War / Peace

Americans Oppose Fake News in Iraq

Submitted by John Stauber on

"Almost three-quarters of Americans think it was wrong for the Pentagon to pay Iraqi newspapers to publish news about U.S. efforts in Iraq, a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll shows. USA TODAY reported earlier this month that the Pentagon plans to expand beyond Iraq an anti-terrorism public relations campaign that has included secret payments to Iraqi journalists and publications who printed stories favorable to the USA. ...

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Main Source: 
USA Today, December 22, 2005
Topics: 
Propaganda
U.S. Government
War / Peace

Cutouts Speak Out

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"U.S. military officials in Iraq were fully aware that a Pentagon contractor regularly paid Iraqi newspapers to publish positive stories about the war, and made it clear that none of the stories should be traced to the United States, according to several current and former employees of Lincoln Group," report Mark Mazzetti and Kevin Sack.

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Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, December 18, 2005
Topics: 
Iraq
Third Party Technique
Propaganda

The Information War

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"The media center in Fayetteville, N.C., would be the envy of any global communications company," writes Jeff Gerth. "In state of the art studios, producers prepare the daily mix of music and news for the group's radio stations or spots for friendly television outlets. Writers putting out newspapers and magazines in Baghdad and Kabul converse via teleconferences. Mobile trailers with high-tech gear are parked outside, ready for the next crisis. ... The center is not part of a news organization, but a military operation, and those writers and producers are soldiers.

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Main Source: 
New York Times, December 11, 2005
Topics: 
Propaganda
U.S. Government
War / Peace

Baghdad Press Club Membership Has Its Privileges

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

"A U.S. investigation into allegations that the American military is buying positive coverage in the Iraqi media has expanded to examine a press club founded and financed by the U.S. Army," reports USA Today. The Baghdad Press Club was created in 2004, "to promote progress amid the violence and chaos of Iraq." A military spokesperson said "members are not required nor asked to write favorably" about the United States.

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Main Source: 
USA Today, December 9, 2005
Topics: 
Iraq
Democracy
Media
U.S. Government

The Victory of Spin

More examples of the Bush administration's manipulation of news spilled out into U.S. newspapers last week. Raising further questions about how the White House continues to spin its "War on Terror," the Los Angeles Times reported on November 30 the U.S. military "is secretly paying Iraqi newspapers to publish stories written by American troops in an effort to burnish the image of the U.S.

Shocked (or Not?) at PR and PsyOps in Iraq

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

After the Los Angeles Times reported that the Pentagon, through the Lincoln Group, was planting "favorable stories about the war and the rebuilding effort" in Iraqi newspapers, military spokespeople "offered a mixed message" about the program.

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Main Source: 
Associated Press, November 30, 2005
Topics: 
Iraq
Third Party Technique
Propaganda
U.S. Government

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