http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyn8Kb_do8g&feature=player_embedded
Truth. It’s a journalist’s duty. But when corporate interests are considered, the truth can be skewed drastically. CNN and Fox news are the two biggest culprits of propaganda, which America is notorious for. Images of war can be skewed. Take the current Iraq war for example. One of the greatest examples of false news occurred on April 9, 2003, when the statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled. It was all over the news, including CNN and Fox. CNN news wrote, “Crowds cheer as a statue of Saddam Hussein falls”. CNN cameras shot footage of the statue falling, using close-ups around the statue. This created the illusion of a large crowd, when in fact the crowd was small. The editors used only these close-ups to release to the public. However, wide-angle shots of the event were leaked, and the truth came out. There was a small crowd, it was quiet, and there was very minimal cheering. CNN had skewed the story to create this illusion of liberating the Iraqi people as they cheered for America. Corporate interests were considered when these shots were chosen, as to create the illusion that America had complete control over the situation in Iraq.
There are many implications as a result of propaganda such as this. The public is given false information. Why are we forced to believe everything the media tells us, just because it is the media? We assume the information to be trustworthy; after all, CNN is supposedly “the most trusted name in news” (which doesn’t mean they are 100% honest, it just means they are the “most trusted”). I now personally force myself to question and reconsider the media, and not to jump to conclusions just because of what the media tells me. There are countless examples of false media and propaganda, especially from CNN, and not enough time to list them all. Just be aware of what you are being told, and don’t believe everything you see on the news, just because CNN tells you its true. “ProMario”, a YouTube user who posted a video that reveals the truth behind the toppling of the statue stated:
“The up close action video of the statue being destroyed is broadcast around the world as proof of a massive uprising…There are no more than 200 people in the square at best.” - ProMario
Works Cited
“Stage Managing Toppling of Saddam Statue." YouTube. 4 Jan. 2007. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyn8Kb_do8g&feature=player_embedded>.
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