John Pilger on journalism

[Ichingcarpenter]

John Pilger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pilger

[woo me with science]

1. K&R We live in a propaganda state that is actively strangling journalism

and growing its own lying narrative.

[Fuddnik]

3. There are very few journalists anymore.

What we have are a shitload of corporate PR flacks. The bastard offspring of Edward Bernays.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. This is what Greenwald said about that:

In 2008, he said:

Brian Williams, Charlie Gibson and company are paid to play the role of TV reporters but, in reality, are mere television emcees — far more akin to circus ringleaders than journalists.
Unlike Yellin, Donahue and Banfield, nobody needed to pressure the likes of Williams, Gibson and Russert to serve as propaganda handmaidens for the White House. It’s what they do quite eagerly on their own, which is precisely why they’re in the corporate positions they’re in.

http://www.salon.com/2008/05/29/yellin/

and in 2012, about Williams:

He cleanses and glorifies American government actions, especially military actions, with his reverent, soothing, self-important baritone …

Brian Williams doesn’t occupy the position he occupies — as America’s Most Serious and Visible News Anchor — despite his vapid glorification of American political and military leaders; he occupies it precisely because he’s so good at doing that. That’s the prime requirement of this job.

http://www.salon.com/2012/05/03/nbc_news_top_hagiographer/

[malaise]

2. K & R for truth

[blkmusclmachine]

4. 14 Defining Characteristics of Fascism

6. Controlled Mass Media - Media is directly controlled by the government. In some cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

http://www.rense.com/general37/char.htm

[nationalize the fed]

5. Pilger tells the truth

and the truth cuts like a knife

Cass Sunstein (Obama’s former head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs) advocates that the Government’s stealth infiltration should be accomplished by sending covert agents into “chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups.” He also proposes that the Government make secret payments to so-called “independent” credible voices to bolster the Government’s messaging (on the ground that those who don’t believe government sources will be more inclined to listen to those who appear independent while secretly acting on behalf of the Government).
http://www.salon.com/2010/01/15/sunstein_2/

[Scuba]

6. This is why laws that define who is a journalist for the purpose of legal protection is such a sham.