Begin forwarded message:

> Hi,
> Excuse this interruption of viagra spam and online dating tips.
>
> Since lumpen is concerned about your mental health and information
> diet we
> thought we would alert you to a major problem in your consumption of
> news.
>
> There is already a huge problem with bias and misinformation in the
> mainstream media. But the ugliness has been amplified recently.
>
> In the past few days a small blip regarding state sponsored domestic
> propaganda in the NYT and the alternative media has erupted. The
> problem is
> centered around the practice of fake news being issued via government
> video
> news releases to mainstream television media outlets. the hunt for WMD
> perhaps the most famous of the fake stories. The video news releases
> often
> plays without letting the viewer know that a government agency or
> corporation created the content.. Since most american's get their news
> form
> tv this is a big problem…
>
> A democracy now broadcast on Monday March 15 is perhaps the most
> interesting
> place to start investigating the matter:
> State Propaganda: How Government Agencies Produce Hundreds of
> Pre-Packaged
> TV Segments the Media Runs as News
> http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid/03/14/152202
>
> fake news is now replacing the already biased "real " news. here are a
> few
> articles that will help us see what is happening.
>
> To learn more about this not so surprising but totally out of control
> practice start here:
> http://www.freepress.net/propaganda/
>
> The Age of the Fake
> http://spinwatch.server101.com/modules.php?
> name=Content&pa=showpage&pid41
>
> Administration Rejects Ruling On PR Videos GAO Called Tapes Illegal
> Propaganda
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A35010-2005Mar14?
> language=printer
>
> The Propaganda Czar from Paris + Texas
> http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0314-21.htm
>
> - its happening in the uk too…
> The Ministry of Defence in the Control Room
> Did the BBC Broadcast Fake News Reports?
> http://www.counterpunch.org/miller03142005.html
>
> So what can we do about it? Check out this petition and let everyone
> know
> what is up.
>
> From the freepress site:
>
> Stop News Fraud
> The White House is infiltrating local news broadcasts with
> taxpayer-funded
> covert propaganda. At least 20 federal agencies have produced and
> distributed fake news stories touting Bush administration policies.
> Last
> Friday, the Bush administration told government agencies to keep on
> producing the bogus broadcasts – even after Congress' Government
> Accountability Office declared these "video news releases" to be
> illegal.
>
> Together we forced an investigation of pundits on the government
> payroll.
> With your help, we can force Congress, the Federal Communications
> Commission
> and local broadcasters to crack down on covert propaganda and keep
> fake news
> off the air.
>
> Once you've signed the petition, Free Press will let you know in the
> coming
> weeks about others in your area working to forge "citizen agreements"
> with
> local TV stations to ensure broadcasters always identify their sources.
>
> WANTED: 250,000 Americans to Fight Fake News & Government Propaganda
> http://www.prwatch.org/node/3365
>
>
> Ok back to your regular email consumption.
>
> Hit delete.

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