wing conservative bias network.” Have you heard the news how their main Prime time news anchor Shepard Smith had a melt down calling people who are demanding to see President Obama’s birth certificate “crazies” and are “way out there on a limb … out there in a scary place.” Have you watched the programs where they have smart thinking people who vociferously defend their side in debates on the shows. Yes they have republican AND democrat politicians, campaign managers, and party leaders.
Unfortunately they do not include the Libertarian party spokespeople as well. It would be nice to get a full well rounded debate… but that’s for another time and post.
Personally, being a critical thinker, I like to get all sides of an argument and un-skewered facts and figures BEFORE making up my mind. How ‘bout you?
As Porky Pig says Da, da, da, da, da, dat’s All Folks!
See you next time.
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Posted: June 16th, 2009 under General, Politics, Propaganda, Shame On You.
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