Bush Government Uses Fake News Stories to Promote Policies

Published on October 11, 2004 By blogic In Politics

The Bush administration has been filming and distributing fake news stories to promote Bush's educational policies. These spots are narrated by a "reporter" -- in fact, some one hired for the promotional spot -- who closes with "In Washington, I'm Karen Ryan reporting."

The ad doesn't identify the government as the creator of the spot, nor does it reveal that the reporter isn't a reporter. In other words, the text of this government promotion hides the fact that it's a government promotion, and creates the impression that it is something it isn't: a news report.

Readers may remember that this is repeat of the tactic used by the Bush administration to promote the Bush Medicare law -- a tactic determined to be propoganda even by the Republican controlled Congress.

Comments

Myrrander

on Oct 11, 2004

I hadn't heard of this, blogic -- but hey, you know John Kerry staged all those Vietnam era films HE did, so it's all even, right? *rolls on the floor laughing like a madman*

drmiler

on Oct 11, 2004

Bush Government Uses Fake News Stories to Promote Policies

By: blogic
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2004 on The Tide Goes Out
Message Board: Politics
The Bush administration has been filming and distributing fake news stories to promote Bush's educational policies. These spots are narrated by a "reporter" -- in fact, some one hired for the promotional spot -- who closes with "In Washington, I'm Karen Ryan reporting."

The ad doesn't identify the government as the creator of the spot, nor does it reveal that the reporter isn't a reporter. In other words, the text of this government promotion hides the fact that it's a government promotion, and creates the impression that it is something it isn't: a news report.

Readers may remember that this is repeat of the tactic used by the Bush administration to promote the Bush Medicare law -- a tactic determined to be propoganda even by the Republican controlled Congress.

What I find disturbing is the fact that *only* AP has this story. If this was/is actual fact the rest of the media would be ALL over it, no?

Myrrander

on Oct 11, 2004

Only the AP, eh? They must be part of that vast left wing conspiracy that keeps Drmiler up at night...

Grim Xiozan

on Oct 11, 2004

His point is still valid though if it were completely as damning as people make it out to be it would be all over, MSNBC, CNN, etc., would it not?

- GX

blogic

on Oct 11, 2004

As I indicated, there's no debate about whether the Bush administration used the same tactic earlier this year. It did, and the Congressional General Accounting Office labeled it "propoganda".

The current story is all over the place, according to Google News, including ABC News and USA Today. That said, these stories are based on the same AP report, but it does show that mainstream outlets are taking it seriously.

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