Gawker has a little piece of recent history that reflects the (usually squalid) relationship between the mainstream media and US military: Public relations is about “relationships.” Flacks develop “relationships” with reporters by calling them and yelling at them until the reporters start to realize, before they write something, that an unpleasant conversation might ensue. So…
Showing all posts tagged mainstream media
How to make money on the back of failure in the 21st century
Here’s how the war economy works. Get in the military. Learn about “terrorism”. Preach “counter-insurgency” tactics to a gullible establishment and media. Talk about understanding local cultures while at the same time backing kill/capture methods that routinely fail/murder innocents/kidnap the wrong person (hello Afghanistan, latest report here and here). A perfect example of this person…
The information black hole that is Christmas Island
The details of the Australian immigration system are often kept secret, not least the activities of British multinational Serco running the detention facilities. The Australian’s Paige Taylor is that rare mainstream journalist who has been pursuing the story for years. Her feature in yesterday’s paper documented the absurd restrictions on finding out accurate information on…
Assange speaks in London at ten year anniversary of Afghan war squalor
When we understand that wars come about as a result of lies, peddled to the British public and the American public and public all over Europe and other countries, then who are the war criminals? It is not just leaders, it is not just soldiers, it is journalists, journalists are war criminals. And Assange, interviewed…
Two, vastly different ways to report on asylum seekers
Today’s Murdoch-owned Daily Telegraph in Sydney leads with this “exclusive”, deliberately designed to make readers angry towards these supposedly greedy refugees: Buying cigarettes and tobacco for immigration detainees is costing taxpayers more than $1.4 million a year. While the federal government spends millions on anti-smoking campaigns, the cost of keeping up detainees’ habits costs about…
Public appreciates need for strong Wikileaks to tell us how world works
The allure of Wikileaks was proven once again last night here in Sydney with a packed Opera House, at the first event in the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, hearing from Julian Assange via video-link. He spoke about the importance of uncovering government secrets, most of which should never be secret, and challenging the corporatised nature…
Never wholly trust foreign media not to be seduced by easy narratives
The Sydney premiere of this new documentary on East Timor, Breaking the News, will take place next week at the Antenna Film Festival: