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They have influence because of the people they influence.

Fox News understands propaganda. They are propaganda experts:

Present yourself as a common man. "I'm just like you."

When possible, reinforce people's preexisting negative opinions and stereotypes about those who are undesirable. Use phrases like "liberal media" and say that the Democrats will raise taxes and give money to people who don't deserve it.

Tell people they are under attack. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.

*Insinuate* rather than *state*. "Did Glenn Beck rape and murder a girl in 1990?" That makes people think you're just asking a question, even though you're trying to make people believe the answer to the question is the answer you want them to believe.

Target the most ignorant people and those who have the most resources. Fox targets people who are ignorant and tells them to do things like make phone calls and hold tea parties.

What's the current numbers on readership of say the Washington Post or the NY Times?

Farmerkev wrote:

What's the current numbers on readership of say the Washington Post or the NY Times?

NY Times - 1 million daily, 1.5 million Sunday.

Web sites: Fox - 16 million unique, NYT 20 million unique.

Demagoguery is a function of the human will to deceive. Technology merely enables it.

ShnickyShnack wrote:

Farmerkev wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

Presumably their circulation is down below a million, why? Are you trying to suggest the Washington Post shapes policy as much as Fox News?

In the old days, newspapers were the influence.
Now they aren't.

So?

Connect the dots, la la la

Almost all the news media is utter crap. Blogs are just as bad. And the think-tanks are a joke.

daemon wrote:

Sooo .... that leaves ... movies???!

Maybe it does.

Just as screenwriters were able to slide progressive ideas into many films of the 30s to the 60s, and many paid a mcarthyite price for it, perhaps today's films can do likewise by illustrating foreign policy as cynical thrillers. Body Of Lies comes to mind.

Hardly an ideal way to get information out, but I think Big Media's competitive drive to fill seats outweighs their squeamishness. Not so with TV and advertising, unfortunately.

Last edited by Ribtorus (2009-10-19 7:33 am)

FPS as a secret service type protecting the prez from all the right wing wacko gun nuts plotting to get him?

Kripto wrote:

What about politics through video games? What would be more exciting than an FPS where the player filled the shoes of a lobbyist, having to stop the forces of evil from passing health care reform. It could even have a Death Panel boss stage!

There's a FPS webgame of the Iraqi shoe-thrower, does that count ?

Sock and Awe

30 seconds, no shoe limit.

I can’t see any reason for the public health debate to turn in Obama’s favor, other than Fox News toning down attacks on the system. Their viewership is small, but of the politically interested in the country, I think they have a significant influence.

The birthers are evidence of this, the tea party people are evidence of this (think of how much coverage they got… all because of Fox News), and a couple of other things I can just vaguely think of. They have an insane ability to manipulate public opinion, precisely because, as matt said, they understand propaganda.

My take on what makes them special is that they run their news casts very identically to sports shows, with the anchors having border-line screaming tones, the types of sound effects they use, the types of visuals on the screens, and the tone of their “debate” shows all are much more like ESPN than CNN/other networks. And this brings in the viewers.

However, I think it’s a huge mistake for the Obama admin to take them on directly. Unless they have an ace up their sleeve, I can’t see the spat not backfiring.

Last edited by mo' ron (2009-10-20 10:16 am)

mo' ron wrote:

The birthers are evidence of this, the tea party people are evidence of this (think of how much coverage they got… all because of Fox News), and a couple of other things I can just vaguely think of. They have an insane ability to manipulate public opinion, precisely because, as Dan said, they understand propaganda.

Matt said that, not me, but I don't disagree.