Center for Media and Democracy - Weekly Radio Spin, February 15, 2008

by Diane Farsetta — February 15, 2008 - 1:39pm

The Weekly Radio SpinListen to this week's edition of the "Weekly Radio Spin," the Center for Media and Democracy's audio report on the stories behind the news. This week, we look at drug pushers, Microsoft in the classroom and what bottled water and hybrid cars have in common. In "Six Degrees of Spin and Fakin'," we look at Jack Abramoff, the Kevin Bacon of the lobbying world. The Weekly Radio Spin is freely available for personal and broadcast use. Podcasters can subscribe to the XML feed on www.prwatch.org/audio or via iTunes. If you air the Weekly Radio Spin on your radio station, please email us at editor@prwatch.org to let us know. Thanks!

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Comments

Democracy for the people, but not for those who promote ideas?

Submitted by Karl Robe on February 17, 2008 - 2:01pm.

The Center for Media and Democracy certainly does its part to ensure clarity is brought to the marketplace of ideas. But in its mission to “strengthen participatory democracy by investigating and exposing public relations spin and propaganda…” the group implicitly seeks to quash the free flow of information by damning a profession dedicated to helping organizations and publics adapt mutually to each other.

The Public Relations Society of America, in fact, recognizes in its definition of PR “that all organizations have multiple publics from which they must earn consent and support.” This seems to support democratic principals, but, admittedly, some bruised apples ruin the bushel in our profession. Many of us in PR, however, believe in and act in concert with PRSA principals.

Most people would agree democracy is defined generally as a government by the people. Most people also would agree decisions are far more successful when based on thorough understanding through consideration of a wide array of ideas. As a profession, public relations represents the interests of people and organizations with ideas. For those concerned about the affect of public relations on democratic principals, know this: democracy teeters on the debate of ideas, not on the bearer of a given idea.

Whether one agrees with Irving Kristol that democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions – it only guarantees equality of opportunity. Or, with Greek orator Demosthenes that there is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots…Distrust. The method of idea dissemination is far different—and deserves distinction from dishonesty and other lackluster descriptions—than potentially questionable means used to demonstrate an idea.

Terms, such as “spin,” certainly is hypocritical when one considers that each and every one of us takes our own bent on whatever the idea. The voices behind the Center for Media and Democracy certainly promote their own spin. In fact, I find it interesting and recognize the value of their ideas and mission.

For all involved, though—whether PR counsel or PR watchdog—perhaps we would benefit from reflecting on the following definition of democracy attributed to C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia.

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

Karl Robe
www.wispundits.com
karl.robe@wispundits.com

Are hypocrisy really that bad?

Submitted by Mutternich on February 18, 2008 - 9:29am.

"Terms, such as 'spin,' certainly is hypocritical when one considers that each and every one of us takes our own bent on whatever the idea."

Wouldn't you agree, though, that it's better to have a lot of people using the word "spin" hypocritically with everyone knowing what it means, than to have no one using it and no one on the alert for the spin itself?

"...perhaps we would benefit from reflecting on the following definition of democracy attributed to C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia."

Your quote didn't seem to have come from The Chronicles of Narnia, so I Googled it and found that a lot of windbags have used it without naming its source. I finally found one listing that attributed it to God in the Dock.

Could you please point out the "definition of democracy" it supposedly contains? I couldn't see it no matter how much I squinted.

Differentiate Spin From Advocacy

Submitted by Karl Robe on March 6, 2008 - 10:58pm.

Thanks for the opportunity to clarify.

Spin at its core is negative, and, unfortunately, engulfs those of us who advocate on behalf of our clients in accordance with the Public Relations Society of America Code of Ethics.

Public relations, in its purest form, recognizes we all operate in a common environment that requires building relationships, understanding and actions that create the opportunity for co-existence. Unlike spin, a broader, strategic approach to creating sustainable working relationships among all concerns is the objective of effective public relations.

Concerning your quest to find the definition of democracy "attributed" to C.S. Lewis within The Chronicles of Narnia, I merely identified him as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, not that the quote came from that book. Sorry for the confusion. Windbags aside, I believe on closer inspection of my original writing, you will not find any indication that the quote is contained in Narnia.

Hope this helps. Write me at karl.robe@wispundits.com if you need further clarification.

Karl Robe
Wispundits.com