Hooray for our Independent Media!

pro.pa.gan.da (noun): The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.

free.speech (noun): The right to express any opinion in public without censorship or restraint.

Source: American Heritage Dictonary

"We must remain careful not to focus excessively on the casualties and hardships in Afghanistan that will inevitably be a part of this war.... Each and every report from inside should be buttoned up by our anchor with some comment along the following lines: ‘We must keep in mind, after seeing reports like this from Taliban-controlled areas, that the Taliban regime in Afghanistan continues to harbor terrorists who have praised the September 11 attacks that killed close to 5,000 innocent people in the U.S.' "

- Memo from CNN chief Walter Isaacson to CNN and Headline News reporters regarding the coverage of civilian casualties

"I want to make sure we're not used as a propaganda platform."

- CNN chief Walter Isaacson, interview, 10/31/01

Wonder why this news empire doesn't trust you to come to your own conclusions? Ask CNN!
"The way I conceive my job running a news organization, and the way I would like all the journalists at ABC News to perceive it, is there is a big difference between a normative position and a positive position. Our job is to determine what is, not what ought to be, and when we get into the job of what ought to be, I think we're not doing a service to the American people."

-ABC News President David Westin, in colloquium at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism

"I was wrong.... I apologize for any harm that my misstatement may have caused."

-ABC News President David Westin, 10/31/01

10/23/01: ABC announces it will air prime-time special, "Young America Celebrates West Point." In conjunction with this event, ABC News programs Nightline and Good Morning America will air a series of spots entitled "West Point Minute." The goal of the program: to increase military recruitment.

In return for all these favors, ABC News and its broadcast affiliates receive $25 million.

To thank ABC News for its clear commitment to professionalism and journalistic integrity, click here, but be ready for a pop-up advertisement selling flags that shouts "These colors don't run!"
"In times of war, the media should lower our voices, modulate our tone. Yes, we are journalists, but we are also Americans.... We must always reject any attempt to suggest a moral equivalency between the United States of America and the terrorists."

- Tim Russert, host, NBC's Meet the Press, 10/26/01

To help Mr. Russert recapture the meaning of "objectivity," visit nbc news' discussion boards and give him an earful while your free speech lasts.
"I'm taking this site down for the time being because of events..."

- Citizentwain, operator of toostupidtobepresident.com, upon concluding that:

  1. George W. Bush really isn't too stupid to be President after all, so forget all I wrote, or
  2. George W. Bush is still too stupid to be President, but now we all have to pretend and cross our fingers and hope he doesn't get us into a bigger mess, or
  3. It wasn't worth it to continue expressing a newly unpopular point of view.

Had enough? We didn't think so. Return to Magniloquence Against War and engage in more treasonous consideration of pacifist pinko rhetoric.

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