By Sam Frescoe
http://samfrescoeproject.blogspot.com/
#SamFrescoe
#discourse #news #media
#war #fakenews #press
#SunTzu #freedom #ideas
Introduction
I believe in keeping abreast of current events. I find value
in being aware of the happenings within my community and the American discourse.
To that end, I leverage online news resources to help me locate stories that I
may want to review. Of course, not all online news resources are created equal.
However, out of respect for the massive volume of information available
day-to-day, I choose to monitor several preferred sites.
Recently one of those sites presented a headline that
captured my attention. In this case, the link took me to an opinion piece
titled “The
War on ‘Fake News’ is About Censoring Real News” that was authored by Karol
Markowicz and published by the New York Times on 4 Dec 2016. The article
presents an interesting hypothesis: the left is attempting to “designate
anything outside its ideological bubble as suspect on its face.” According to
the author, the purpose of this behavior is to significantly reduce the
presentation of opposing viewpoints within the American discourse.
As constrained by the rhetorical
choices of the author, it seems clear that “the left” refers to a group or
party favoring liberal, socialist, or radical
views.
While the content of the article did not surprise me, I did
find the “war” characterization to be thought provoking. – Could an
understanding of war be useful to better understand news media behavior?
So What?
Why should The People care about news media behavior at
all? – Answer: If freedom of the press is under attack, then the American
Way of Life is under attack.
In order to prevent misconstruction
or abuse of Government powers[1],
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press.[2]
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press.[2]
For a freedom-loving people to remain free, then the ability
to advance, diffuse, communicate, and unite around honorable ideas must be
protected. This is a timeless principle that keys on the presence of “freedom-loving
people” only; and, while the ways and means of the press have changed over the
past 240+ years, the underlying necessity for protecting such a freedom remains
unchanged.
“Congress is supposed to provide
oversight, the voters are supposed to provide oversight. And you [the media]
were supposed to provide oversight. That's why you have special liberties and
that's why you have special protections.” – Representative Trey Gowdy (R-SC),
October 2013
“The last right we shall mention
regards the freedom of the press. The importance of this consists, besides the
advancement of truth, science, morality, and arts in general, in its diffusion
of liberal sentiments on the administration of Government, its ready
communication of thoughts between subjects, and its consequential promotion of
union among them, whereby oppressive officers are shamed or intimidated into
more honorable and just modes of conducting affairs.” – First Continental
Congress in 1774
Why should The People better understand the behavior of
the news media? – Answer: Due to the highly trusted position held by the
Press, if the news media does not perform its intended functions, then that
dysfunction presents a clear and present danger to the wellbeing of The People.
In fact, The People, even before they were known as Americans, understood this
condition as a danger to themselves and their way of life.
“The liberty of the press is not
stipulated for, and therefore may be invaded at pleasure.” – Antifederalist #15
“And finally we shall henceforth
and forever leave all power, authority and dominion over our persons and
properties in the hands of the well born, who were designed by Providence to
govern. And in regard to the liberty of the press, we renounce all claim to it
forever more, Amen; and we shall in future be perfectly contented if our
tongues be left us to lick the feet of our well born masters.” – Antifederalist
#27
“I might proceed to instance a
number of other rights, which were as necessary to be reserved, such as, that
elections should be free, that the liberty of the press should be held sacred.”
– Antifederalist #84
My Intent
Given the rise of aggressive media, coupled with the
increase in dogmatic ideologies, I believe understanding the behavior of the
Press is critically important. In other words, because information (true/false,
subjective/objective, opinion/fact) is readily available, the duty of The
People to possess a framework for critical thinking is vitally important;
otherwise, the few will have a mechanism to unjustly manipulate the many.
It is my intention to briefly examine the media news
industry in America through a “purpose of war” lens in order to better
understand industry behavior. Given the nature of this blog, I will not attempt
to fully unpack this subject. However, I will attempt to gouge the surface a
bit.
Framing
Composition of the News Media – The modern news media
is a conglomeration of competing businesses, an industry, which garners patrons
to consume their products. Because this is a competition-based,
consumption-driven industry, there are known actors, limited resources, and a
marketplace.
