*Toxic Sludge is Good for You* -about PR in Media

[liveoaktx]

I saw a program about this on FSTV a few months ago and got the book yesterday. Book calls out the PR machinations behind feeding pre-packaged or ready-to-be-branded releases in order to achieve a desired propaganda effect.

What is most disturbing is that we have no way of knowing, when we watch a given news show on television, (and perhaps even in the newspaper if it is not branded as PR) what the origins are. For example, suppose that a drug company uses a PR company to create something newsy that subtly promotes their product, but disguises it as news, and then a local anchor puts a front end showing him or herself on it to customize it. Unless you know what a PR piece looks like, you might think it was news. Would like to see complete labeling and origins for all media items that appear on the air.

Also troubling is what does not make it on the air or in a given media venue. Kitty Kelly comes to mind as an example. PR companies undoubtedly worked their hardest to limit her promotional tours... rather than letting the *free marketplace of ideas* rule.

[asthmaticeog]

1. I've read it.

What amazes me are the specific examples - that things are getting planted in the New England Journal of Medicine of all places was especially disturbing, as it's peer-reviewed and people have long taken its reporting as gospel.

It's truly frightening -- it's becoming harder and harder to know what to believe.

[fwiff]

2. Great book, isn't it?

Unfortunately, the whole free market thing is a myth.

In the same vein, I would also recommend Stewart Ewan's "Captains of Consciousness".

They have some newer books out now, too that I haven't read yet-
Banana Republicans and Weapons of mass deception. Has anyone looked at these, yet?

Their website is prwatch.org (newsletter and info) if I remember right.:thumbsup:

[Tafiti]

3. I didn't read this one...

...but I read "Trust Us, We're Experts: How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles With Your Future" - by the same authors. I believe "Toxic Slude" came out first. Anyway, it covers the same stuff, according to your description. Great book, though.

[arikara]

4. Mad Cow USA... what a horror story that is

I downloaded it and read it. Makes you look at not only beef, but all types of meat in a different way.

They have it out in book form now, but you can still get it free here:

http://www.prwatch.org/books/madcow.html

[MinM]

5. Apparently federally funded scientists took this...

literally:

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/23/sludge_tested_as_lead_poisoning_fix

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gbpCMPX9_kRtYkL1Yv9-OzuVxFfQD901S4002

Great book by the way. :kick:

[NJCher]

6. I use the video of Toxic Sludge in my classes

It's part of critical thinking.

I also have a nifty little assignment where I ask them to research right wing think tanks and left wing think tanks. They go into this assignment thinking both sides have think tanks. It's really funny to watch them grapple with the fact that there are no left wing think tanks and what that means. Then I have them characterize the think tanks of the right and the left.


I actually have to spend a lot of time on critical thinking and corporate propaganda. I've noticed that if I don't, practically every one of them will pick up a r-w source some way or another--like quoting Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation, etc. If I spend a decent amount of time on it, I can at least take points off a research paper when they quote one of these sources. "Not a credible source" is what I scribble in the margin. Then I put a big X over it.


The students are never the same after they see this video. They talk about it and quote it throughout the class, so I know it has quite an impact.




Cher

[YankeyMCC]

7. Lots more info related to this subject here:

http://www.newdream.org/publications/index.php

And this report in general has some very disturbing statistics in terms of how children are targeted:

"Tips for Parenting in a Commercial Culture" http://www.newdream.org/cnad/user/download.php

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

8. A recent talk by the author

CMD research director Sheldon Rampton gave a talk recently to employees at Google, titled "The Wires that Control the Public Mind." The talk, part of Google's "tech talk" series, described the history of the public relations industry, dating back to the early 20th century and the work of PR industry founder Edward Bernays. Sheldon is the co-author (with John Stauber) of six books written for CMD, and he is the father of CMD's SourceWatch website which he conceptualized and launched in 2003 and which today is the most successful 'wiki' encyclopedia dedicated soley to public affairs, politics, and accurate, fair information about the people, organizations and issues shaping the public agenda. You can view the presentation at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUY9ahSCMG0

http://www.prwatch.org/node/7342