Manipulating Hearts and Minds
Earlier we were introduced to the work of the Committee on Public Information, more commonly referred to as the CPI. Formed in 1917, there primary function was to release government news and influence American opinion toward supporting United States intervention.
The article, Manipulating Hearts and Minds, shows that there was a problem between the government and the media. An unknown casualty said, "the real and dangerous point is that the Bush Administration and the military were so successful in controlling information about the war they were able to tell the public what they wanted the public to know."
When it comes to people getting information, most people rely on television news and the printed press. The problem with this is that the government was restricting the media from what they could say. One example came from Jesse Jackson's experience. Jackson had two hours of footage on tape with Saddam Hussein discussing the possible release of hostages. Many would agree that this would have been on every major news station but Jackson was quoted saying, "there was not one serious interview by a network."
Not much can be done about the control the government has over the media. In one instance, the Center for Constitutional Rights filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense. Bob Sipschen of the Los Angeles time said, "Desert storm was really two wars: The allies against the Iraqis and the military against the press."
The article, Manipulating Hearts and Minds, shows that there was a problem between the government and the media. An unknown casualty said, "the real and dangerous point is that the Bush Administration and the military were so successful in controlling information about the war they were able to tell the public what they wanted the public to know."
When it comes to people getting information, most people rely on television news and the printed press. The problem with this is that the government was restricting the media from what they could say. One example came from Jesse Jackson's experience. Jackson had two hours of footage on tape with Saddam Hussein discussing the possible release of hostages. Many would agree that this would have been on every major news station but Jackson was quoted saying, "there was not one serious interview by a network."
Not much can be done about the control the government has over the media. In one instance, the Center for Constitutional Rights filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense. Bob Sipschen of the Los Angeles time said, "Desert storm was really two wars: The allies against the Iraqis and the military against the press."
posted by sleslie at 4:19 PM
1 Comments:
How does the govenment "control" the media. You need to explain these mechanisms of "control." How much of this censorship is self-censorship? Why do you think that the Jackson footage was not aired?
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