Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 10 May 2006 15:37:01 -0000 weekly-spin The Weekly Spin, May 10, 2006 THE WEEKLY SPIN, May 10, 2006 Sponsored by the nonprofit Center for Media and Democracy: http://www.prwatch.org To support our work now online visit: https://www.egrants.org/donate/index.cfm?ID=2344-0|1118-0 -- The Weekly Spin features selected news summaries with links to further information about media, political spin and propaganda. It is emailed free each Wednesday to rs. -- SHARE US WITH A FRIEND (OR FIFTY FRIENDS) Who do you know who might want to receive " The Weekly Spin " ? Help us grow our r list! Just forward this message to people you know, encouraging them to sign up at this link: http://www.prwatch.org/cmd/_sotd.html -- THIS WEEK'S NEWS == BLOG POSTINGS == 1. New CIA nominee Michael Hayden: SourceWatch has been on the case since 2003 == SPIN OF THE DAY == 1. Facing the Media Crisis - October 6-8, Burlington, VT 2. USDA Officials Asked to Spread Iraq Manure 3. Former Oilman Aims To Overturn WWF's Anti-Nuclear Policy 4. Covert Recruiting Video in Schools, on Planes and TV 5. They Really CARE -- About Energy Profits 6. Green - or Greenwash - TV? 7. Pity the Poor, Misunderstood Oil Industry 8. New Homes for Corporate Video, Robin Raskin 9. The Telecom World's Payola Pundit 10. Lobbyists-Loot Dot Con: Berman Flees, Martosko Plays Dumb -- == BLOG POSTINGS == 1. NEW CIA NOMINEE MICHAEL HAYDEN: SOURCEWATCH HAS BEEN ON THE CASE SINCE 2003 by Conor Kenny The man nominated today to head the CIA by President George W. Bush, General Michael V. Hayden, has been tracked by SourceWatch (the " mother-wiki " of Congresspedia) users on his own profile page since 2003. It's still basic, but now that he's famous for more than not knowing what the 4th amendment says while serving as the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (see his profile), we hope it will be expanded by our community of contributors. As he moves through his confirmation process I also expect to see postings to the pages on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and its members as that committee's confirmation hearings for Hayden approach. For the rest of this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4788 == SPIN OF THE DAY == 1. FACING THE MEDIA CRISIS - OCTOBER 6-8, BURLINGTON, VT http://www.acmecoalition.org/page.cfm?ID=134 Action Coalition on Media Education (ACME) convenes its national conference this October 6 -8 in Burlington, Vermont, and registration has begun on ACME's website. Dozens of presenters will include Amy Goodman, Bill McKibben, Jean Kilbourne, Robert Jensen, Jerome Armstrong, Carrie McLaren, Jeff Chester, Sut Jhally, Bob McCannon, Diane Wilson, Josh Silver, Peter Phillips, Anthony Riddle, Lauren-Glenn Davitian, Hannah Sassaman, Pete Tridesh, and Sara Voorhees. CMD's John Stauber will deliver one of the keynotes titled " What’s Reality? Fake News, Real News and Weapons Of Mass Perception. " Stauber will examine the Lincoln Group's planting of fake news in Iraq and other issues in The Best War Ever, the new Rampton/Stauber book to be published on September 14. SOURCE: ACME, May 10, 2006 For more information or to comment on this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4791 2. USDA OFFICIALS ASKED TO SPREAD IRAQ MANURE http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/07/AR2006050700898.\ html On May 2, a U.S. Department of Agriculture speechwriter emailed 60 USDA staff that " the President has requested that all members of his cabinet and sub-cabinet incorporate message points on the Global War on Terror into speeches, including specific examples of what each agency is doing to aid the reconstruction of Iraq, " reports Al Kamen. An email attachment listed " examples of GWOT messages within agriculture speeches, " such as, " Several topics I'd like to talk about today -- Farm Bill, trade with Japan, WTO, avian flu ... but before I do, let me touch on a subject people always ask about ... progress in Iraq. " The email said such language is " being used by [uSDA] Secretary Johanns and deputy secretary Conner in all of their remarks, " and urged recipients to " use these message points as often as possible " and report back when they do, for " a weekly account sent to the White House. " SOURCE: Washington Post, May 8, 2006 For more information or to comment on this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4790 3. FORMER OILMAN AIMS TO OVERTURN WWF'S ANTI-NUCLEAR POLICY http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19070034-2702,00.html Greg Bourne, the former president of BP Australia and current head of WWF Australia (formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund), last week argued that Australian environmentalists should learn to live with uranium mining. " The key issues are if we're going to be a nation exporting uranium, we have to know absolutely it's only being used for peaceful purposes and waste products are being stored safely, " he said. This week, Bourne is in London at WWF International's global energy taskforce, where he wants to overturn the group's stance that " WWF does not believe that nuclear power is the solution to global warming. In fact, WWF has a vision for the future which phases out the use of fossil fuel and nuclear in the share of energy use across the globe. " The Australian reports that in March, Bourne apparently " ordered the organisation's global anti-nuclear policy be removed from WWF Australia's website. " SOURCE: The Australian, May 9, 2006 For more information or to comment on this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4789 4. COVERT RECRUITING VIDEO IN SCHOOLS, ON PLANES AND TV http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0605060077may06,1,212661.stor\ y?