- Actors, generally, fall into one of three categories: providers, consumers, and regulators. Providers include fiduciary decision-making groups, researchers and developers, and those that contribute to realizing products at the point of use. Consumers include purchasers, sellers, and bystanders. Regulators include watchdogs, industry supervisors, and government officials.
- Resources are scarce. Because industry participants compete, it is assumed that resources are limited. Otherwise, there would not be an incentive to compete.
- The news media marketplace permeates the whole of American society. Its purpose is to facilitate and enable the American marketplace of ideas.
Composition of a War – All wars are comprised of actors
that are willing to employ violence, hostility, or unrest to achieve a more
favorable level of control over resources within an area of operation.
- Actors, generally, include aggressors, defenders, and bystanders. Aggressors desire to obtain control of resources. Defenders desire to maintain control of resources. Bystanders desire to remain neutral.
- Resources, real or perceived, reflect the societies and cultures involved. Resources can be broadly categorized as follows: causes/gains, effects/results, technology/knowledge, persons/societies, and/or influence/sentiment.
- An area of operation is an operational space defined by an actor for the purpose of combat and non-combat activities.
Composition of a News Media War – In my view, this
type of war is comprised of actors that are willing to employ violence,
hostility, or unrest across a spectrum of ideas to achieve a more favorable
arrangement of resources within the marketplace of ideas.
- Actors may include media providers, media consumers, and marketplace regulators. Each of these actors may operate as an aggressor, defender, or bystander at any given time.
- The marketplace of ideas is characterized by the following attributes: freedom of expression, competitive free-market, and primacy of truth.
- The resources of this marketplace are generally categorized as causes/gains, effects/results, technology/knowledge, persons/societies, or influence/sentiment.
What is the purpose of a news media war?
The study of the purpose of war is extensive and spans many
centuries. Therefore, in order to limit the discussion, I’ve elected to touch
on the thoughts of a well-respected philosopher of war: Sun Tzu (an ancient warrior
and commanding general).
According to Sun Tzu the purpose of war is to advance the
goals of the state. In other words, the needs, wants, or desires of a nation,
tribe, or dynasty are perceived to be sufficiently valuable as to warrant the
use of force against an opposing nation, tribe, or dynasty.
- State – In my view, Sun Tzu seems to understand the term “state” as a nation, tribe, or dynasty. For the purposes of this discussion, it is assumed that the breadth and depth of “tribe” and “competing business” are sufficiently similar.
- Goals – State “goals” are the objectives, aims, and ends deemed valuable by the state, or the “competing business.” Goals are generally defined as an idea, resource, or combination of an idea and resource. For the purposes of this discussion, identified ideas and resources (each intersection representing a goal) are arranged in the table below.
|
Resource
|
Idea
|
||
|
Freedom of
Expression
|
Competitive
Free-Market
|
Primacy of Truth
|
|
|
Societies/Cultures
|
Goals – Objectives,
Aims, Ends
|
||
|
Causes/Gains
|
|||
|
Effects/Results
|
|||
|
Technology/Knowledge
|
|||
|
Persons/Societies
|
|||
|
Influence/Sentiment
|
|||
In summary, relative to the news media, Sun Tzu’s
observation about war could be restated as follows: the purpose of war is employ
violence, hostility, or unrest in order to realize the objectives, aims, and
ends of a particular competing news media interest or group of interests.
Leveraging the News Media War Theory
Option-1: Media Goals
The news media war theory can
inform the user to better understand or explain media goals. News media goals
are often expressed as narratives, bias, or patterns of reporting.
- Step-1:
State the goal as an objective, aim, or end (a purpose, point, intention,
ambition, wish, or result). There may be more than one goal.
- Step-2:
For each goal, state the resources involved, and estimate the depth of their
involvement. There may be multiple resources involved.
- Step-3:
For each goal, select and prioritize the influencing ideas.
- Step-4:
For each goal, identify the news media interest or group of interests. An
interest may be an individual, a major corporation, a regulating body, or any
variation in between.
- Repeat
these steps as often as needed, wanted, or desired.
