If anyone is curious about the military concept known as "information operations" this is a good analysis about some of the impacts that IO can have on a citizenry.......after all, not all IO is high-tech. :)
-rick Infowarrior.org (reposted from IP) Terrorists have their way on TV http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20040915/oplede07.art.htm Network news' mentality of �if it bleeds, it leads' fails us. Lives are at stake. By Alcestis �Cooky� Oberg When I was in broadcast news, I was dismayed at how often the �if it bleeds, it leads� mentality let sensational, gruesome pictures dictate the story of the day, often without explanation, purpose or reason. Yet our largest and most influential TV networks and cable news channels have been doing just this sort of sensationalistic journalism in their coverage of Iraq and the war on terrorism. In the extreme, they even use the footage terrorists provide of their victims. For instance, on Sept. 7 and 8, networks used home video from the terrorists who massacred hundreds of schoolchildren in Beslan, Russia. A week earlier, kidnappers in Iraq slaughtered 12 Nepalese hostages, possibly for nothing more than shocking images it would produce on video. It's as though the terrorists themselves have begun to compete for ratings. In our post-9/11 world, all journalists � but especially broadcasters � need to rethink what they're doing. Television certainly needs to show the cruel face of war � whether in Iraq or the war on terrorism � for the sake of truth and accuracy. But TV's hunger for shocking pictures is distorting Americans' view of this war, and its excessive use of terrorist video is spreading propaganda of an even more damaging sort. TV outlets run the risk of becoming mindless, amoral communications tools by which terrorists advertise their brutality, enlarge their reputations and belittle those who would protect us. The Tyndall Report, which tracks nightly news broadcasts, found that 60% of the time given to top news stories during one week in June was devoted to car bombings, a hostage beheading and other terrorist-related activities. Sometimes, it is more. There were car bombs in Baghdad and attacks on foreigners in Saudi Arabia. The terrorists even provided �raw� video � such as the beheading of U.S. hostage Paul Johnson � that dominated those broadcasts. In the meantime, the networks underreported the vital but less-visual elements of nation-building in Iraq during that period: organizing a police force, setting up an economy, stabilizing a currency and planning elections. Networks defend such practices as bringing the public the �news� � and 24-hour cable channels especially pride themselves on presenting �breaking news� footage. However, the Pew Charitable Trusts' 2004 report on the state of the U.S. media found a troubling trend: News outlets �disseminate� news from other sources rather than collect it themselves, and the end video product often becomes repetitive, chaotic and incoherent �raw news.� Ultimately, news decisions are surrendered to those who would manipulate it for their own ends. This has resulted in non-stop images of hostages, street fighting and gun-waving insurgents. With virtually each new kidnapping or slaughter, a video emerges and is dutifully aired. The source of the footage frequently is not identified. The most dangerous television practice, though, is the �personalization� of news reports. Putting a face on every gory story has turned some terrorists into celebrities, on par with world leaders. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the 9/11 mastermind, told interrogators that he was �inspired� by the �instant notoriety� garnered by the planners of the 1993 World Trade Center attacks. He said he wanted to cast himself as a �superterrorist� in this new �theater� of destruction. In essence, television gave him enormous motivation to commit a bigger, more terrible act. Currently, U.S. TV outlets leave the decision to air terrorist video to the judgment of producers, managers and senior network executives. Perhaps it's time for a change. TV may need to explore a new ethic � with some stern written-down policies � to stop our nightly news from becoming a terrorist infomercial of death and to prevent future media manipulation by these barbaric people. Post-9/11 broadcast standards could include: �A refusal to air video or other propaganda from terrorist Web sites or other anonymous terrorist sources, except in the rare circumstances that such information warns viewers of an imminent, credible threat. �A prohibition against using images that aren't shot by network or other legitimate photographers. That means not using video shot by terrorists or insurgents, because these images are suspect, often staged for propaganda. �A new practice of prominently labeling all non-network, freelance or bystander video � akin to the photo credit in print journalism � so audiences can judge the source of each image. �A commitment to require the same sharp scrutiny and relentless challenges to terrorists and insurgents that journalists traditionally give our own government and military officials. The Pew report found that three-quarters of all American adults distrust the media. They should. The world requires tougher standards of journalism to alleviate this �terrorist theater.� Arguments over the �if it bleeds, it leads� credo are as old as television. But in today's world, the practice crosses a terrible new line, encouraging publicity-seeking fanatics to commit heinous acts. When and if this contributes to the next 9/11-type attack on the USA, the time for constructive, post-9/11 journalistic reform will have passed. The blood on the hands of terrorists will have transferred onto the lenses and notebooks of American television journalists. Alcestis �Cooky� Oberg lives in Houston and is a member of USA TODAY's board of contributors. -- You are a subscribed member of the infowarrior list. Visit www.infowarrior.org for list information or to unsubscribe. This message may be redistributed freely in its entirety. Any and all copyrights appearing in list messages are maintained by their respective owners.
