Week 2Week 2

Bias and Ethnocentrism

Five Filters of Propaganda

Bias and Ethnocentrism

Five Filters of Propaganda

BiasBias

• Each person and each professor has their own perspective.

• Biology– Gene Theory of Evolution– Symbiogenesis Theory of Evolution

• Each person and each professor has their own perspective.

• Biology– Gene Theory of Evolution– Symbiogenesis Theory of Evolution

My PerspectiveMy Perspective

• I am a critical Political-Economist

• Like other courses you take, the content closely follows the professor’s perspective.– This class is no different.

• You will, however, get a different perspective from what you are used to hearing!

• I am a critical Political-Economist

• Like other courses you take, the content closely follows the professor’s perspective.– This class is no different.

• You will, however, get a different perspective from what you are used to hearing!

Both Sides to an Issue?Both Sides to an Issue?

• Some people want to give equal time to opposing views.– Never just two sides.

• “Balance” was ordered in coverage of civilian deaths in Afghanistan.

– http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/1031-02.htm

• Some people want to give equal time to opposing views.– Never just two sides.

• “Balance” was ordered in coverage of civilian deaths in Afghanistan.

– http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/1031-02.htm

Value Neutral or ObjectiveValue Neutral or Objective

• Some professors, journalists, or others will say they are objective.

• Beware!– They are either ignorant of their bias

• Or

– They are intentionally trying to deceive you.

• Remember, facts exist, but can be viewed differently depending on the perspective.

• Some professors, journalists, or others will say they are objective.

• Beware!– They are either ignorant of their bias

• Or

– They are intentionally trying to deceive you.

• Remember, facts exist, but can be viewed differently depending on the perspective.

EthnocentrismEthnocentrism

• Ethnocentrism is seeing and judging the world ONLY from your personal perspective.

• Ethnocentrism also places ourselves in a superior position relative to other people in order to justify our actions.

• Ethnocentrism is seeing and judging the world ONLY from your personal perspective.

• Ethnocentrism also places ourselves in a superior position relative to other people in order to justify our actions.

Five Elements of EthnocentrismFive Elements of Ethnocentrism

• Viewing the Other as Inferior• Dehumanization• Civilizational Mission• Ideological Camouflage• Political Denial

• Viewing the Other as Inferior• Dehumanization• Civilizational Mission• Ideological Camouflage• Political Denial

Viewing the Other as Inferior

Viewing the Other as Inferior

• Biological Inferiority

• Moral/Cultural Inferiority

• Biological Inferiority

• Moral/Cultural Inferiority

DehumanizationDehumanization

• Once a group is viewed as inferior, it is easy to dehumanize them.

– Individuals in the group are seen as less than true people, lacking souls, humanity, culture, etc.

– Derogatory names are used to characterize the group.

• Once a group is viewed as inferior, it is easy to dehumanize them.

– Individuals in the group are seen as less than true people, lacking souls, humanity, culture, etc.

– Derogatory names are used to characterize the group.

Civilizational MissionCivilizational Mission

• Because it believes it is superior, one group takes it upon itself to "civilize" the “inferior” people.

– Manifest Destiny– White Man’s Burden– Crusade on Terrorism

• Because it believes it is superior, one group takes it upon itself to "civilize" the “inferior” people.

– Manifest Destiny– White Man’s Burden– Crusade on Terrorism

Ideological CamouflageIdeological Camouflage

• The subjugation and ill-treatment of other people need justification.

• Sham science

– Bell Curve

– Eugenics

• The subjugation and ill-treatment of other people need justification.

• Sham science

– Bell Curve

– Eugenics

Political DenialPolitical Denial

• Government denies responsibility in the mistreatment of a group of people.

– Ecuador gives indigenous people rights to land in their territory, BUT the government retains the rights to what is BELOW the land!

• Government denies responsibility in the mistreatment of a group of people.

– Ecuador gives indigenous people rights to land in their territory, BUT the government retains the rights to what is BELOW the land!

Five Elements of EthnocentrismFive Elements of Ethnocentrism

• Viewing the Other as Inferior• Dehumanization• Civilizational Mission• Ideological Camouflage• Political Denial

• Viewing the Other as Inferior• Dehumanization• Civilizational Mission• Ideological Camouflage• Political Denial

Five Filters of Propaganda

Five Filters of Propaganda

Distortion in the MediaDistortion in the Media

TodayToday

• Five Filters of Propaganda– Concentration of Ownership– Advertising– “Sourcing” the News– Flak– Anti-Communism

• Five Filters of Propaganda– Concentration of Ownership– Advertising– “Sourcing” the News– Flak– Anti-Communism

Students and EducationStudents and Education

• More than 50% of students at four-year schools and more than 75% at two-year colleges lacked the skills to perform complex literacy tasks.

