[PAA-Discuss] Fwd: Pentagon Propaganda Pushback

[rebelljb at aol.com]

-----Original Message-----
From: Erin Hofteig, Media Matters <info at mediamatters.org>
To: rebelljb at aol.com
Sent: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:58 am
Subject: Pentagon Propaganda Pushback















October 10, 2008













Action Alert
--
Tell the networks you deserve an honest representation of military 
analysis

Dear Friend,

Earlier this week, the 2009 Defense Authorization Bill was sent to the 
president to be signed. This bill included language responding to 
criticism of the clandestine relationship among media military 
analysts, the Pentagon, and the defense industries.

You may remember this from an email we sent you back in May*:


We rely on the media for much of what we know about the situations in 
Iraq and Afghanistan, and our national security, but according to an 
explosive New York Times investigative report, many of the military 
analysts major media outlets relied on have been involved in an 
elaborate Pentagon program designed to bring the Bush administration's 
talking points to the public's airwaves. The Times story exposes what 
until now was a hidden relationship between the Pentagon and these 
analysts, many of whom also represent defense contractors.

This week*, Media Matters for America released an exclusive accounting 
of the media military analysts identified in the Times exposé and their 
more than
 4,500 appearances and quotations on network, cable, and radio 
news outlets since January 1, 2002. These numbers show in startling 
detail just how far and wide the Pentagon program may have reached.


As a result of the Times article, the accounting by Media Matters, and 
the work of Rep. Paul Hodes (NH-02), supported by Reps. Rosa DeLauro 
(CT-03) and Peter DeFazio (OR-04), and Sens. Frank Lautenberg (NJ), 
Robert Menendez (NJ), Hillary Clinton (NY), Byron Dorgan (ND), and John 
Kerry (MA), Congress has taken important first steps to make sure the 
wool is not pulled over the public's eyes again on critical issues of 
war and national security by implementing the following provisions with 
this legislation:


Prohibits taxpayer money from being used for "publicity or propaganda 
purposes" by the Department of Defense.

Requires the Department of Defense Inspector General to investigate the 
media analysts program and report the findings back to Congress 90 days 
after the bill is enacted.

Directs the GAO Comptroller General to issue a legal opinion to 
Congress within 120 days of the bill's enactment on whether the media 
analysts program violated the law.


While Congress has taken a strong stand to ensure that the government 
is not promoting propaganda unchecked, sadly, the media remain mostly 
silent. As the independent check on government, the media have the 
responsibility to present accurate, unbiased news and analysis
 that 
will allow Americans to make an informed decision based on the facts, 
and not on any given administration's talking points.

Tell the networks that you deserve an honest representation of military 
analysis and that they must ensure that future analysts are independent 
in their commentary and are free from conflicts of interest -- send a 
letter to the networks and demand they address the issue.

I hope you will take a moment to stand up for conscientious media 
coverage of military issues, and thank you for your continued support.



Erin Hofteig
Director, New Media
Media Matters for America

PS -- You can get an overview of the military analysts disgrace here.

* The original email was sent on May 15, 2008.





















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