Media Manipulation

Saying so doesn't make it so.

Let the people know the Truth and the Truth shall make them free.

"Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." 
 -- 2 John 1:4-6

   One duty of a free press is to report what government officials and corporate executives say. A second duty is to check and confirm the veracity of what they say.
   Many reporters follow this principle: Politicians lie. Many others carry that further and ask, why are they lying? Often, it is not enough to know that someone is being disingenuous, so the real questions are these: Why, and what is the real truth? What are they trying to conceal, and why?
   Of the famous Five W's of journalism -- who, what, where, when and why -- the most important is the last one: Why? And that one is often the hardest to find out.
   One simple answer is that candidates, politicians and governing officials do so to advance their agenda and to obtain or retain governing power. To this end, they will change or modify their positions to reflect the views of the noisiest segment of the electorate.
   Thus, a noisy few can influence candidates and officials to change their publicly expressed positions. Their own view may remain the same, but chameleon-like, they change to better fit their surroundings.
   Meanwhile, a more obdurate few will hold their minority views, claiming that they are supported by a "silent majority" of the public.
   But how are we to know that, if the majority are silent?

   Meanwhile, money talks, as wealthy campaign donors hire public relations and marketing firms to spread their views and create the impression that the majority support their views. And these agencies are skilled at manipulating media messages to sway public opinion.
   A free and independent press, including broadcast journalists, have an obligation to seek truth, despite what marketing practitioners would have everyone believe.
   In the business and political world, it's called public relations.
   When government does it, it's called propaganda, and when successful such tactics lead to dictatorship.
   
   It can't happen here, you say?
   Think again. It very nearly did. Twice. And not in the fictional novel of the same name.