PR and finding out who makes the so-called news...

[liveoaktx]

I was watching "Toxic Waste is Good for you" on FSTV (looks to be on a lot the next week or so) where the idea of the news getting pre-made spots selling a product or an idea is discussed. It reminded me of reading about the WH making that bogus medicare ad with the woman who was supposed to be a reporter shilling the new bill's benefits. I thought, naively, that was an abberation.

Let's say that, on a given news show, a percentage of the spots are PR-made-to-order POV's. Is there a way to find out who makes these? Has anyone ever called their local news shows to ask the origin of the spots? I think they should be labeled as such, otherwise one assumes that some mythical news hounds are creating them.

[countmyvote4real]

1. All corporate owned media is suspect.

They MIGHT throw a bone to the left, but it doesn't compare to the shank they hold up for the right. If it's possible to put ideologies aside, If it's in their interest, they will flog it.

I'm sure that I don't have to make a list of the top news stories we're subjected to accept as informative or life-changing. I can't. I don't pay any attention to mainstream US media anymore. (That includes NPR.)

They all lost their credibility in the run up to the Iraq invasion and the chance to be imbedded. And for the most part, they have failed to admit their blindness and I consider them beyond redemption.

Anyway, they need us (for advertising dollars) much more than we can rely upon them for journalistic truth. Fuck 'em. I've found a different fountain for my thirst of truth.

[liveoaktx]

2. What concerns me, television aside, is that one could see

the same type of PR in the newspaper (and, by extension, onilne.) For example, I'm sure I read an article today about biotech food, probably on LBN. I don't recall that it mentioned the origin of the article, but suppose it was a PR plant from some biotech industry lobby.

Saying that it's not just television but all media contaminated.

There simply must be some way to indentify easily PR versus actual news and if not, to put some *truth in advertising* safeguard in.

[countmyvote4real]

3. You're right. It's all suspect. You have to consider the source.

And dig for it at the same time. You can dig into online sources much more than the airwaves propaganda.

DU is not immune from disinformation, but it doesn't live long in our community because it is mightily debunked.