SPINNING THE DEATH OF SPIN

[Guest guest]

If it is on commercial news channels on the TV, newspaper, and most major

magazines, in the USA, chances are very good you are not getting the truth, but

spin and pr.

 

With almost no objective reporting today in the USA. Most people consider

themselves well informed when they are usually just well indoctrinated with

propaganda..Medicine and most other things that affect your lives in one manner

or another.

 

 

I somehow have doubts that the people to trust are the government and

politicians to be the ones that will be charged with finding and protecting the

" truth " . Seems like they have about the worst record of anyone. Who knows, maybe

it could be a start though.

 

Frank

 

 

 

SPINNING THE DEATH OF SPIN

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=438772

The British government is setting up a new " Department of Truth " in

an effort to end damaging publicity about the role of politically

appointed " spin-doctors. "

 

The rumored brain behind this strategy, however, is Peter Mandelson, the former

Labour Party communications director who is credited with being the first of

the new wave of

spin-doctors when he worked for the party in the 1980s.

 

" He is the one advising Tony Blair, " said a government insider.

" The King of Spin is in charge of the death of spin. "

 

SOURCE: Independent (UK), August 31, 2003

To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:

http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1062302400

 

 

Blair plans new 'Ministry of Truth' for the post-spin eraBy Andy McSmith and Jo

Dillon

31 August 2003

 

A new " Department of Truth " headed by a top-ranking civil servant is to be set

up in Whitehall after the departure of Tony Blair's leading spin-doctor,

Alastair Campbell.

 

The decision to appoint a new Permanent Secretary in charge of the entire

government communications network will be part of an effort to end damaging

publicity about the role of politically appointed " spin-doctors " .

 

But one rumour causing grim amusement in Whitehall is that the brain behind the

strategy is Peter Mandelson, the former Labour Party communications director who

is credited with being the first of the new wave of spin-doctors when he worked

for the party in the 1980s.

 

Downing Street will announce details this week of an internal shake-up following

Mr Campbell's announcement that he is leaving his post as director

ofcommunications and strategy in a few weeks.

 

The Cabinet Office is also expected soon to announce the outcome of a " radical "

review of government communications by an outside team led by Bob Phillis, chief

executive of the Guardian Media Group. A leading member of the review team was

David Hill, who is to take Mr Campbell's place as the Prime Minister's chief

spin-doctor.

 

Mr Mandelson said yesterday: " The Phillis review has nothing to do with me.

 

" I don't want to talk to you any more. I'd like to have my Saturday back. "

 

But a government insider said: " The key thing people have missed is that Peter

Mandelson is the brains behind this whole thing. He is the one advising Blair. The King of Spin is in charge of the death of spin. "

 

Matthew Taylor, a personal friend of Mr Mandelson and head of the Institute for

Public Policy Research, an independent think tank, is expected to be brought in

as head of a reorganised Downing Street policy unit. Mr Taylor is seen as a

" media-friendly " political researcher. Geoff Mulgan, another ally of Mr

Mandelson currently working at No 10, is expected to take over part of Mr

Campbell's role overseeing government strategy.

 

Putting a civil servant with the rank of Permanent Secretary in charge of the

Government's information service will eliminate the possibility that another

political adviser could have the same influence as Mr Campbell. In 1997, Mr

Campbell and Jonathan Powell, Mr Blair's chief of staff, were given authority to

issue instructions to civil servants - other political aides can only offer

advice to politicians.

 

Mr Hill, like other political advisers, will be supervised by a Permanent

Secretary.

 

The proposed changes have alarmed other ministers, who fear its effect will be

to centralise government communications under Mr Blair's personal control,

instead of allowing departments to run their own media operations.

 

Mr Blair has been accused today of being the " real misleader " whose " culture of

deceit " has " poisoned the whole of politics " , with Mr Campbell acting as his

loyal assistant. The leader of the Conservative Party, Iain Duncan Smith,

writing in today's Independent on Sunday, says the " excesses of the New Labour

project " - personal vendettas, the emasculation of the civil service and the

" shameful " treatment of Dr David Kelly - carried out by Mr Campbell, all had Mr

Blair's " blessing " .

 

He writes: " While it is true that the British people are now angry at New

Labour, they don't just want to change the occupant of Downing Street. They want

a different kind of government altogether. "

 

" As Alastair Campbell goes ... it's not the resignation of the servant that

matters but the departure of his master. The real Downing Street director of

communications must go: Tony Blair himself. "

 

Mark Oaten, the Liberal Democrat chairman, accused Mr Campbell of engineering

his departure to obscure more important issues.

 

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: " In his own departure Alastair Campbell

has managed his greatest spin ever. When we should be talking about where those

weapons of mass destruction are, about what is happening in Iraq where our

soldiers are being killed and peace is a long way off, he has taken those

headlines away and made himself again the major news story. "

 

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