MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE
by Michael Wolraich
Order today at Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Books-A-Million / Bookshop
MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE by Michael Wolraich Order today at Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Books-A-Million / Bookshop |
Trump knows the press has a strong instinct to repeat his most outrageous claims, and this allows him put the press to work as a marketing agency for his ideas. His lies reach millions of people through constant repetition in the press and social media. This poses an existential threat to democracy.
Comments
Thanks for making sure we wouldn't miss this, I probably would have. Edit to add: it is unusual in that he's not just analyzing, he's offering suggested solutions for beseiged White House beat reporters frustrated by being played but not knowing what to do about it since editors/producers don't seem to be giving much guidance:
Most notably, I think, he's giving them and editors support for not following the usual "rules".
by artappraiser on Thu, 06/14/2018 - 12:54am
BBC doesn't deserve the smooch, nor the other big names - they're arguably more the problem than TMZ.
Carole Cadwalladr does investigative reporting on Isabel Oakeshott, and BBC invites Oakeshott on to explain away, without comments by Cadwalladr. Lying was never easier. Last month, BBC put a post by Gingrich's son - head of MAGA - as a top web page story as a "3rd party opinion". This is all behavior from 25 years ago - the right doesn't play nearly so nice and traditional anymore - the Beeb et al are just played as suckers, shocked I tell you shocked at every time they get played.
by PeraclesPlease on Thu, 06/14/2018 - 4:53am
Here is how a news website run by blacks handled the meeting with Kim. They note that North Korea will not give up nukes but they may build a fast food restaurant.
https://www.theroot.com/north-korea-wont-give-up-nuclear-weapons-but-theyre-wi-1826428662
The same website reports that Huckabee-Sanders may leave her job by calling her the Wizardess of weird-ass lies.
https://www.theroot.com/white-house-wizardess-of-weird-ass-lies-will-willingly-1826815355
There is sarcasm and there is name-calling, but the message about Trump gets across. Mainstream media is never going to be as bold as Lakoff desires. MSNBC corrects lies, but they lead by repeating Trump’s message. I’m sure that there are other Progress websites that lead their articles by pointing out the lies upfront. MSM is not going to be too harsh because they want access to the White House.
by rmrd0000 on Thu, 06/14/2018 - 8:27am
Lakoff's deconstruction of Trump's linguistics tactics is spot on, but he misunderstands the media. The halcyon days when powerful news editors decreed what news was fit to print are long gone. News corporations are strapped for revenue and competing with a constant buzz of viral content--much of it focused on the mesmerizing Trump Show. In other words, news editors aren't covering Trump because he's playing them; they're covering him because he's playing their customers. I'm sure that every self-respecting editor would love to be a modern-day Horace Greeley, sagely guiding public opinion through the shoals of Trump's linguistic chicanery. They just can't afford it.
by Michael Wolraich on Thu, 06/14/2018 - 10:15am
There is a Catch 22 involved with the suggestion:
One of the clearest indications that there is a critical problem is provided by the problem itself. However high or low the volume is turned up to, the state of emergency is deplored and celebrated at the same time.
Imagine that you are working far from home with no easy way to get back. On the webcam, you suddenly see vandals break in and start trashing the place. The crew you hired to take care of the grounds are brought into view wearing cuffs and duct tape. Your metabolism quivers in the futility of rage. Long, deep breaths prevent you from being enveloped within an adrenergic storm.
Sounds of cheering are now coming from the adjacent hotel room. When you go to investigate, the door is ajar. Nobody is in the room but a large TV displaying a studio audience watching you watching your webcam five minutes ago.
Videodrome this, Mr Lakofff. I believe Baudrillard just stole your Prius.
by moat on Thu, 06/14/2018 - 3:30pm