Why is Barnes & Noble pushing this RW Propaganda???

[Stephanie]

I wander into the Union Square (NYC) Barnes & Noble this afternoon, and what is the FIRST thing I see? What new work has pride of place, front, center, and above all others, on the first table inside the entry doors?

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2TCW1CI0TS&isbn=0785261044&itm=1

Journalistic Fraud: How the New York Times Distorts the News and why It Can No Longer Be Trusted
Bob Kohn

From the Publisher - A life-long reader of the New York Times proves how the once-vaunted newspaper has replaced its original noble mission to present straight news with a new subversive mission to manipulate attitudes and promote leftist agendas. For over a hundred years, the New York Times has purported to present straight news and hard facts. But, as Bob Kohn shows with absolute clarity, the founders' original vision has been hijacked, and today, instead of straight news, readers are given mere editorial under the pretense of objective journalism. Kohn shows point by point the methods by which the Times' mission has been subverted by the present management-routinely slanting the presentation of the facts in leads, headlines, and placement; utilizing polls, labels, and loaded language to convey particular views, not genuine news; and staffing the newsroom with hacks who manipulate information to further a leftist agenda. Kohn shows how such fraudulence directly corrupts hundreds of news agencies across the world; and by revealing all their methods of manipulation, he teaches readers how to decipher the slants in even the subtlest of cases, providing an entertaining and enlightening lesson in fraud-busting.

About The Author:

Bob Kohn is an attorney and seasoned executive <i.e. he is nobody> with experience in both the entertainment and high-tech industries. He is currently the vice chairman of the board of Borland Software Corp. and chairman of Laugh.com, a comedy record label. A former associate attorney at a prominent Beverly Hills entertainment law firm, Kohn served as associate editor of the Entertainment Law Reporter. Kohn also co-authored with his father the legal treatise, Kohn on Music Licensing, hailed by USA Today as the "bible of legal issues in the music world."

Publisher: WND Books

I went to the information desk and asked them who made the decisions as to what the front display would be? Was it a corporate directive or did the store manager decide. The clerk behind the desk told me HE put the book there and it was his decision. I asked for the store manager. He was actually belligerant. I asked him why this book was up front - a book by an unknown, uncredentialed author, by an unknown publisher. His answer: no reason.

They said it was a new book, so it was up front. I said you have hundreds of new books, why this one? "No reason."

I gave up on him, he was practically snarling, but I spoke again to the clerk as I was leaving. He said they had gotten a big shipment of this book, so that was one reason. I said this is propaganda by an unknown author and unknown publisher, and I pointed out where the book jacket described the Times as having a "leftist agenda." The clerk said everyobdy knows the Times is leftist. I told him that was HIS opinion. It's certainly not mine.

I then went to another B&N (6th Ave) - the new non-fiction in that store was a few tables back from the front. The book was there, but laid out among the others, not perched top and center above the rest.

What's the deal? Who is this author, who is this publisher, who decides to buy all those copies, and why so belligerant and defensive when they are confronted about it?

This is Manhattan. This is across the street from Union Square, site of some of the biggest labor rallies in American history.

How to complain about this and be heard? Do you think the NYT would look into it?

[Stephanie]

1. OMFG! It's published by WorldNet Daily!

http://www.wndbooks.com/


I forgot to add, when I complained, they asked me if I worked for the NYT. As if that's the only reason I would have to complain about this.

[Nicholas_J]

2. B&N is Owned By a Nederlands Corporation

That likes to own U.S. corporations because our labor is cheaper, and labor laws non-existant. They love not giving to give the benefits in the U.S. that they would have to give in the Nettherlands.

If you MUST buy from a large chain store, got to Book-A-Million, as I hear from their staff that they are not treated too badly on the job.

B&N makes the store staff clean out the toilets and bathrooms and all kinds of other junk like that, and allow half a sick day for each six months of work.

[bryant69]

3. I'm not exactly sure how you complain

because a book store had a book you don't like. I mean it sounsd like that book is BS to me too--but don't bookstore owners have a right to set out their merchandise as they like?

Bryant
check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Stephanie]

5. They clearly have an agenda - I was trying to get a straight answer

They wouldn't give one. This is not a legitimate book. The store manager and the clerk are not the owners. I want to know how they justify pushing this book, which is another RW slander piece. I can't stop them. You're right, they can do what they like. But I can ask WHY.

[StandWatie]

4. the right is insane

NYT of today is not the paper it was twenty years ago and if they actually read the thing you would think they would be very, very, happy with the paper. It was pro-Bush 2000, pro-Iraq War, I think they may have bitched about tax cuts some but them acting like it's comparable to The Militant always blows me away.

