Truemors
Digg
del.icio.us
AddToAny
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
A Modest Proposal for NowPublic.com: "FLAG AS PROPAGANDA!!!"
by Scrivener | July 13, 2008 at 12:20 am | 507 views | 13 comments
Being a newbie to NowPublic.com, I cannot speak with authority; but more than a few of the posted articles over the last news cycle appear to be rewritten press releases from corporate and perhaps some government interests.
The format here is designed to convey "crowd powered news" and to afford independent citizen journalists -- even some real journalists seeking a broader horizon -- a reader-rich venue. But the instantaneous nature of editor-free web publishing also opens the door to misuse and exploitation by public relations hounds out to push a story without first having to clear the inconvenient hurdle of an editorial filter.
I'm not complaining here; I've become a devoted contributor, and hope to maintain a stream of original and credible work that hopefully enhances the NowPublic menu (and, quite frankly, allows me to achieve a wider audience for my reportage and my political ruminations).
But as a longtime journalist who's used to having to submit to a set of often skeptical eyeballs, I have before you, in the manner of Jonathan Swift, a modest proposal:
"FLAG AS PROPAGANDA!!!"
I hereby suggest that those who lord over NowPublic.com initiate a special animated alert icon: A mustachioed, floppy-haired figure spewing forth the party line from a microphone-laden podium, with an Eastern European-style klaghorn sounding in the background, along with those three telling words in bold Gothic type.
Such a reader alert icon would still allow the instantaneous posting of all content, leaving readers to judge whether it's worth their time or hardly worth the energy it takes to mouse-click.
But if the readers feel used; if the poster's intent is to get free worldwide advertising for a commercial product or service by posting press releases under the guise of "citizen journalism", this early warning system, this B.S. "bolo" (be on the lookout), would give readers a chance to make the ultimate judgment: Real journalism worthy of my valuable time; or shameless hype, exploitation of a well-read automated worldwide distribution mode with no admission fee required?
Thus, a military contractor still could use this site to shill the latest weapons sytem; a computer maker still could get free advertising for its latest software update; a politician could plant his latest speechifying disguised as a news story; a government could sow agitprop masquerading as a photo newsfeature -- but the readers would have a potent final say in judging whether the submission passes the credibility smell test.
So what of this, my new-found NowPublic.com associates? Have your say. Take me apart for positing this option, if you must. Turn my name in to the overseers as an inveterate pot-stirrer. Or endorse my modest proposal as a necessary enhancement to protect the long-term viability of this site.
Whichever it is, let at it!
News Tools
July 13, 2008 at 12:20 am by Scrivener, 507 views, 13 comments
Add a comment
Comments (13)
at 02:10 on July 13th, 2008
Definitely worth a flag - or two. But one is my limit. Thanks for this post.
at 04:47 on July 13th, 2008
Scrivener, okay. You have gotten my attention again. *chuckles* I like the idea. I think you already had me with the title. But the article was good too. *laughs*
at 04:58 on July 13th, 2008
well good suggestions but aren't we all promoting ouselves
at 05:39 on July 13th, 2008
It should be a forum to report on the current events and add your opinion,if you have something to say, because News Media rarely let their readers have a say to counter their news.
at 05:40 on July 13th, 2008
A good point, but is this not covered in the "Fishy" flag? Perhaps we should be drawing the eyes of the Editors to these infomercials
at 05:43 on July 13th, 2008
Scrivener, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I will flag this because is a great subject to be debated. My main concern about negative flags is the censure character of stamping. Perceptions about what is propaganda may vary by individuals. I fear for the freedom of speech if NP adopts your idea.
at 06:59 on July 13th, 2008
A Flag is also a sign of agreement and at times support of the article its subject or issue!
News that needs to get out even if not agreed with!
Not every one really wants to writ a long comment, yet they do want to show their agreement or support for the Issue or subject in question! Like its says in the Flag "I like this story. It's good stuff."
If you fell like it please do comment as well and contribute with more information or insight even and why not know how! Many different people are here, some writ a lot and others read more.... Some are good with words and others like to show their opinion with a Flag!
