A Challenge Question 2: What is propaganda news?

Question

Various mainstream and independent news media are often labelled as propaganda, sometimes defined as being totally, or near so, dishonest and inaccurate.

Using the same criteria as my 1st Challenge Question, argue why you think specific news media are untrustworthy propaganda, or defend them against those charges.

John J, I watch a fair bit of FNC, and, while what you say might be true, my own anecdotal recollection is that FOX rarely, if ever, did the two things you mentioned. I believe it has even allowed for debate over the alleged association between Saddam and al Qaida, as well as having qualified the news of supposed findings of WMD as being questionable. I don't recall FNC ever having stated that Saddam and Bin Laden worked together on 9/11, nor that they actually said wmd were found in Iraq. I'm aware that there is a poll, or more, that says FNC viewers are generally ignorant of the facts and consensus views on those issues, but I'm not aware of a pattern of them having committed these violations; actually aware of any that I can recall. Though I do believe FNC is too conservative and uses inappropriate headlines and allows too much opinion.

Answer 1

More than anything, I think that this is due to the increasing popularity of news networks' "talking heads" and possibly, this phenomenon calling attention to newspaper editorials as well. As editorial figures, it's inevitable that many will have political leanings one way or the other, and due to their popularity, people tend to link these figures inextricably to their host network/paper/etc., a la Bill O'Reilly and Fox News, Diane Rheim [sp?] and NPR. Generally, I'd say that if there's any bias at all in most media's ostensibly objective non-editorial news, it's due to the fact most reporters field work and experiences and conversations with people may tend to give them a fairly humanistic perspective, and at times, this may be seen as swaying to one political party or the other. There's also the matter of news reporting tending to be a bit skeptical of politicians in power, maybe for sensationalism's sake, and that could be seen as anti-whoever propaganda, but that of course depends on who's in power.

Answer 2

The problem with most news organizations is not that they are propagandists, but that they don't filter the propaganda from either side. They do this because of a couple reasons:

1) They fear that if they point out the lies or misrepresentations they will be labeled and lose viewership.

2) They fear that presenting people with things that make their viewers think is a bad thing, because they pander to the lowest common denominator that doesn't want to think.

However, there are some that actively lie. A prime example is Faux News, who for months after it was disproven reported that WMDs were discovered in Iraq (it has since been discovered that the only WMDs were the ones we gave Iraq in the 1980s). Also they report, even to this day, against piles and piles of evidence to the contrary that Saddam and Bin Laden worked together toward 9-11.

Answer 3

With the exception of a small portion most the news are presented in actual shape. Actual video provide you with first hand information. Some times we have our own fixed ideas. and any information which does not match our thinking is dubbed as propaganda. There are many people who termed 9/11 as conspiracy. It is likely that Administration may be hiding its weaknesses, but whatsoever, they say is reality. Media people have background knowledge of issues

Answer 4

Usually, if you hear a drumb machine and new age techno music in the background, it's propaganda that wants to make something matter of fact seem exciting; like a boring murder or somethun' like that.

Answer 5

Propaganda? Influencing, making you think something
is really happening, when it's not - persuasion.

Answer 6

when they filter news to support their agenda or goals, whether political or financial (corporate)