[Stephanie]

9. After the NYT's slanted coverage of the NORC it was very clear to me

that it is not in any way a left-wing paper. I don't know why the NYT is such a RW target, unless they are trying to silence Krugman. The news coverage is completely inadequate in addressing this corrupt admin - those are sins of omission more than anything else, IMO. It's what they DON'T cover that concerns me. And now that David Brooks is getting a column I'm thinking of cancelling the Times. But the right won't be content until Fox-style propaganda is ALL you can get.

[NashVegas]

19. I Think it's About Dumbing People Down More than Anything

Former editor Raines' golf crusading aside, NY Times is a mainstream/conservative paper, but with a heavy emphasis on analysis and fact gathering. For every international article where they fumble the ball and say exactly what the State Department wants them to, there are two or more stories that fit the "newshole" category; stuff that affects us all but isn't sexy enough to make the headlines, especially on Cable news (for example, their excellent series of articles on water shortages and water rights quarrels), where they don't necessarily take a stance, just depict what's going on and try to predict where the trend is heading.

And then yes, there's Krugman. But he's really besides the point.

Regardless of bias charges, anyway you look at it, NYT is the opposite of the News Lite presented by the Murdoch empire. It reports enough facts that the reader can (hopefully) reach an independent conclusion about the events and stories being reported on.

Rupert and the cons don't like that, because with the internet, people in Peoria have access to more information than Rupert would like to give them.

There's also just the plain old competition angle, too. How much business does the Times get - circulation, web hits, and advertising - because it's perceived as "The paper of record?"

[Stephanie]

20. Yes. FACTS = Left Wing bias, in wingnuts' estimation

That's the RW agenda - eliminate anyone who reports facts. NPR falls in this category. They love to label NPR leftist when it is anything but.

[Hamlette]

6. let them bankrupt themselves

the RW trash books are being written because someone out there is buying them in huge quantities then they get remainedered. They are not being read except by a few who are in an echo chamber.

I'd rather they spend their money on books that are destined for the trash heap than on something scarier. Like fixing elections?

[Stephanie]

7. Yes but the clerk tells me this book was bought by B&N in large quantity

What's the deal with that?

[Cronus Protagonist]

12. It's B&N's money to squander

Surely you're not arguing that they shouldn't spend whatever they like on any books they like?


Click Here For Hard Hitting Buttons — Visit The Cronus Connection

[Stephanie]

15. I"m asking what are their criteria and who makes the decisions

The book is obviously bogus. But they legitimize it by it's placement and promotion. I'd like to know why. As a customer who has spent a lot of money at B&N, don't you think I have the right to ask why? And to get a better answer than "no reason"?

What if I, with my credentials (none! just like this guy) wrote a book that said George Bush Jr. has a hidden Nazi agenda, based on my analysis of his speeches. What if I got The National Enquirer to publish it in hardback. Do you think B&N would buy many copies and display it more prominently than actual scholarly works by famous authors, as they have in this case? I think that's the equivalent.

It's not censorship to ask on what basis was this decision made.

[dani]

18. I don't know what to do

other than what I usually do in these situations: write them a letter explaining that you won't support them as long as they support rightwing extremist fringe crap. Tell them you'll find another bookstore.

[Stephanie]

8. New Yorkers

Please visit the Union Square Barnes & Noble. Check this out. I mean really, they have no criteria for selecting the book that will occupy the prime location in the store?

[pretzel4gore]

11. they everywhere...

the fascists are very well funded (the taxpayer funds all their tricks, as they pay no taxes)...and if anyone acts surprised etc....that's too bad. Barnes and Noble, Amazon, all the big book dealers/biznesses are ONSIDE with their fellow piggy classmates, and this amazes people? If it does, then fuck you.
The SS has a $40billion plus budget...WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT GOES?
DU is starting to get boring; all these naive fucks whining about the unfairness of the enemy...just go in B and N and accidently drop a bottle of something by the checkout...
sheeese

[alaine]

14. I admire your courage for confronting

them about this. That was awesome. I don't have a Barnes and Noble here, but there is a Waldenbooks at the mall and they just display the NYT bestseller list. Which is the point, they need to display the books they think will sell. All I know from working in retail is that many chain stores are pretty stringent about their displays, they usually want them all to be similar in a given area, so it might pay to call the district sales manager for the for that area and tell them they did not have Hilary's book on display and that the clerk and store manager were rude when you asked why they were displaying a book by an uncredentialed writer on a subject that a) isn't even far-reaching (a whole book to state something that could be stated in one sentence) and b) isn't even his area of expertise (music law?). This makes the store look ridiculous. I totally encourage you to take it to the next level.

[Stephanie]

16. Thank you for understanding my point

It makes the store look ridiculous. Because it IS ridiculous. And it's infuriating. WorldNet Daily Publishing?

[Oracle]

10. Big Republican corporations think alike?

Too simplistic?

