Censoring absolute truth by omission
The corporate mainstream media (the familiar mass media outlets) adopt, quite unconsciously, a filter system when reporting, which leads to the silencing of important facts, stories and people. Below, I highlight two of the most important contemporary examples of this censorship by omission.
The BBC is oft held up as a beacon of objective fact-collecting and quality reporting. In the lead up to the invasion of Iraq, Stop The War Coalition (STWC) activated 2 million people to protest on the streets of London. Andrew Bergin, a press officer for STWC explained to media watchdog Media Lens:
Representatives of the coalition have been invited to appear on every TV channel except the BBC. The BBC have taken a conscious decision to actively exclude Stop the War Coalition people from their programmes, even though everyone knows we are central to organising the massive anti-war movement.
Documentary and indelible impressions
On the potential of films to make profound impressions on viewers
Speaking truth to power
What does it mean to confront and challenge great global powers?
Corporate mainstream media system
On the failings of the corporate media
Professional journalism
How professional journalism is ‘entirely bogus’
Independent economics
On the importance of uncompromised funding in truth telling
Balance and objectivity
On the falsehood of journalistic ‘objectivity’
Triad of principles
The three pillars of Act Now Films