Intelligence reform bill media provisions

[DireStrike]

Some funny stuff in here. For example,

"(D) Individuals lacking access to a plurality of free
media are vulnerable to misinformation and propaganda
and are potentially more likely to adopt anti-United States
views."

Sure. And this:

"(E) Foreign governments have a responsibility to actively
and publicly discourage and rebut unprofessional
and unethical media while respecting journalistic integrity
and editorial independence."

But not our government, right? Oh well, I guess it's good that they're not trying to control the media here yet. Except through the corporate cable voiceboxes. Enjoy.


SEC. 7108. PROMOTION OF FREE MEDIA AND OTHER AMERICAN VALUES

(a) PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES VALUES THROUGH BROADCAST MEDIA.-

(1) FINDINGS.—Consistent with the report of the National
Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, Congress
makes the following findings:
(A) Although the United States has demonstrated and
promoted its values in defending Muslims against tyrants
and criminals in Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan,
and Iraq, this message is neither convincingly presented
nor widely understood.
(B) If the United States does not act to vigorously define
its message in countries with predominantly Muslim
populations, the image of the United States will be defined
by Islamic extremists who seek to demonize the United
States.
(C) Recognizing that many Muslim audiences rely on
satellite television and radio, the United States Government
has launched promising initiatives in television and radio
broadcasting to the Islamic world, including Iran and Afghanistan.
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that—
(A) the United States must do more to defend and promote
its values and ideals to the broadest possible audience
in countries with predominantly Muslim populations;
(B) United States efforts to defend and promote these
values and ideals are beginning to ensure that accurate expressions
of these values reach large Muslim audiences and
should be robustly supported;
(C) the United States Government could and should do
more to engage Muslim audiences in the struggle of ideas;
and
(D) the United States Government should more intensively
employ existing broadcast media in the Islamic world
as part of this engagement.

(b) ENHANCING FREE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA.—

(1) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings:
(A) Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are
fundamental human rights.
(B) The United States has a national interest in promoting
these freedoms by supporting free media abroad,
which is essential to the development of free and democratic
societies consistent with our own.
(C) Free media is undermined, endangered, or nonexistent
in many repressive and transitional societies
around the world, including in Eurasia, Africa, and the
Middle East.
(D) Individuals lacking access to a plurality of free
media are vulnerable to misinformation and propaganda
and are potentially more likely to adopt anti-United States
views.
(E) Foreign governments have a responsibility to actively
and publicly discourage and rebut unprofessional
and unethical media while respecting journalistic integrity
and editorial independence.
(2) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It shall be the policy of the
United States, acting through the Secretary of State, to—
(A) ensure that the promotion of freedom of the press
and freedom of media worldwide is a priority of United
States foreign policy and an integral component of United
States public diplomacy;
(B) respect the journalistic integrity and editorial independence
of free media worldwide; and
(C) ensure that widely accepted standards for professional
and ethical journalistic and editorial practices are
employed when assessing international media.

(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDIA NETWORK.—

(1) GRANTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF NETWORK.—The Secretary
of State shall, utilizing amounts authorized to be appropriated
by subsection (e)(2), make grants to the National Endowment
for Democracy (NED) under the National Endowment
for Democracy Act (22 U.S.C. 4411 et seq.) for utilization by the
Endowment to provide funding to a private sector group to establish
and manage a free and independent media network as
specified in paragraph (2).
(2) MEDIA NETWORK.—The media network established using
funds under paragraph (1) shall provide an effective forum to
convene a broad range of individuals, organizations, and governmental
participants involved in journalistic activities and
the development of free and independent media in order to—
(A) fund a clearinghouse to collect and share information
concerning international media development and
training;
(B) improve research in the field of media assistance
and program evaluation to better inform decisions regarding
funding and program design for government and private
donors;
(C) explore the most appropriate use of existing means
to more effectively encourage the involvement of the private
sector in the field of media assistance; and
(D) identify effective methods for the development of a
free and independent media in societies in transition.
(d) AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated
for each of fiscal years 2005 and 2006, unless otherwise authorized
by Congress, such sums as may be necessary to carry out
United States Government broadcasting activities consistent
with this section under the United States Information and Educational
Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), the
United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22
U.S.C. 6201 et seq.), and the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring
Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), and to carry
out other activities under this section consistent with the purposes
of such Acts, unless otherwise authorized by Congress.

OUTREACH THROUGH BROADCAST MEDIA.

A description of a cohesive, long-term strategy of the United States to expand
its outreach to foreign Muslim audiences through broadcast
media, including the following:
(A) The initiatives of the Broadcasting Board of Governors
with respect to outreach to foreign Muslim audiences.
(B) An outline of recommended actions that the United
States Government should take to more regularly and comprehensively
present a United States point of view through
indigenous broadcast media in countries with predominantly
Muslim populations, including increasing appearances
by United States Government officials, experts, and
citizens.
(C) An assessment of the major themes of biased or
false media coverage of the United States in foreign countries
and the actions taken to address this type of media
coverage.
(D) An assessment of potential incentives for, and costs
associated with, encouraging United States broadcasters to
dub or subtitle into Arabic and other relevant languages
their news and public affairs programs broadcast in the
Muslim world in order to present those programs to a
much broader Muslim audience than is currently reached.
(E) Any recommendations the President may have for
additional funding and legislation necessary to achieve the
objectives of the strategy.

[katinmn]

1. why don't they just say they want more money for propaganda?

and they want to drown out any free media that exists ANYWHERE?

This is bullshit.