[cosmicdot]

13. perhaps the influence of Bertelsmann, a German company...or

the book's publisher is WND books, owned by Thomas Nelson, Inc., a publisher of "Christian books" http://www.thomasnelson.com/

or both?

"Barnes & Noble, Inc. (“Barnes & Noble”) is the beneficial owner of all of the Company’s outstanding Class B Common Stock and Bertelsmann AG (“Bertelsmann”) is the beneficial owner of all of the Company’s outstanding Class C Common Stock. Accordingly, Barnes & Noble will be entitled to elect the Class B Director, Bertelsmann will be entitled to elect the Class C Director and, together, Barnes & Noble and Bertelsmann will be able to elect the Class A Director and control all other votes to be taken at the Annual Meeting."

from stockholder proxy for barnesandnoble.com
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1069665/000095012303006870/y86878def14a.htm

:shrug:


Channel 5 owner admits profiting from Nazi era

John Hooper in Berlin
Wednesday October 9, 2002
The Guardian

The media giant Bertelsmann rose to become one of the world's most influential corporations with the help of a big lie, the company has admitted.

For more than half a century, Bertelsmann, which controls Britain's Channel 5, claimed that it had been a victim of the Nazi regime. But an investigation by the company has found that it worked hand-in-glove with the Third Reich, made profits from publishing anti-Semitic works and used Jewish slave labourers.

Günter Thielen, chairman of the commission of historians behind the research, expressed "sincere regret for the inaccuracies the commission has uncovered".

His statement stopped short of an apology.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/article/0,2763,807135,00.html

[Stephanie]

17. That's very interesting

I hope that's not what's influencing this behavior. I got the feeling it was just some random freeper element in the B&N management. If it's more than that this is really scary. Especially considering they've driven most of the independent bookstores out of business here, and I'm sure everywhere else.

[Stephanie]

21. Calling all New Yorkers!

Does this bother you? Remember when we used to have Shakespeare & Co. on the Upper Westside? Remember the fabulous Coliseum Books?

Duane Reade has ruined the city for independent drugstores. B&N has ruined the city for independent bookstores. Are we going to accept having this BS shoved in our face? I just want them to explain WHY.

[aquart]

22. B&N ranking for Journalistic Fraud is 22,447.

<http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2URTYMIHMR&isbn=0785261044&itm=1&pwb=2#PWB>


If that's any comfort. But what an idiotic choice for the Union Square store. Maybe the manager needs a transfer to the suburbs?

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

23. They are trying to sell books

A book about a NYT "scandal" could perhaps sell well in NYC. If it doesn't sell, they will take the display down.

Much ado about absolutely nothing.

[MissouriTeacher]

24. I would just like to point out..

that it's very hard to find any books by liberal or Democratic writers at my local Barnes and Noble.

Of course, they have everything from the right wing from Ann Coulter to Gary Aldrich. But try finding anything by Michael Lind, Molly Ivins, Joe Conason, good luck.

[berry]

25. Maybe that would be a logical assumption if they had said as much

when Stephanie asked. Their rudeness sounds defensive to me (even in NY shopkeepers try not to alienate customers). I wondered if they had taken a kickback--the hostility makes it a possibility in my mind. Not that we will ever know, I suppose. But just the fact that this has happened is interesting--maybe Stephanie should send a message to Joe Conanson. It sounds like something he might like to follow up and then write about.

I was generally bored with all the coverage of the Jason Blair story, but I did note that almost every other news outlet opined that this was a heavy blow to the NYT's credibility. Hmmm. I agree with Stephanie about its strenghs and weaknesses, so that issue seemed way overblown. Now that I know that someone thought it was worth the time and money to produce a book that smears the NYT, I wonder. Could Blair have been paid by the RW to act in such a way as to discredit the NYT??? I put nothing at all past them (though, as mentioned above, I know that we will probably never know.)

I too miss Shakespeare's and the Colusium, though I'm only in NYC occasionally these days....

[Yupster]

26. You have a right to complain of course, but

if I was the manager, I would have told you to get lost too, unless you had a handful of books you were buying.

If the corporate office gives me the right to decide what to display where, then it's my decision, or my employees decision - however I want to do it. If his sales are disappointing to the corporation, it's his head on the block. I'm sure he gets bonuses if his store has good monthly sales too.

You have a right to boycott the store, or complain, but I wouldn't have too much patience when idealogues came in complaining that I had too many of this kind or that kind of book prominantly displayed. I'd tell you to buy your own bookstore and you can display your books however you want.

As far as the NY Times, I grew up in NYC, and it was always assumed where I lived that the NY Times was the left-leaning paper and the Post and News leaned to the right. I don't think I'm breaking any ground with that statement.

[quinnox]

27. If it bothers you that much

then go back to the bookstore and find a stack of your favorite liberal author's books in the store, and start replacing the front display with them and see what happens.