• That means they could not … understand the arguments of newspaper editorials, compare credit card offers with different interest rates and annual fees or summarize results of a survey about parental involvement in school.

• http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-01-19-college-tasks_x.htm

• More than 50% of students at four-year schools and more than 75% at two-year colleges lacked the skills to perform complex literacy tasks.

• That means they could not … understand the arguments of newspaper editorials, compare credit card offers with different interest rates and annual fees or summarize results of a survey about parental involvement in school.

• http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-01-19-college-tasks_x.htm

Recent Media StudiesRecent Media Studies

• “A new study based on a series of seven US polls conducted from January through September of this year reveals that before and after the Iraq war, a majority of Americans have had significant misperceptions and these are highly related to support for the war in Iraq.”

• http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/102.php?nid=&id=&pnt=102&lb=brus

• “A new study based on a series of seven US polls conducted from January through September of this year reveals that before and after the Iraq war, a majority of Americans have had significant misperceptions and these are highly related to support for the war in Iraq.”

• http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/102.php?nid=&id=&pnt=102&lb=brus

Misperceptions Support WarMisperceptions Support War

Five Filters in the Propaganda ModelFive Filters in the

Propaganda Model• Concentration of Ownership• Advertising• “Sourcing” the News• Flak• Anti-Communism

• Concentration of Ownership• Advertising• “Sourcing” the News• Flak• Anti-Communism

Concentration of Ownership

Concentration of Ownership

• 20 years ago, 50 companies controlled the vast majority of media resources. Now, it is five. – “These five huge corporations —

• Time Warner,• Disney, (owns ABC) • Murdoch's News Corporation,• Bertelsmann of Germany, and• Viacom (formerly CBS)

– — own most of the newspapers, magazines, books, radio and TV stations, and movie studios of the United States.” http://www.benbagdikian.com/

• 20 years ago, 50 companies controlled the vast majority of media resources. Now, it is five. – “These five huge corporations —

• Time Warner,• Disney, (owns ABC) • Murdoch's News Corporation,• Bertelsmann of Germany, and• Viacom (formerly CBS)

– — own most of the newspapers, magazines, books, radio and TV stations, and movie studios of the United States.” http://www.benbagdikian.com/

AdvertisingAdvertising

• Advertising supports the costs of production for media outlets.

• Outlets not able to attract advertisers are less able to compete.

• Advertisers seek a “buying mood.”

• Advertising supports the costs of production for media outlets.

• Outlets not able to attract advertisers are less able to compete.

• Advertisers seek a “buying mood.”

SourcesSources

• Media outlets attempt to save money and time by relying on readily available sources for news.

• Corporations, politicians and others provide press releases, press conferences and prepared videos for the media.

• Media outlets attempt to save money and time by relying on readily available sources for news.

• Corporations, politicians and others provide press releases, press conferences and prepared videos for the media.

FlakFlak

• People and groups dissatisfied with media coverage will attempt to change coverage through complaints.

– Complaints by pundits and editorial writers– Complaints by organized groups– Complaints by politicians

• People and groups dissatisfied with media coverage will attempt to change coverage through complaints.

– Complaints by pundits and editorial writers– Complaints by organized groups– Complaints by politicians

Anti-CommunismAnti-Communism

• While the authors wrote about the concept of anti-communism, we can see its application today.

• Both the terms “liberal” and “terrorism” are used to dichotomize debate.

– You are either with us, or against us.

• The fear of terrorism is used to promote policies.

• While the authors wrote about the concept of anti-communism, we can see its application today.

• Both the terms “liberal” and “terrorism” are used to dichotomize debate.

– You are either with us, or against us.

• The fear of terrorism is used to promote policies.

OutfoxedOutfoxed• Concentration of Ownership

– How does Murdoch and editors control news through memos?

• Advertising– What is the “Fox Effect” on other networks?

• Sources– Where does Fox get its information, commentators and guests?

• Flak– Shut Up!– Personal Attacks

• Anti-Terrorism

• Concentration of Ownership– How does Murdoch and editors control news through memos?

• Advertising– What is the “Fox Effect” on other networks?

• Sources– Where does Fox get its information, commentators and guests?

• Flak– Shut Up!– Personal Attacks

• Anti-Terrorism

Coming upComing up

• Outfoxed– Applying the Filters of Propaganda

• Outfoxed– Applying the Filters of Propaganda