Option-2: Figureheads in the Media
The news media war theory can
inform the user to better understand or explain how influential leaders inspire
action. Inspiration in the news media is often expressed as a belief: a
statement of faith (not exclusively religious), conviction, principle, or
certainty.
- Step-1:
State the belief of the actor/actors. – For example, it seems that (a
particular actor or actors) believes in __________. There may be multiple
combinations of actors and beliefs.
- Step-2:
For each actor/belief combination, state the resources under the influence of
the actor or actors. – For example, that (a particular actor or actors)
provides __________. There may be multiple resources involved.
- Step-3:
For each actor/belief combination, identify and prioritize the ideas being
influenced. – For example, it happens that (a particular actor or actors)
affects/sways ________.
- Repeat
these steps as often as needed, wanted, or desired.
It is understood and accepted that a single theory cannot
fully explain the full range of dynamics present within the news media.
However, this theory is offered as a starting framework for better
understanding the behavior of the news media in America.
Sun Tzu Revisited
Sun Tzu issued a warning I believe is applicable to the news
media war theory, “All war is deception. You must ignore the noise and focus of
the move.” – Because the nature of war is violent, hostile, and disturbing, the
conduct of war must be tailored to be palatable to society. Thus, measures of deception
should be expected.
-
Deception assumes many forms.
- Pretext (an excuse, ploy, or ruse) – Examples: red-herring, stacked evidence, false authority; opinions cited as facts; rhetorical choice
- Fraud (an swindle, deceit, or counterfeit) – Examples: fake news; tabloids; racketeering; criminality
- Ruse (an trick, subterfuge, or plot) – Examples: subterfuge; dodge; denial of individual factors to spare collective reputations; failure to inquire
- Trickery (an deceit or treachery) – Examples: false evidence; opinion presented as fact; misrepresenting historical fact; circular thinking; false logic; using a claim as evidence
- Dishonesty (an lying or corruption) – Examples: misrepresentation; quoting out of context; altering fit/form/function of information
-
Noise varies in intensity.
- Overemphasis of celebrity, sports, and false flags
- Silence on an issue, event, or period of time
- Uproar for a subjective grievance
- Primacy of one issue or event overshadowing another or others
-
A “move” is any shift, realignment,
repositioning, or change in ideas, resources, and/or goals.
Going Forward – A Solution
This cannot be overstated.
“The last right we shall mention
regards the freedom of the press. The importance of this consists, besides the
advancement of truth, science, morality, and arts in general, in its diffusion
of liberal sentiments on the administration of Government, its ready
communication of thoughts between subjects, and its consequential promotion of
union among them, whereby oppressive officers are shamed or intimidated into
more honorable and just modes of conducting affairs.” – First Continental
Congress in 1774
To the members of the news media, the Press, you are entrusted
with what is good, true, and beautiful. To that end, you were set apart and
given special protections.
Do your job…properly.
Do your job…properly.
In order to prevent misconstruction
or abuse of Government powers[3],
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press.[4]
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press.[4]
To the citizenry, my fellow Americans, we, The People, are
responsible for the preservation of our Rights. This responsibility cannot be
delegated. The People (the common
masses, not the appointed few) are ideally suited for this critical task.
- We, The People, fight for our Rights, the appointed few do not.
- We, The People, suffer for our Rights, the appointed few do not.
- We, The People, die for our Rights, the appointed few do not.
- We, The People, own our Rights, the appointed few do not.
If we, The People, don’t stand our ground against all
enemies of our Rights, foreign and domestic, then the appointed few will destroy
them to the sound of their own applause.
Thank you. – Sam Frescoe
Your View
Your thoughts and perspectives are important. I invite you
to tell me what you believe with the comment section below or at samfrescoe@gmail.com. Please check out The Sam
Frescoe Project on Facebook.
© 2016 – SamFrescoeProject.Blogspot.com
– All Rights Reserved
[1]
Constitution of the United States, Bill of Rights, Preamble
[2]
Constitution of the United States, First Amendment
[3]
Constitution of the United States, Bill of Rights, Preamble
[4]
Constitution of the United States, First Amendment
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