News propaganda
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{{Totally-disputed|date=March 2008}}
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{{Journalism}}
'''News propaganda''' is [[covert]] [[propaganda]] packaged as credible [[news]] without [[Transparency (humanities)|transparency]] as to source and motivation. The lack of transparency is critical to distinguishing news propaganda from traditional [[press release]]s and [[video news release]]s.
As with any propaganda, news propaganda may be spread for purposes including [[politics|political]] or [[ideology|ideological]] reasons, [[political party|partisan]] agenda, [[religion|religious]] motivation, and commercial motivation. In wartime, propaganda can be motivated by [[national security]] reasons.
==United Kingdom==
=== Government produced "news" ===
The [http://www.bsn.org.uk/ British Satellite News] web site claims to be "a free television news and features service", but is provided by [http://www.world-television.com/ World Television], a company that "provides rich communications solutions to corporations, non-profit organisations and governmental institutions." [http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391593 BSN] is entirely funded by the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office|UK Foreign Office]], which spent £340m on propaganda activities in the UK alone in 2001. [http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1106750245959] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1709950,00.html] The Foreign Office is also the primary funder of the [[BBC World Service]], but as part of the [[BBC]] it has complete editorial and managerial independence.
==United States==
=== Government produced "news" ===
In the [[United States]], according to a report by ''[[The New York Times]]'' David Barstow, the [[George W. Bush administration]] has been increasingly criticized for the aggressive use of a tool typical of [[public relations]]: previously prepared, ready-to-serve news that big corporations regularly distribute to TV stations in order to sell products or services{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. What is referred to by the report as [[propaganda]] is usually distributed through the use of a [[Video news release]] (or VNR).
A ''[[New York Times]]'' editorial (March 16, 2005) entitled ''"And now, the counterfeit news"'' affirms that at least 20 U.S. federal agencies, like the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] and the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], produced and distributed hundreds of TV news reports since 2001 that were aired as if they were produced by the [[News media|media]]. The same report says that this practice was also utilized by the [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] Administration. Another report [http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/21909/] details the use of this practice by the [[United States Department of Agriculture]].
==See also==
* [[Bush administration payment of columnists]]
* [[Freedom of the Press]]
* [[Journalism]]
* [[Journalism ethics and standards]]
* [[Journalism scandals]]
* [[List of topics related to public relations and propaganda]]
* [[Managing the news]]
* [[Mass media]]
* [[News satire]]
* [[Public relations]]
==External links==
===Sources===
* ''The Guardian'' David Miller: [http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1709950,00.html "The propaganda we pass off as news around the world"] February 15, 2006
* ''New York Times'' editorial: "And now, the counterfeit news" - March 16, 2005, by David Barstow and Robin Stein (reproduced [http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/38/9671 here], at a political advocacy website
===Further reference===
* [http://www.mindfully.org/GE/2005/Fox-TV-Akre-Wilson3jan05.htm Journalists challenge license of Fox TV in Tampa on evidence of false and distorted news reports] - from [http://www.mindfully.org Mindfully.org]. Journalists Jane Akre and Steve Wilson vs. WTVT Fox-13 in Tampa. Jan 3, 2005.
* [http://www.newfarm.org/news/0105/010405/fox_news.shtml Florida station facing consequences for not airing complete BGH story] - from [http://www.newfarm.org NewFarm.org].
* [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0309-12.htm Military news programs secure a public outlet] - published on March 9, 2005, by the [http://www.sptimes.com St. Petersburg Times]. Tampa Bay Area Government access channels Air Defense Department programming that also goes to military bases and features anchors in uniform.
* [http://www.transparencynow.com/globe1.htm The Boston Globe – Patricia Smith’s virtual reality] - article by [http://www.transparencynow.com/ TransparencyNow.com].
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54651-2005Jan6.html Drug Control Office faulted for issuing fake news tapes] - published on Jan 7, 2005, by [http://www.washingtonpost.com The Washington Post], written by Ceci Connolly.
* [http://www.rasmusen.org/x/archives/000046.html How to write distorted news – NY Times vs. Washington Post] - from Rasmusen Weblog. July 22, 2004.
* [http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/02/10/gannon_affair/index_np.html Fake news, fake reporter] - by Eric Boehlert ([http://www.salon.com Salon.com]). Feb. 10, 2005.
* [http://www.prwatch.org/node/3365 Wanted : 250,000 Americans to fight fake news and government propaganda] - from the Center for Media and Democracy, publishers of [http://www.prwatch.org PRWatch.org].
* [http://www.sniggle.net/news.php sniggle.net: News Trolls] - brief descriptions of historical examples of fake news items originating both inside and outside the newsroom
* [http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2005/January/propaganda_prohibition_01_26_05.html Press release about the Federal Propaganda Prohibition Act of 2005], legislation proposed by Congresswoman [[Rosa DeLauro]]
===Media watchdog organizations===
* [http://www.aim.org Accuracy in Media] watchdog group with a self-proclaimed Conservative bias
* [http://www.democracynow.org/ DemocracyNow.org]
* [http://www.fair.org/index.php FAIR.org] - Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting; Media watchdog group with a self-proclaimed Liberal bias
* [http://www.mediachannel.org/ MediaChannel.org affiliates] - A list of over 1,100 Internet communities around the world focused on media issues.
* [[Media Matters for America]] - Media watchdog group founded by [[David Brock]]
* [http://www.mediawatch.com/ MediaWatch.com] - 20 years of activism
* [http://www.prwatch.org/ PR Watch.org] - published by the [[Center for Media and Democracy]]
* [http://www.spinwatch.org/ SpinWatch] monitoring PR and spin
* [http://www.transparencynow.com/news/tableof.htm Transparency Now : Media criticism and news ethics]
===Movies with related themes===
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120885/ Wag the Dog (1997)]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140352/ The Insider (1999)]
* [[The Power of Nightmares]]
[[Category:Journalism ethics]]
[[Category:Promotion and marketing communications]]
[[Category:Media manipulation techniques]]
[[Category:Public relations techniques]]
[[Category:Propaganda techniques]]