Propaganda would be what the NSDAP did and what the Bush administration is curentlly doing!
at 07:36 on July 13th, 2008
Hi Paschen, I don't use the GS flag just to signal agreement with the content or support for the post (or poster, I don't GS flag by personality). So, I don't use the GS flag as a "vote" for the politics, say, of the material. I've given a GS flag to something I disagree with simply because the poster has done a good job in presenting the material. I've even given a GS flag to someone who's been horribly rude to me if the material is well-presented and newsworthy.
at 06:21 on July 13th, 2008
I often promote stories I don't agree with, and "wrench" stories I do agree with , should they need some work. Of course, contributors use the tools available as they see fit, but, should you want to see what we (the content team) go by, check this out.
at 07:43 on July 13th, 2008
I think we used to have a section for press releases, or maybe we'd asked for one. Around here though, if a business of some sort--even a military contractor--posts press releases as news someone usually picks that up and comments on it.
Having a "propaganda" flag would only engender more flame wars, because what you think of as "propaganda" someone else might consider to be news or commentary. There are some folks who would consider anything from the BBC or Fox News or MSNBC as "propaganda," but would consider something from alternet as news, not propaganda. ;}
If you think someone has done a good job and the material is well-presented and is newsworthy, give it a GS flag. If you don't, ignore it or add a polite comment about why you think the material isn't appropriate for NP "as is." If you disagree with the commentary or the highlight, say so politely. And if it's well-done, but you disagree, disagree but GS flag it.
at 08:38 on July 13th, 2008
Who is to decide what is propaganda and what isn't? Propaganda is opinion. Surely you don't mean to ban opinion. If you don't agree with it, NP provides you with a great forum to say so. Mainstream media usually have gatekeepers that make it pretty difficult for everyone to have their say. This is what makes it possible for the manipulation of the media by special interests. NP, however, gives everyone a voice, big and small, influential or not. And what's the matter with media releases? They are information. You can react or not, believe them or not, comment on them or not. But if you eliminate them you are limiting information.
at 08:44 on July 13th, 2008
Pep makes a good point: One person's "propaganda" may be regarded as another's untold truth. Still, the format leaves wide open the opportunity for "PR spamming," and I think it's already here. I would be the last to suggest more censorship; I'm trying to tell a story that's long been ignored by the mainstream media, and a site like this provides a powerful venue.
But it's also replete with self-serving PR and paid disinformation spammers, who target those whose messages they would prefer not be heard. These entities also use economic pressure to ensure that they get their way; because this site is based in Canada, it's quite possible that such forces of potential censorship are having a harder time of it; but they're still trying (my account continues to be subject to malicious intrusion by some entity which is able to spoof my identity and alter my content, with the technology to make it appear as if I did it myself. I hope site administrators will investigate).
How about this as a compromise: Activate a "New Products and Services" section to give promotion-minded posters a clearly labeled forum for their hype -- and the editors of NowPublic.com could be encouraged to move posts to such a new category if the content fits the criteria. If the category draws an audience, the site could even impose a modest fee; nothing wrong with that -- it's advertising (of course, it should be labeled as such).
A section also could be created for "News and Views from Government." Same criteria as above; if it's obvious bureaucratic pandering, let the editors place the missive here.
The real problem arises with cleverly crafted propaganda/agitprop that not's so clearly transparent. In the cases where the propagandists go to that much trouble, I guess it's up to the reader to decide the value... but if a site like this is spammed with propaganda, it tends to lose its credibility. Some countervailing action should be taken to prevent that from happening. Hey -- maybe it's called exercising editorial discretion. Problem with that is that one editor's "discretion" could be regarded by authors as "censorship" or bowing to corporate or government suasion (the kind of thing that routinely happens on mainstream sites).
But at least with those two new sections, the precedent would be set for more meaningful content categorization. Such comparmentalization of sales and snow job posts might just work better all parties, PR specialists and message targets alike. I'd read a new product announcements section voluntarily, maybe even a section authored by government PR agents if it's clearly labeled as such (I want to know what they want us to know, too).
Bottom line: Product hype and transparent party line dicta shouldn't be classified as news or citizen journalism. When it is, it's just clutter.
at 10:24 on July 13th, 2008
Sounds good to me!