U.S. Government

Tortured Reasoning for Destroying Evidence of Torture

Submitted by Judith Siers-Poisson on

Steve Benen writes that "As it turns out, the reasoning behind the CIA's decision to record interrogations on video, stop recording interrogations on video, and destroy the interrogation videos was all exactly the same: officials were hoping to avoid a public-relations nightmare." They were unsuccessful, of course, since the media reported widely on the destruction of the tapes and

No
Main Source: 
The Carpetbagger Report, December 30, 2007
Topics: 
Iraq
Terrorism
Human Rights
International
Politics
Propaganda
Public Relations
Secrecy
U.S. Government
War / Peace

Safety Suppressed

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

A former statistician for the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has accused the agency of "suppressing scientific research" and "silencing the life-saving research happening in its buildings." Robin Ingle says the CPSC has repeatedly bowed to pressures from industry and failed to place tighter restrictions on dangerous products. As an example, she points to delays in publication of reports showing a rise in deaths from All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), while CPSC's general counsel, a former attorney for the ATV industry, tried to force staff to change the language in the report.

No
Main Source: 
Washington Post, December 23, 2007
Topics: 
Ethics
Science
U.S. Government

"I Shop. Therefore I Give."

Submitted by Judith Siers-Poisson on

Tags on clothing for sale at J.C. Penney that promise a donation to WWF.'Tis the season of gift giving, and of retailers trying to grab as much of their market share as they can. While encouraging consumerism and excessive consumption, sellers also seek to tap into nobler urges toward benevolence and charity at this time of year.

No
Main Source: 
New York Times, December 22, 2007
Topics: 
Corporate Social Responsibility
Cause-Related Marketing
Arts / Culture
U.S. Congress
Corporations
Marketing
Politics

An Industry Look at 2007's Biggest PR Blunders

Submitted by Judith Siers-Poisson on

Fineman PR of San Francisco, California, has released their list of top ten PR blunders of 2007. Topping the list at number one is "No Reporters? No Problem" -- the fake news conference staged by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about their response to the California wild fires.

No
Main Source: 
The Huffington Post, December 15, 2007
Topics: 
Advertising
Guerrilla Marketing
Corporations
Marketing
Politics
Propaganda
Public Relations
U.S. Government

"Posted to YouTube, Sir!"

Submitted by Judith Siers-Poisson on

YouTube has become de rigeur for posting official war propaganda. As CMD reported in October 2007, NATO has dedicated at least 1 million Euros (about $1.46 million U.S.) to produce and post footage to the popular video sharing site. In Britain, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Royal Navy and Royal Air Force all have channels on YouTube, with dozens of short videos shot by or with their forces.

No
Main Source: 
BBC News, December 13, 2007
Topics: 
Internet
Iraq
Terrorism
International
Propaganda
U.S. Government
War / Peace

FCC: Big Media Should Get Bigger

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

On a three to two party line vote, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to overturn "a 32-year-old ban," allowing "broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper." FCC Chair Kevin Martin, who proposed the change, called it "a relatively minor loosening" of media ownership rules.

No
Main Source: 
Associated Press, December 18, 2007
Topics: 
Corporations
Democracy
Marketing
Media
U.S. Government

Killing Them Softly (With Silencers)

Submitted by Anne Landman on

Rocky Mountain National Park elkSpinning the thinning?Tourists love Colorado Rocky Mountain National Park's spectacular elk herds. Visitors to the park often get out of their cars and pose for photos with groups of elk grazing placidly on the green grass behind them, snow-capped Rocky Mountains filling the backdrop.

No
Main Source: 
Greeley, Colorado Tribune, December 16, 2007
Topics: 
Animal Rights
Ethics
U.S. Government

Pages

Subscribe to U.S. Government