Information warfare, perception management, media spin

[insight-out]

Key Words:
Psychological warfare
Information Warfare
Perception Management
Disinformation
Propaganda - Black and Grey
Media Spin
Media Manipulation
Fear Mongering

I am creating this thread to focus on how the media is used to manipulate public opinion and perception. We read news stories where events are contextualized in a manner in which the reader links one event to another. We also read news items where ambiguous sources (e.g. "analysts" or "experts") are quoted to give the perception of impartiality. There are numerous techniques and tools at the disposal of journalists and news organizations.

I would like to request my colleagues on this forum to post any articles that they identify to be using such manipulation techniques. Hopefully we can learn from each other and be more mindful when reading supposedly fair and unbiased material.

 

[insight-out]

Here is an example from Associated Press (AP)

Video appears to show Pakistan army abuses

By ROBERT KENNEDY (AP) – 3 days ago

ISLAMABAD — Video apparently showing Pakistani soldiers beating men detained in anti-militant operations has surfaced on the Internet, drawing criticism from a leading rights group and possibly undercutting support for the army's fight against al-Qaida and the Taliban.

The 10-minute video shows an army officer casually questioning four men in a building. The officer then steps aside and soldiers move in, punching, kicking and whipping the suspects, who scream in pain and writhe on the ground.

The video has been posted on the Facebook and YouTube sites.
Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said the army was investigating the alleged abuse, but declined further comment Friday.

Pakistan's poorly trained and underfunded security forces have long been accused of human rights abuses.

The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in an August report it had received "credible reports of numerous extrajudicial killings and reprisals carried out by security forces" in the Swat Valley since the area was retaken from Taliban control in July.

 

[insight-out]

Here is another example from Agence France-Presse (AFP)

US condemns suicide bombing at WFP offices in Pakistan
(AFP) – 8 hours ago

WASHINGTON — The United States on Monday vehemently condemned the suicide bombing that killed five people at the UN World Food Program offices in Pakistan.

"Senseless acts of violence against people who help feed the poor and hungry are an attack on -- on civilization itself," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters. "Such cruel acts expose the true nature of the terrorist agenda."

"As part of an emergency relief program, the World Food Program, the United Nations front-line agency in the fight against hunger, has been providing vital food assistance to as many as two million Pakistani civilians displaced by the conflict in the Swat Valley region," he added.

Kelly said the US ambassador to Pakistan, Anne Patterson, and US ambassador to the United Natons, Susan Rice, have condemned the bombing.

The United Nations has temporarily closed all its offices across Pakistan following the blast, a UN spokeswoman said in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

However, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who also condemned the bombing, reiterated the world body's commitment to relief efforts in the country.

Four Pakistanis and an Iraqi national were killed Monday when a suicide bomber struck inside the heavily-fortified WFP office in the heart of Islamabad, officials and the United Nations said.

There was no claim of responsibility, but blame immediately fell on the Taliban, amid an upsurge of suicide bombings as the new leadership vow to avenge the death of their commander Baitullah Mehsud in a US missile strike.

My comments:
The Pakistani Taliban may well be responsible, but there is no evidence and no official is quoted. Who is blaming the TTP? Has the AFP decided who's responsible?

 

[gogbot]

Pakistan is always the victim isn't it.

 

[insight-out]

Pakistan is always the victim isn't it.

No its not. But this is a Pakistan forum. What do you want me to talk about, Angola? Anyways, this particular thread is not limited to Pakistan. You'll find that I have not mentioned Pakistan anywhere in my opening post. If you find any such news stories about India, you're most welcome to post them.

 

[insight-out]

Pakistan carries out hostage raid

The Pakistani army was preparing for a major anti-Taliban operation Pakistani security forces have carried out an operation to free hostages who were being held by militants in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad.

The militants' attack came as the Pakistani army prepared for a major operation against the Taliban.

No-one has yet claimed responsibility for Saturday's assault, but the Taliban has been threatening to carry out attacks unless operations against the militant group were stopped.

The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says the fact that armed men were able to infiltrate and attack a heavily guarded military area is a huge embarrassment for the security forces.

Many Pakistani people will be questioning whether the army can protect them if it cannot protect themselves, he adds.


My comments:

These are just excerpts. Click on the title for the full story.

TTP may well have done this. But they have not claimed responsibility and there is no evidence yet that it was them. But this story (and every other story I have seen) has already concluded that it was TTP. Could it be XE or some other foreign outfit? Of course! But no journalist/media will ever mention that.

Also notice how Mr. Aleem Maqbool is suggesting how the general public should think. He is not reporting what they are thinking/saying.