In the digital age, where information flows ceaselessly through various media channels, the influence of political parties on shaping public opinion has reached unprecedented heights. The symbiotic relationship between politics and the media often blurs the line between objective reporting and partisan advocacy.
The following are the main strategies used by governments to manipulate the media and the message they send to the public:. The outcome is that our lives are made of lies created by those who are supposed to serve us.
- Control of Narrative: Political parties recognise the power of narratives in shaping public perception. By controlling the narrative, they can frame issues in a way that aligns with their ideologies and objectives. This control is often exerted through strategic messaging, press releases, and media appearances by party leaders. Moreover, parties may utilise their influence to shape the editorial direction of media outlets through advertising revenue or implicit threats of boycotts.
- Selective Information Dissemination: Manipulating the media involves not only what is said but also what is not said. Political parties strategically disseminate information that serves their interests while suppressing or discrediting opposing viewpoints. This can be achieved through selective leaks, spin doctoring, or the dissemination of misinformation and propaganda. In the era of social media, where news spreads rapidly and fact-checking lags behind, such tactics can have profound effects on public opinion.
- Manufacturing Controversy: Political parties often exploit the media’s appetite for controversy to distract the public from substantive issues or to discredit their opponents. By manufacturing controversies, such as exaggerated scandals or sensationalised conflicts, parties can dominate news cycles and shape public discourse. This tactic not only diverts attention from pressing issues but also erodes trust in the media by exposing its susceptibility to manipulation.
- Weaponising Social Media: The rise of social media has provided political parties with a potent tool for manipulating public opinion. Parties leverage social media platforms to bypass traditional media gatekeepers and disseminate their messages directly to the public. Through targeted advertising, fake accounts, and coordinated disinformation campaigns, parties can amplify their narratives and sow discord among their opponents’ supporters. The viral nature of social media further amplifies the impact of such manipulation, making it difficult to discern truth from fiction.
- Coopting Journalistic Integrity: Despite the media’s role as a watchdog of democracy, journalistic integrity is not immune to political influence. Political parties may coopt journalists through access journalism, where favourable coverage is exchanged for exclusive interviews or insider information. Moreover, the revolving door between politics and the media often blurs the boundaries between journalism and political advocacy, undermining the media’s independence and credibility.
The following is a clear admission that the Conservative government and Vladimir Putin use the same tactic to lie to the public.
We used to do this at Conservative HQ. We would ask the Daily Express to print something unsubtantiated* then get an MP to tell Parliament “I read in the Express that X”, and then pitch to the other papers that “Parliament was told X”
— Garvan Walshe (@garvanwalshe) April 8, 2024
I’m sure Labour** did the same thing… https://t.co/UcxwyLe1HH
Here is another example of how the establishment will use unverified data for the side they support but accuse the side they do not of bias.
And for those who want to delve deeper into the darkness:
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