War + Media:War + Media:Propaganda, Control and Propaganda, Control and

CensorshipCensorship

What are we seeing; What are we seeing;

What is left out?What is left out?

+ WHY+ WHY

The Information AgeThe Information Age

““As our information age continues to As our information age continues to evolve, the relationship between evolve, the relationship between news media and the government is news media and the government is frequently tested”frequently tested”

Can you think of why this is Can you think of why this is happening? How/Why is it different happening? How/Why is it different from 50 years ago?from 50 years ago?

CONTROLCONTROL

Governments often try to control Governments often try to control news reports that they believe might news reports that they believe might jeopardize national security.jeopardize national security.

Examples?Examples?

FREEDOM! + CONFLICTFREEDOM! + CONFLICT

News reporters want to ensure that News reporters want to ensure that their reports inform the audience…their reports inform the audience…

But they must consider that their But they must consider that their reports might be harming such reports might be harming such things as war efforts.things as war efforts.

How can this be solved?How can this be solved?Does it bother you to know you might Does it bother you to know you might

not be getting the whole story?not be getting the whole story?

MARSHALL MCLUHAN, MARSHALL MCLUHAN, a media mogula media mogul

““World War III will be a global World War III will be a global information war with no division information war with no division between civilian and military between civilian and military participation” (1960’s)participation” (1960’s)

What is an information war?What is an information war?

Has this war begun?Has this war begun?

Examples?Examples?

INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL

Both American and British Both American and British governments have requested that governments have requested that their their media exercise restraint when media exercise restraint when airing footage and facts form the airing footage and facts form the enemy,enemy, causing everyone around them causing everyone around them to question journalistic responsibility.to question journalistic responsibility.

Which responsibility/obligation is Which responsibility/obligation is greater for a journalist? To your greater for a journalist? To your country, or to your viewer?country, or to your viewer?

ChinaChinaThe Chinese government uses different means of intimidation to The Chinese government uses different means of intimidation to

control the media and induce journalists to censor themselves control the media and induce journalists to censor themselves rather than risk punishment. Censorship tactics include:rather than risk punishment. Censorship tactics include:

Dismissals and demotionsDismissals and demotions LibelLibel Fines.Fines. Closing news outletsClosing news outlets ImprisonmentImprisonment The Foreign Correspondents Club of China reports that 180 The Foreign Correspondents Club of China reports that 180

foreign foreign correspondents were detained, harassed, or attackedcorrespondents were detained, harassed, or attacked in in China in 2007 China in 2007

"Chinese officials consider censorship demands as state "Chinese officials consider censorship demands as state secrets, so we cannot disclose that information at this time." secrets, so we cannot disclose that information at this time." ??!!!????!!!??

UKUK

In the UK, there were 1,166 government In the UK, there were 1,166 government requests for Google to provide data about requests for Google to provide data about users and 59 requests to remove web pages users and 59 requests to remove web pages from YouTube or from Google's search from YouTube or from Google's search results. 43 of those were about YouTube results. 43 of those were about YouTube videos.videos.

The vast majority of these requests are valid The vast majority of these requests are valid and the information needed is for legitimate and the information needed is for legitimate criminal investigations.criminal investigations.

Right HereRight Here The first media in Canada were established with clear, political The first media in Canada were established with clear, political

objectives in mind, namely the support of the patron who paid the objectives in mind, namely the support of the patron who paid the way. Many of these journals were operated by strong willed way. Many of these journals were operated by strong willed individuals who used the media to promote personal causes, some individuals who used the media to promote personal causes, some of them beyond politics. of them beyond politics.

In 1932 the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council decided that In 1932 the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council decided that broadcasting was a matter of national interestbroadcasting was a matter of national interest and therefore and therefore under the jurisdiction of the federal government under the jurisdiction of the federal government

The The government owned and operatedgovernment owned and operated Canadian Broadcasting Canadian Broadcasting Corporation—La Société Radio—Canada operates two radio and Corporation—La Société Radio—Canada operates two radio and two television networks. two television networks.