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed United Airlines' new in-flight video " was produced and funded by the Department of Defense -- a fact passengers do not learn from watching it, " reports Jason George. The 13-minute segment, " Today's Military, " profiles five " military glamor jobs. " It shows only " one soldier beyond U.S. borders, " who's " doing humanitarian work in Thailand " -- a remarkable focus at a time of war. The Defense Department paid United $36,000 to run the video for one month. A United spokesperson said " between 7 to 15 minutes " of their two-hour programming is sponsored video. The military video was excerpted from a 48-minute feature, produced by the Mullen firm, that's aired on at least two Illinois TV stations: Springfield's ABC and Peoria's UPN affiliates. The feature " does not say who produced it until the final credits roll " and the Defense Human Resources Activity is listed. The goal is to educate " influencers, " including parents and teachers. " This fall, 40,000 copies " of the feature " will be shipped to high school guidance counselors for distribution to students. " SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, May 6, 2006 For more information or to comment on this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4786 5. THEY REALLY CARE -- ABOUT ENERGY PROFITS http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/43319.html Wendy Brown reports, " Critics say the Citizens' Alliance for Responsible Energy ... is a classic front group for the oil-and-gas industry. CARE claims its purpose is to educate people about energy policy and undo some of the spin that left-wing groups have propagated about alternative fuels like ethanol and hydrogen. But John Stauber ... disagrees. 'If the big, polluting, price-gouging energy corporations funding this group of 'citizens' were out in front pushing their agenda, the press and public would be appropriately skeptical. Instead, industry uses the tried-and-true method of hiding behind a front group with a consumer-friendly name.' ... CARE's Web site contains position papers arguing that global warming is not a man-made problem, that nuclear power is an environmentally responsible power source and that the public should proceed with caution in developing renewable energies like solar and hydrogen. " CARE is staffed by Mark E. Mathis, a former TV anchor, current radio talk show host and consultant with the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico. SOURCE: The New Mexican, May 7, 2006 For more information or to comment on this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4783 6. GREEN - OR GREENWASH - TV? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4938502.stm " A new broadband TV channel dedicated to showing films about the environment is offering companies a chance to broadcast their green-tinged messages -- for nothing, " reports BBC News. " Already, films by energy giant Npower and ice cream maker Ben & Jerry have been shown by the channel, " called Green.tv. Founder Ade Thomas said, " Anyone who makes films about environmental issues can broadcast them for free via Green.tv. ... We're an aggregator of editorial content. " Thomas explained that initial plans called for an editorial board to oversee content, but now the channel will " clearly mark who has made each film, " and allow viewers " to prick holes in any film peddling lies or misleading praise of companies " on its blog. Green.tv partners include Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. Internationally, it receives support from the United Nations Environment Program, Water Aid and The World Conservation Union. SOURCE: BBC News, May 2, 2006 For more information or to comment on this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4782 7. PITY THE POOR, MISUNDERSTOOD OIL INDUSTRY http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/03/business/media/03oil.html As gas prices rise and oil companies enjoy record profits, the industry is increasing its PR efforts. The American Petroleum Institute (API) hired The Hawthorn Group and Edelman's advertising practice, spending " more than $20 million over the last few months. " Talking points developed by API and others include: " forces of demand have outstripped supply, " especially with China's economic growth; " oil industry profits are not outsize by the standards of other major industries " ; and " Western oil companies have only a limited share of the crude oil market. " The industry has retained " familiar Washington figures like the former Reagan official, Michael K. Deaver, and former Senator J. