How the Media Partnered With Hezbollah: Harvard's Cautionary Report

[DesertFox]

While the war between Israel and Hezbollah raged in Lebanon and Israel last summer, it became clear that media coverage had itself started to play an important role in determining the ultimate outcome of that war. It seemed clear that news coverage would affect the course of the conflict. And it quickly transpired that Hezbollah would become the beneficiary of the media's manipulation.

A close examination of the media's role during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon comes now from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, in an analysis of the war published in a paper whose subtitle should give pause to journalists covering international conflict: "The Israeli-Hezbollah War of 2006: The Media as a Weapon in Asymmetrical Conflict." Marvin Kalb, of Harvard's Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, methodically traces the transformation of the media "from objective observer to fiery advocate." Kalb painstakingly details how Hezbollah exercised absolute control over how journalists portrayed its side of the conflict, while Israel became "victimized by its own openness."


More (http://worldpoliticswatch.com/article.aspx?id=717)

[GOP Woman]

While the war between Israel and Hezbollah raged in Lebanon and Israel last summer, it became clear that media coverage had itself started to play an important role in determining the ultimate outcome of that war. It seemed clear that news coverage would affect the course of the conflict. And it quickly transpired that Hezbollah would become the beneficiary of the media's manipulation.

A close examination of the media's role during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon comes now from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, in an analysis of the war published in a paper whose subtitle should give pause to journalists covering international conflict: "The Israeli-Hezbollah War of 2006: The Media as a Weapon in Asymmetrical Conflict." Marvin Kalb, of Harvard's Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, methodically traces the transformation of the media "from objective observer to fiery advocate." Kalb painstakingly details how Hezbollah exercised absolute control over how journalists portrayed its side of the conflict, while Israel became "victimized by its own openness."

More (http://worldpoliticswatch.com/article.aspx?id=717)
The lamestream media is dangerous to our national security. http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/cussing1.gif

[GOP Woman]

The lamestream media is dangerous to our national security. http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/cussing1.gif
P. S. Especially The New York Slimes.

[Wyatt_Junker]

Damning stuff.

By contrast, armed Hezbollah fighters were all but invisible to the media. Also invisible were Hezbollah's thousands of rockets and rocket launchers strategically positioned near schools, hospitals and apartment buildings.

Within Hezbollah territory, journalists were led through scenes of the destruction caused by Israel. Journalists rarely complained about Hezbollah's restrictions, but they frequently complained about Israel's efforts to limit coverage deemed useful to the enemy. Still, circumventing Israeli restrictions proved easy in a country like Israel, while in Hezbollah-controlled areas it proved all but impossible. Cameras enjoyed full access to civilian victims of Israel's actions, but never to the perpetrators of violence against Israel. And in Israel journalists could interview soldiers complaining about the weaknesses in Israeli tactics. On more than one occasion, Hezbollah choreographed theater for visiting journalists, with ambulances ordered to parade on command for journalists, who rarely challenged the inconsistencies in what they saw. Bloggers, for example, noticed a perfectly unharmed Lebanese man standing in a picture, not long after he had been seen being "rescued" from the crushing rubble of a building.

Before long, Hezbollah had achieved a definitive propaganda victory. The media had not only acquiesced to tell Hezbollah's version of the war, they had started contributing to the creation of the narrative

According to the Harvard paper, Arab TV network Al Arabiya portrayed Arabs as the victims in 95 percent of its stories, while Al Jazeera did it in 70 percent of its reports. Arab journalists' bias against Israel is hardly surprising, but consider this: Al Jazeera's coverage portrayed Israel as the aggressor just as often as did the four main German television programs. And if you think American journalists held no bias against Israel, you may be surprised to know that "On the front pages of The New York Times and The Washington Post, Israel was portrayed as the aggressor nearly twice as often in the headlines and exactly three times as often in the photos."


LGF was all over this from day one and broke the faux-photo scandal, however, the lamestreams didn't go near it.

The msm kept the drumbeat going against Israel even in the face of all this shit coming out until it became a memorized, nearly scripted anthem. And libs only believe in anthems and chants. Anything beyond a soundbite is too confusing for them. The lie is easier. Its easier to chew, comes in nice packaging and has fewer calories.

[Wyatt_Junker]

And this is only a small part of what went on and continues to go on. Even Haditha is bullshit. The beach photo of Israel missile flak was bullshit. The 'Jenin Massacre' was bullshit. Green Helmet guy: bullshit. The bombed red cross UN ambulence, if you'll remember, was what got the press ramped up against Israel in the latest Hezbollah scrum... bullshit. High resolution photos showed that the ambulance siren/light was ripped off and the van was bludgeoned with a sledgehammer to make it look like a bomb had exploded on it. The palis/arabs/persians have learned one thing well. The lie can upend open societies. Use it. Always portray yourself as the victim, because soft-target terrorism can only be justified through it.

[DesertFox]

The whole area surrounding Israel, out to a distance of maybe 50 miles, badly needs glazing. Al Jazeera just needs a good, old-fashioned burning.

[Wyatt_Junker]

The whole area surrounding Israel, out to a distance of maybe 50 miles, badly needs glazing.

Mmmmmm.... Donuts.