Propaganda Machine Churns On

On November 2^nd the New York Times concedes some information about the pressure received from the Pentagon to control media news coverage.

In an article titled, “Pentagon Widens Its Battle To Shape News of Iraq” the Pentagon claims it has expanded its propaganda operations to correct “inaccuracies” about Iraq, Rumsfled’s role there, and while unmentioned, surely to further control the coverage of future Pentagon operations.

While we are able to see a glimpse of the massive onslaught of pressure the media face, the article leaves us wondering on several counts.

For one, has the Pentagon and other government agencies successfully shaped the news in the past? If not, why is the Pentagon only now re-organizing?

Two, if the Pentagon tried to influence the media why does the article give no examples? Is this because they would have to admit past failures and face further profit losses?

Third, where are statistics on the amount of money spent on government public relations? (Our tax money maybe?) And has there actually been a factual inaccuracy the pentagon sought to correct? If so, some examples would be helpful. And if not, then what information is the Pentagon targeting? This may give the reader some insight on their motives.

We do get a hint of what goes on behind the scenes. For instance, one journalist says she was confronted by pentagon officials because of her “tone” after a piece was aired featuring a military general’s comments that the war was “disheartening.” According to the Times the pentagon official responded that he had “challenged the content of television broadcasts before and that it had nothing to do with the reorganization of the press office.”

In other words, this is nothing new.

It isn’t enough for the media to tell the public the government is trying to influence news coverage and twist facts if the they are not willing to admit their own failures and to prevent those failures from reoccurring.