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana, " to gain Congressional support. PR Week reports that ExxonMobil is " discussing its Energy Outlook presentation ... with policymakers, citizen groups, and the media. " Shell Oil is promoting its " Fuel Stretch Principles, " which " help people improve their fuel economy, " and its credit card, " which offers a 5% rebate on gas purchases. " SOURCE: New York Times, May 3, 2006 For more information or to comment on this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4780 8. NEW HOMES FOR CORPORATE VIDEO, ROBIN RASKIN http://www.prweek.com/us/features/article/556005/Broadcast+tools+find+second+hom\ e/ " Putting VNRs, b-roll, and SMTs on the Web is quickly becoming a corporate necessity, " claims PR Week, referring to sponsored " news " packages, interviews and other video. A MultiVu executive " notes that pharma companies in particular are using broadcast content on the Web to reach out to a different audience. ... MultiVu recently produced a VNR package about osteoporosis for spinal-product company Kyphon and later incorporated the footage into a multimedia news release ... to target physicians. " PR Week also suggests distributing corporate video via podcasts, RSS feeds and iTunes. In related news, " VNR Queen " Robin Raskin is featured on the new Tech website. In their release announcing the site, calls Raskin " The Boomer, " and says she will provide " regular coverage focused on a maturing audience. " Red Herring writes that Tech is " designed to help consumers and provide a preferred advertising platform for product marketers. " SOURCE: PR Week (sub req'd), May 1, 2006 For more information or to comment on this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4779 9. THE TELECOM WORLD'S PAYOLA PUNDIT http://www.nypost.com/business/67923.htm The New York Times, Washington Post and other " major U.S. newspapers often quote Jeff Kagan -- regarded as one of the most influential telecommunications analysts -- but invariably leave out the fact that he is paid by many companies in the industry to offer his comments to the media, " reports Tim Arango. Kagan's web site describes him as a " 'fee-based' analyst " who " gives interviews, analysis and insights to the media for free, and charges everyone else. " Sprint, Verizon and BellSouth are among the companies that have hired Kagan. " Kagan admits he is rarely asked by reporters if he is being paid by the companies he is speaking about, " writes Arango. " He said he is more frequently asked if he has an investment relationship with a particular company, and does not hold stock in the companies he counts as clients. " SOURCE: New York Post, May 3, 2006 For more information or to comment on this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4778 10. LOBBYISTS-LOOT DOT CON: BERMAN FLEES, MARTOSKO PLAYS DUMB http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=politics & id=4140447 Mark Matthews, reporter for KGO, the ABC TV affiliate in San Francisco, traveled to Washington, DC, to investigate Rick Berman, the booze, food and tobacco lobbyist behind ActivistCash.com and many other front groups. Reports Matthews, " Berman set up the Center for Consumer Freedom and a number of other tax exempt educational organizations. And those educational non-profits all seem to support messages that dove tail nicely with the food beverage and tobacco industries that have hired Richard Berman. ... When we tried to ask Rick Berman himself about that, he ducked out of our interview. ... Berman wouldn't talk with us about how his non-profits are connected financially to his lobbying business, and his research director (David Martosko) didn't tell us. 'I don't know the firms that send the Center for Consumer Freedom money. I don't want to know. It's not my business to know.' ... The most recent available tax records for the Center for Consumer Freedom show in 2004 Berman and Co. took in a million-and-a-half dollars from the Center for Consumer Freedom. ... Representative Pete Stark of Fremont, calls Berman's operation an abuse. " SOURCE: KGO TV, San Francisco, May 3, 2006 For more information or to comment on this story, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/node/4777 -- The Weekly Spin is compiled by staff and volunteers at the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), a nonprofit public interest organization. To or unsubcribe, visit: http://www.prwatch.org/cmd/_sotd.html Daily updates and news from past weeks can be found in the " Spin of the Day " section of CMD's website: http://www.prwatch.org/spin Archives of our quarterly publication, PR Watch, are at: http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues CMD also sponsors SourceWatch, a collaborative research project that invites anyone (including you) to contribute and edit articles. For more information, visit: http://www.sourcewatch.org PR Watch, Spin of the Day, the Weekly Spin and SourceWatch are projects of the Center for Media & Democracy, a nonprofit organization that offers investigative reporting on the public relations industry. We help the public recognize manipulative and misleading PR practices by exposing the activities of secretive, little-known propaganda-for-hire firms that work to control political debates and public opinion. Please send any questions or suggestions about our publications to: editor -- Contributions to the Center for Media and Democracy are tax-deductible. Send checks to: CMD 520 University Avenue, Suite 227 Madison, WI 53703 To donate now online, visit: https://www.egrants.org/donate/index.cfm?ID=2344-0|1118-0 _____________ Weekly-Spin mailing list Weekly-Spin http://two.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/weekly-spin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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