In Canada, In Canada, anything presented by a media outlet is subject to anything presented by a media outlet is subject to potential action under the lawpotential action under the law. This includes news, classified ads, . This includes news, classified ads, advertisements, comic strips, and even the publication of advertisements, comic strips, and even the publication of materials from outside sources. materials from outside sources.

canadacanada

Courts regularly prohibit the publication of Courts regularly prohibit the publication of evidence. In a notorious murder case that evidence. In a notorious murder case that took place in St. Catharines, Ontario, a young took place in St. Catharines, Ontario, a young couple kidnapped, tortured and murdered two couple kidnapped, tortured and murdered two young schoolgirls. The proceedings against young schoolgirls. The proceedings against the female defendant were closed to the the female defendant were closed to the media. media.

A series of videotapes of the kidnapped girls A series of videotapes of the kidnapped girls were also suppressed. were also suppressed.

In other cases, such as the need to protect In other cases, such as the need to protect witnesses, witnesses, Canadian courts regularly forbid Canadian courts regularly forbid the publication of certain types of information. the publication of certain types of information.

My countryMy country The most restrictive piece of legislation for the Canadian media The most restrictive piece of legislation for the Canadian media

was passed in 1914 under the title of the War Measures was passed in 1914 under the title of the War Measures Act-key Act-key initiative was to remove the law making right of Parliament and to initiative was to remove the law making right of Parliament and to transfer it to the federal cabinettransfer it to the federal cabinet. . Citizens' participation in Citizens' participation in government was therefore suspended and censorship legalizedgovernment was therefore suspended and censorship legalized. It . It was first enacted in 1914 when Canada joined Britain in the First was first enacted in 1914 when Canada joined Britain in the First World War. Although the war officially ended in 1918, the law World War. Although the war officially ended in 1918, the law remained in effect until 1920. remained in effect until 1920.

The government used the law to ban publications during the war The government used the law to ban publications during the war years.years. Among these were a number of German language Among these were a number of German language publications, but socialist and social democratic magazines and publications, but socialist and social democratic magazines and newspapers were also banned, as well as a few Irish nationalist newspapers were also banned, as well as a few Irish nationalist publications. publications. Any publication that questioned the direction of the Any publication that questioned the direction of the war could potentially be bannedwar could potentially be banned. Publications advocating . Publications advocating temperance were also banned on the premise that such journals temperance were also banned on the premise that such journals would weaken the morale of men overseas. The Act resurfaced in would weaken the morale of men overseas. The Act resurfaced in 1939 when Canada went to war against Germany. As in the First 1939 when Canada went to war against Germany. As in the First World War, the provisions of the act continued on for two years World War, the provisions of the act continued on for two years after the hostilities ceased. after the hostilities ceased.

StrongStrong October 1970. Terrorists using the name FLQ ( October 1970. Terrorists using the name FLQ ( Front de Front de

Liberation Québeçois Liberation Québeçois ) placed bombs in a mailbox in the ) placed bombs in a mailbox in the English speaking district of Westmount and threatened English speaking district of Westmount and threatened other English language institutions. In 1970 they kidnapped other English language institutions. In 1970 they kidnapped the British trade minister, James Cross, and the provincial the British trade minister, James Cross, and the provincial minister of labor, Pierre LaPorte. Cross was eventually minister of labor, Pierre LaPorte. Cross was eventually released but LaPorte was murdered by his captors, released but LaPorte was murdered by his captors, which which led Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to invoke the Actled Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to invoke the Act. No . No significant armed insurrection appeared and the Act was significant armed insurrection appeared and the Act was eventually revoked. eventually revoked.

When the City of Vancouver used the Act to clean up the When the City of Vancouver used the Act to clean up the downtown from various types of undesirables, downtown from various types of undesirables, the the government amended the legislation to allow for regional government amended the legislation to allow for regional impositionimposition and changed its name to The Emergencies Act. and changed its name to The Emergencies Act. However, However, provisions for media censorship are still in the lawprovisions for media censorship are still in the law

And freeAnd free

In 1979 a Toronto journalist, Peter In 1979 a Toronto journalist, Peter Worthington, became convinced that Worthington, became convinced that there was an extensive Soviet spy there was an extensive Soviet spy network in Canada and that the network in Canada and that the government was ignoring it. He had government was ignoring it. He had come into possession of documents that come into possession of documents that supported his case and he published supported his case and he published one of these in the one of these in the Toronto Sun. Toronto Sun. As a As a result, he was charged under the result, he was charged under the Official Secrets Act.Official Secrets Act.

