The ‘Show-Trial’ of Julian Assange: Where is the outrage?
Julian Assange was subjected to part 1 of his ‘show trial’ last month. Yes, I know that it was officially an ‘extradition hearing’, but it wasn’t…it was a ‘show trial’.
Tag: journalism
2019 -The Post-Mortem
As we enter a new year of political uncertainty and economic instability, what better time to assemble a cast of renegade thinkers to rake over the wreckage of the previous year.
Corporate Media Bust Your Trust
The relationship between the media and its audience is driven by only one thing – trust. But that relationship today is strained because much of the mainstream or corporate media still think that they have a monopoly on the truth. The indomitable 24 hour news cycle was launched so broadcasters could continue to control the […]
How Fake News Perpetuates Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism is a toxic economic dogma that has serious social and political consequences. In Britain and the US, mainstream media have a long record of selling neoliberalism to the public and political lawmakers. Recall Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s slogan, “There is no alternative” (TINA). As I document in my new book, Real Fake News (Red Pill Press), elites throughout history have always used information to control the thoughts and actions of the public. But the modern project has stretched itself to the limit, and people are starting to say No.
The not-so-free press
George Orwell famously said journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations. In a world festooned with PR exercises and reputation management, was Mr Orwell overly cynical, or was he well ahead of his time? With print media’s business model in free fall, newspaper proprietors are increasingly desperate to find ways to ensure financial viability. The problem with this approach is that corporate interests can and often do trump the interests of readers. Joining us to discuss how free the UK press really is are the lecturer in journalism and media studies at Birkbeck College, Justin Schlosberg, and the editor of Open Media at openDemocracy, James Cusick.