Our weekly (mostly) look at media spin tactics: let’s dissect the PR and propaganda that aims to blow one’s own horn, bury one’s errors, resurrect the shambling zombie corpses of well-flogged deceased equines, and ooh look! A Big Distracting Thing!
So, what are the talking points being trotted out this week? What do they hope to distract us with? What line do they want us to buy? What have they been sitting on especially to quietly slide out during the normal distractions of our weekend?
Please note – this thread’s just for the analysis of media manoeuvres and their intended effects – discussion of other aspects of issues of interest belongs elsewhere. (If you’re not sure whether there’s been a recent discussion on your particular topic of interest, please check our archive page to search by topic and see a quick list of the 50 most recent posts. Your comment may be more relevant on a recent roundtable, or maybe the latest Open Thread.)
Australia’s voting system is being grossly misrepresented by the poms, according to SL.
Concerning the quality and intellectual honesty of this article in support of the existing negative gearing rules, suffice it to say that comments are not enabled: http://www.theage.com.au/business/a-negative-impression-20110501-1e30g.html .
Why did ABC TV News last night introduce a story on the Governments upcoming budget with a piece to camera from Abbott?
Michael,
You mean they ran a political story that didn’t begin with the phrase:
“The Federal Opposition says…”?
This is bias!!
Jacques, there’s been a long and interesting threadon this at Crooked Timber, too.
Oops, Michael, I Just reread your comment. So they did lead-in the story with the default phrase.
“The Federal Opposition says…”
Situation normal, then, at Their ABC.
Michael, it’s because Tony Abbott is the head of the government (in exile.) There is a bit of an administrative issue that will be sorted by either the Independents, the Governor General (or more likely the press) by late this year.
late Sunday night announcements from the White House, how to say “We have something important to tell you.”
[ahem] Reposted by request:
This bloke was on the radio this morning, doing some rent-seeking: apparently a carbon tax shoiuld be administered by an independant body like the Reserve Bank, so that subsidies loans can be given to trade-exposed industries who are, our Treasurer tells us, “doing it tough”.
Damn! Forgot the strikethrough on “subsidies”.
What? Don’t you know that Obama is a secret Muslim?! The death of Bin Laden was obviously faked! Just like that birth certificate! And the moon landings that were faked by a bogus Republican president — the one who went to China and who said “We are all Keynesians now” — to enhance the memory of a dead Democrat!
Eh, birthers?
(You know, the really scary thing is that when you’re trying to be funny, you have to try so hard to be so ridiculous that you’re sure nobody will think you’re serious.)
ALL DISTRACTION FROM PEAK OIL!!
Osama bin Laden’s compound was so close to a Pakistan military camp that it was almost like Ivan Milat living next door to a police station and never being spotted.
I mean, the guy had to leave the compound sometime, if only to buy milk, or a phone-card for his satalite phone. (They didn’t have the phone on in the compound, and of course Pakistan’s version of the NBN was deemed too expensive and open to rorting, so they dumped it).
We are being spun something here. Could it be that the Pakistan military knew where he was for the last 5 years, and protected his whereabouts, and have, only now decided to release him to the Americans?
But why? Yes, why???
(said while rubbing hands in a manner similar to the professor guy on Lost in Space.)
What we’re being spun is an amazing silence on how BL lived in Pakistan for ten years and was never caught.I just don’t believe the CIA are that inefficient. What we’re also being spun is an attempt to hide the fact before the world that the relationship between the US and Pakistan seems to have broken down. There are several reasons for this that are not spin.
There’s going to quite a bit of spin around this yet to be spun, I reckon.
I have no doubt that there are significant elements within Pakistani society that are fully supportive of radical islamists making it relatively simple to hide the late OBL.
1 in 5, Razor.
Gavin said:
It’s called a “poe”. The trouble is that the internet casts the net so wide that sooner or later, even the most outrageous poe will be deemed by someone as serious.
During a discussion today with a colleague I asked how long he thought it would be before Hollywood has a movie out on the capture/assassination of BL. He thought it would be 6 months but I think they will beat this. I think there would have been script writers on the job last night.
Any takers on who Matt Damon will play?
#19 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/03/3206013.htm
What about the computer game? How long before there’s a call of duty add-on?
Well knock me down with a feather. Even I did not think they would be that quick off the mark. Disappointed Matt Damon isn’t mentioned,
Somehow I can’t see trouble watching it though. I have a problem with overblown triumphalism. Perhaps the title could be “America saves the world, again”.
Aunty has totally given up on the notion of balance over the gloating triumphalism regarding the death of Osama bin Laden.
Seems it was good enough for a front page story in the Oz when it was a made up story but buried in the business section when the emphatic denial is made. I saw this story in the online version of Oz but don’t know if it made into the printed section.
Sorry can’t supply the link as I am still struggling with cut & paste on iPad. Then again maybe better if not linked.
“WESTPAC has rejected claims it is has joined a “carbon revolt” and is now opposed to the Gillard Government’s plan to price pollution.
The bank’s chief executive, Gail Kelly, described a headline in The Australian newspaper yesterday as “fundamentally wrong”.
“It’s quite annoying actually to see a headline like that,” Ms Kelly told ABC Radio.”
Funny piece of spin as Harvey Norman Holdings’ share price continues to collapse.
The voluble retailer is now making press releases claiming the store will become an major online trader.
http://markets.smh.com.au/apps/qt/quote.ac?section=charts&sy=smh&code=HVN#topOfChartsAnchor
Just waiting for the spin on the re-opening of the Manus Island PNG Detention Centre.
Another nail in the Federal ALP electoral coffin.
Bet any announcemnt comes under cover of the Budget Media storm.