From seaFrom sea

As the twenties came to a close, As the twenties came to a close, Canadian political elite became Canadian political elite became increasingly concerned that the increasingly concerned that the commercial messages and commercial messages and entertainment-driven values from entertainment-driven values from American radio stations that freely American radio stations that freely drifted across the border were eroding drifted across the border were eroding Canadian culture…Canadian culture…beginning a beginning a relationship between the state and the relationship between the state and the media that has not weakened since.media that has not weakened since.

…….to shining sea.to shining sea

Canadian Press continues as the only Canadian Press continues as the only major domestic agency to provide major domestic agency to provide national and international news to national and international news to Canadian mediaCanadian media

Many forms of Many forms of CENSORSHIPCENSORSHIP

Despite there being rigorous guidelines Despite there being rigorous guidelines in place to curb the use of pornography in place to curb the use of pornography and hate in the Canadian Criminal and hate in the Canadian Criminal Code, the Conservatives argue they Code, the Conservatives argue they would use Bill C-10 to limit tax credits would use Bill C-10 to limit tax credits to film and TV projects considered to film and TV projects considered overly sexual, violent or hateful…the overly sexual, violent or hateful…the Tory take on what may be deemed Tory take on what may be deemed "indecent," "obscene," and "contrary to "indecent," "obscene," and "contrary to public policy" has yet to be clearly public policy" has yet to be clearly defined.defined.

What’ s your problem?What’ s your problem?

Why does it matter if a government Why does it matter if a government agency controls the media? agency controls the media?

Should our government be permitted to Should our government be permitted to choose what news makes it to the media?choose what news makes it to the media?

What about freedom of information?What about freedom of information? Does ‘live news’ mean Live News?Does ‘live news’ mean Live News? Does it bother you that you don’t know Does it bother you that you don’t know

even half of what is going on in your even half of what is going on in your neighbourhood/city/province/country?neighbourhood/city/province/country?

Watch the clip….Watch the clip….

The Osama video….The Osama video….

Responsible?Responsible?

Selfish?Selfish?

Public service?Public service?

VietnamVietnam

Media Responsibility?Media Responsibility?

Justifiable access?Justifiable access?

Bias?Bias?

9/119/11

Necessary footage?Necessary footage?

Unnecessary repetition?Unnecessary repetition?

Responsibility?Responsibility?

anthraxanthrax

Information or fear mongering?Information or fear mongering?

Differences in this reportDifferences in this report

www.thesmokinggun.comwww.thesmokinggun.comhttp://www.thesmokinggun.com/archihttp://www.thesmokinggun.com/archi

ve/years/2008/0806081anthrax1.htmve/years/2008/0806081anthrax1.htmll

??

The White House expected a full The White House expected a full broadcast of the President’s press broadcast of the President’s press conferences, yet requested that conferences, yet requested that news media suppress videos form al news media suppress videos form al Quaeda.Quaeda.

Is this fair to viewers?Is this fair to viewers?

I say “Al Jazeera Tv”I say “Al Jazeera Tv”

You You think________________________________think________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

They say:They say:

Sole source of bin Laden videosSole source of bin Laden videosHighly respected Arabic language Highly respected Arabic language

news channelnews channelFunded by Emir of QatarFunded by Emir of QatarFirst all Arabic channelFirst all Arabic channelArabic correspondents all over the Arabic correspondents all over the

worldworld

dangersdangers

Of being the sole source of Of being the sole source of information?information?

By whom is al Jazeera highly By whom is al Jazeera highly respected?respected?

Is al Jazeera still highly respected? Is al Jazeera still highly respected? (post 9/11)(post 9/11)

Watch the clipWatch the clip

After watching the clip, you think After watching the clip, you think ________________________________________________________________________________________________________? ______________________________? http://http://english.aljazeera.netenglish.aljazeera.net//

I say, “Radio Havana”I say, “Radio Havana”

You You think________________________________think________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

They say:They say:

Radio Havana Club is a method of Radio Havana Club is a method of fighting back by Cubans as the fighting back by Cubans as the Americans try to censor Communism Americans try to censor Communism from Cubafrom Cuba

They encourage Cubans to remain They encourage Cubans to remain resolute in their definace of American resolute in their definace of American pressure pressure

dangersdangers

Of propagandaOf propagandaOf uncertain images, dramatic music Of uncertain images, dramatic music

and purpose driven editingand purpose driven editingFunding?Funding?Watch the clipWatch the clip

After watching the clip, you think After watching the clip, you think ________________________________________________________________________________________________________? ______________________________? www.radiohc.orgwww.radiohc.org