Uploading Dissonance

Overview• YouTube and the US occupation of Iraq –

Christenseno Propaganda vs. public diplomacyo Noopolitik

• Amateur Photojournalism and the Myth of Media Democracy – Nemanico Grassroots journalism o Media democracy—does it exist?

• Examples• Questions/Areas of exploration

Christensen: YouTube and the US Occupation of Iraq

• MNFIRAQ – what is it?o YouTube channel 2007o US Defense Departmento “boots on ground

perspective” of waro Sanitized version of waro No profanity,

graphic/disturbing content

3 Types of Videos

oStreet fightingoSurgical warfare oGood deeds

Steetfighting• Typical gun battle scenes• Enemy always initiating contact• US Soldiers defending/ returning

fire• Calm & Collected manner• No results or casualties shown

Surgical Warfare• Involves bombing from helicopter or airplane• Destroy selected targets (terrorists, weapons)

that posses threat• Very accurate and precise• Again no carnage shown

“Good Deeds”• Christensen – “Feel good

material”• Display troops in positive light• Show good relations between

citizens & troops• Ex – Shaking hands, playing with

kids, laughing

Good deeds? – Opposing Content• Example of propagandistic

dissonance• Opposing content makes propaganda

difficult• Level of control much more difficult• YouTube decentralized nature• Alternative clips appear side by side

Good deeds? – Apache Kills• Shows high power ammunition• Body part exploded• Shows wounded person• Propaganda relies on censorship• US soldiers uploading own clips

disrupts this

Traditional Propaganda

• Nazi Germany clip• YouTube, Google Video, didn’t

exist• No alternative view• Easier to implement propaganda

Propaganda vs. public diplomacy

• Propagandistic Dissonance• Realpolitik and noopolitik• What we see here is noopolitik—

o Control over thoughto “deliberate, regulated decontrolo Noopolitik may ultimately be about whose

story wins 159

In what other ways are we exposed to “noopolitik” propaganda?

Magazines and Advertising

• For corporate gain oWe’re more sensitive to

government propaganda but advertising is just as prominent

• Bernays—propaganda vs. public relations, sound familiar?

“Must-haves”, “Perfect dresses” etc

VS

Media dissonance

Media myths: Good Girl vs. Bad Girl

VS

Militainment

TV Shows• Glorified view of government organizations

• “But in the war over public opinion, video-sharing sites such as YouTube and Google video have, it appears, begun to restructure the balance of story-telling power”o Christensen 173

Has it really?

“Amateur Photojournalism and the Myth of the Media

Democracy”

Question for the class

Is photojournalism dead?

Yes?Because:• Professional photojournalists push corporate

agenda• Biased• Fake/staged images

But Nemanic says No…

• Digital Divide• Photojournalism requires education, talent,

experience• Professional images= superior quality• Photojournalist more willing to take risks for

greater images• Civilian journalism is short lived—edges on

sensationalism

G20 – citizen perspective

G20 – CTV perspective

• Grass roots – “ involving the common people”o Princeton Wordnet

• Media democracyo global social movement developed to open up mass media to a range

of ideas and diverse voices that are repressed through media ownership

o But these are two separate things!

• Idea of authenticity

Occupy Wall Street

Are these images more authentic than…

Culture and Citizen Journalism

• Audience appropriation and modification of media texts

• John Fiske culture—“an active process of generating and circulating meanings and pleasures within the social system”

• Audience interests are short lived

Discussion: Is this citizen journalism?

Bed Intruder- original news report

Bed Intruder Song – audience appropriation

Media democracy?

Media democracy?

Censorship?

Further questions

• Do you agree with Nemanic?• Can citizen and professional journalists work

together?• How does/can one complement the other?

• Final conclusions?