How to Manipulate the Press

Manipulating the Media

By Peter Fredson

November 30, 2005

A blogger recently asked that in view of my longevity and varied experience I might write something about changes noted.

Years ago I was a photographer-reporter and attended a Presidential photo-op for a visiting dignitary. The news-people were invited to partake of delicious snacks at a large table. Then the President got up on a dais with his visitor, both made speeches, and left the room. A bodyguard of the President went to the reporters, gave each a $50.00 bill and said, “Now write something nice about the President.”

At another occasion I talked to the publisher of a state newspaper about manipulating the press and he told me this. He had written something uncomplimentary about the governor and was visited by a well-dressed smooth-talking person with a .45 pistol showing on his belt. The person was locally known as “Silk Hands” because he was so smooth and deadly, known for killing several critics of the government but all evidence was “lost.” At any rate he reportedly said: “The Governor was disappointed in your article about his administration. He is sure that you are now sorry and will never do that again, right? Because if you repeat this behavior I will come to make a very quick visit to you, which you would regret terribly. Do you understand?” The publisher was shaking with fear as he said that he understood. And he did understand the very smooth social visit.

On a third occasion I was observing a room where people were voting and saw a large bus park outside. It was filled with workmen, obviously just being taken off a job for the occasion. A political worker passed around several bottles of strong liquor which every worker swigged with gusto, then moved into the voting booths. On their return they were each given a $100 bill and taken back to their home location, satisfied to have done their patriotic duty.

Before an investigative reporter who is not afraid of the present administration begins an inquiry, let me state that this was many years ago, and that it took place in Mexico.

I report this personal experience because it has very strange resemblances to the way that the Bush administration has manipulated all available media. Coercion, quid-pro-quo, ostracism, carrot and stick behavior, rewards for “good” reporting are part of our daily fare.

Bush is not satisfied to use time-tested methods of getting “good” press but also resorts to pathetic efforts like giving fake reporters entrance to his audiences. The greatest advantage of all is that his cronies own many of the TV, Radio and Press media and their reporters know that to hold their jobs they are expected to do “good” reporting. In fact, the Bush administration officials publish glowing reports of their own competence.

Bush and his secret service agents very carefully screen his audiences, usually made up of soldiers or sycophants who will clap on call. No one who even faintly seems liable to protest will be allowed within hollering or shooting distance of the president. Any signs of protest, or disapproval, will likely be demolished and the bearer handcuffed and taken to indefinite detention.

Everything is carefully scripted in advance, including the famous Bush swagger, smile, handshakes or hugs, and all questions screened for content before delivery.

This President does not trust the American people. He does not really want an unbiased media, but one that is tightly controlled in his favor.

FOX NEWS, in my opinion, is the most biased source in recent history, rivaling the Yellow Journalism of the past. They are famous for what they omit, preferring to applaud every Presidential move rather than offend in any way. Obviously the Publisher and editors control the content. The reporters joyously join the fray with belligerent tones, actually shouting down opposition at times, and stacking the deck at every turn.

We know that this President does not like to admit even the possibility of failure, of any error, any slight mistake. He evades all responsibility by quick slide-aways, by evoking the memory of 9/11 at every possible occasion, and then topping it by casually mentioning his conversations with the Creator of the Universe.

He waves several flags at once, holds aloft the cross someone else bore as though he, Bush, somehow was compassionate, peace-loving, gentle and is kind to the poor and homeless. He also has the knack of appearing to be heroic, strutting and swaggering, although he is a Chicken Hawk of cackling dimensions.

So, have there been many changes in the past 60 years? Yes, but mainly of personnel. The tactics might change in appearance but not in effect. Slinging mud or manure invariably pops up as a campaign tactic. Slander, blackmail, violence, are common but today outright lying has become a major sport, including lying about lying.

“We do not torture” is one of the phrases that aroused my anger recently, because someone, sure as hell, is doing the torturing and abuse. And there definitely seem to be CIA cells in foreign countries for the express purpose of illegal detention, torture and abuse. But sycophants shrug it all off as trivial, but necessary, to ensure that the occupant of an office remain in office.

Killing large numbers of innocent people used to provoke disgust or great anger, as shown in Hitlerian days. But today this is merely “collateral” damage, and the people are only Muslim, of unsavory beliefs, stupid sacred book, with an imitation God, to be exterminated as soon as possible to make way for an enlightened civilized superior White Christian Fundamentalist elite populace which will take over control of the world to await the coming of their Lord.