Iraq

Cameraman Killed In Northern Iraq Worked For Pentagon PR Firm

by Laura Miller — April 4, 2003 - 11:00pm

Australian cameraman Paul Moran, who was killed by a suicide bomber on March 20, had worked for the Rendon Group, a Washington-based PR firm currently being used by the Pentagon, the Adelaide Advertiser reports. At the time of his death, Moran was on an assignment for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in northern Iraq.

Main Source: 
Adelaide Advertiser, April 5, 2003

War Is a Rich Time for Students of Propaganda

by John Stauber — April 3, 2003 - 11:00pm

PR Week commentator Paul Holmes writes that "the 'embedding' of reporters in military units is the most brilliant
strategic decision of this entire campaign, since its effect appears to
be the transformation of usually intelligent reporters into Pentagon
[Public Relations Officers]. As someone in the administration obviously realised, it's hard to
hold on to journalistic integrity when you're dependent for continued
survival on the people you're supposed to be covering. ... Then there's the brand name for this conflict: Operation Iraqi Freedom. ...

Main Source: 
British Edition of PR Week, April 4, 2003

Myths and Misconceptions About the War

by Sheldon Rampton — April 3, 2003 - 11:00pm

Since the beginning of the Iraq war, write Brendan Nyhan and Bryan Keefer, "politicians and the American media have continued to circulate misinformation, much of which has gone largely unchecked." On the Spinsanity.org web site, they have compiled a list of "myths and misconceptions about the war." Examples include:

  • Iraq has launched Scud missiles at coalition forces and civilians in Kuwait.
  • The coalition against Iraq is larger than the one that conducted the first Gulf War.
  • Evidence found at the Ansar Al-Islam camp ties Al Qaeda to Saddam Hussein.
  • No one in the administra

Main Source: 
Spinsanity.org, April 4, 2003

Official Story Vs. Eyewitness Account

by Laura Miller — April 3, 2003 - 11:00pm

"A recent Washington Post article describing the killing of civilians by U.S. soldiers at a checkpoint outside the Iraqi town of Najaf proved that 'embedded' journalists do have the ability to report on war in all its horror. But the rejection by some U.S. outlets of Post correspondent
William Branigin's eyewitness account in favor of the Pentagon's sanitized version suggests that some journalists prefer not to report the harsh reality of war," Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting writes.

Main Source: 
Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting, April 4, 2003

Battle of the Brands -- Pro & Anti War Sentiment Fuels Boycotts

by John Stauber — April 3, 2003 - 11:00pm

USA Today reports on "a surge of anti-Americanism that threatens to erode the global dominance of American brands. ... Nike, Coca-Cola and McDonald's are just a few examples of U.S. companies that sell more than half their products abroad. Their value and the prices they can charge depend strongly on their brand image. And though Coke, Levi's, Budweiser and the like have nothing to do with the Bush administration's foreign policy, they become de facto targets for protesters lashing out at the USA's dominance. ...

Main Source: 
USA Today, April 4, 2003

Using the War to Sell Mustard and Movies

by John Stauber — April 2, 2003 - 11:00pm

George Hesselberg writes, "let me be the 500th columnist in the United States to jump on the French's Mustard public relations people for the company's astounding press release that got -- congratulations -- national press last week. The company wanted everyone to know that 'The only thing French about French's mustard is the name!' ... And leave it to Hollywood to make the peace sign a commercial symbol. The comedy movie, What a Girl Wants, is advertised picturing the lead actress ... flashing the peace sign. ...

Main Source: 
Wisconsin State Journal, April 3, 2003

The Fog Of War

by Laura Miller — April 2, 2003 - 11:00pm

"'Fog' is the watchword of this war, with the lines between fact and propaganda being blurred on a daily basis. The demands of round-the-clock news means military claims are being relayed instantly to millions without being confirmed or verified only to be refuted later by reporters on the ground or by fresh military updates," the Guardian writes in an article examining contradictory claims made in first two weeks of war on Iraq.

Main Source: 
Guardian (UK), April 3, 2003

Al-Jazeera Gets the Boot

by Sheldon Rampton — April 2, 2003 - 11:00pm

Al-Jazeera reporter Tayseer Allouni has been ordered out of Baghdad by the Iraqi government, which is unhappy with his reporting. In response, the Arabic satellite network has suspended reporting from the country until it gets an explanation. The action comes at a time when, according to Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post, U.S. journalists are "pumped" by reports of a POW rescue and news of fresh U.S. military advances.

Main Source: 
Guardian (UK), April 3, 2003

Talking For Turkey

by Laura Miller — April 1, 2003 - 11:00pm

"Turkey, which agreed on April 2 to let the U.S. transport supplies through its territory to coalition forces in Iraq, used its large team of American lobbyists to get its message of long-term friendship and strategic importance across to members of Congress," O'Dwyer's PR Daily reports. "The lobbyists were sent into action after some members of Congress, who were upset over Turkey's refusal to let U.S.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, April 2, 2003

Germans And French See Different War

by Laura Miller — April 1, 2003 - 11:00pm

"Germans appear to be viewing the war through a prism that highlights the human costs, difficulties and risks. Media and political analysts say that perspective springs from three interconnected sources: public attitudes against the war, the German government's opposition to it and the occasionally antiwar tone of German media coverage," the Washington Post's Robert J. McCartney writes.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, April 2, 2003
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