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THE WEEKLY SPIN, April 19, 2006
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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
== SPIN OF THE DAY ==
1. The Media War and Journalist Thought Crimes
2. Essential2: Better Flacking Through Chemistry
3. U.S. Public Diplomacy Goes South
4. Holy Product Placement, Batman!
5. Crunch Time for School Junk Food?
6. CNN Features Real News About Fake TV News
7. K Street to Get a TM?
8. Public Service or War Propaganda?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
== SPIN OF THE DAY ==
1. THE MEDIA WAR AND JOURNALIST THOUGHT CRIMES
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002345682
"When Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld appeared on Rush
Limbaugh's talk radio show" recently, he made several remarks "on
the subject of press coverage in Iraq" that have mostly escaped
notice, writes Editor and Publisher. Rumsfeld said that "the
terrorists, Zarqawi and bin Laden and Zawahiri, those people have
media committees. They are actively out there trying to manipulate
the press in the United States. ... They're much better at
(laughing) managing those kinds of things than we are." He also
said, "There have been far fewer journalists who have stepped up to
become embedded" with military units in Iraq. One reporter told
Rumsfeld that the perception was that embedded journalists "were
really part of the problem." Rumsfeld commented, "I think that's an
inexcusable thought."
SOURCE: Editor and Publisher, April 18, 2006
For more information or to comment on this story, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/node/4739
2. ESSENTIAL2: BETTER FLACKING THROUGH CHEMISTRY
http://www.prweek.com/us/features/article/554052/Honeywell+sees+wisdom+joint+effort+Nobel+Media/
Working with Ogilvy PR, the American Chemistry Council (ACC)
launched its "Essential2" PR campaign last year, "to reposition the
$550 billion industry as not only imperative, but advantageous to
all aspects of modern life." Essential2 includes "national cable TV
spots, print ads, and a policymaker education program." PR Week
profiles the campaign's outreach to chemical company employees. ACC
named "campaign coordinators at each of its 129 member companies"
and provided them with "articles on topics ranging from chemistry's
role in preventing house fires to keeping NASCAR drivers safe." ACC
also designed an online "employee ambassador" kit with tips on "how
to discuss the benefits of chemistry, write educational letters to
the editor, contact government officials, and generate school and
community group speaking opportunities." ACC members include Dow
Corning, Bayer, DuPont and Carus Chemical, which hosted an employee
ice cream social where "ACC's MTV-style motivational video screened
as entertainment."
SOURCE: PR Week (sub req'd), April 17, 2006
For more information or to comment on this story, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/node/4738
3. U.S. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY GOES SOUTH
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/14368770.htm
The U.S. State Department's Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy,
Karen Hughes, has "launched a campaign to make her government
simpatico" to Latin America. Last month, Hughes visited Brazil,
Panama, El Salvador, Chile and Colombia. She wants to make U.S. aid
in the region "more visible and higher profile." Latin American
countries are receiving "more money for student and youth exchange
programs, as part of a worldwide effort to bring young people into
the United States." Hughes explained, "I'm focused particularly on
young people and those who influence them." Other changes include
adding eight regional public diplomacy officers, "to write up press
releases, manage cultural and student exchanges and attend speaking
events," and using the State Department's "rapid-response unit" to
help ambassadors respond to breaking news. A recent poll found
"three out of every five Latin Americans distrust the United
States."
SOURCE: Miami Herald, April 18, 2006
For more information or to comment on this story, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/node/4737
4. HOLY PRODUCT PLACEMENT, BATMAN!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114532350031828284.html?mod=todays_us_marketplace
"Product placement has become commonplace in movies and TV shows.
Now it's coming to comic books -- in part because the industry's two
giants, DC and Marvel, are promoting some of their titles as places
to reach one of Madison Avenue's most elusive audiences: guys in
their 20s," reports Brian Steinberg. DC Comics' new miniseries,
called "Rush City," will have "visible promotional support from
General Motors Corp.'s Pontiac." The series' hero will drive a
Pontiac Solstice. Marvel Entertainment "has begun putting the
'swoosh' logo from Nike Inc. in the scenes of some of its titles,
such as 'New X-Men.' So far, the emblem has appeared on a car door
and on a character's T-shirt." Marvel also signed a deal with
DaimlerChrysler, in which the new Dodge Caliber may be featured in
their comic books' cityscapes, "on billboards, T-shirts or signs
over the next four to eight months."
SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), April 18, 2006
For more information or to comment on this story, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/node/4736
5. CRUNCH TIME FOR SCHOOL JUNK FOOD?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0604140127apr14,1,6207503,print.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), a frequent proponent of
legislation protecting children, is now taking on a formidable
opponent: the snack industry. Matthew Chayes reports that Harkin has
introduced legislation that would tighten the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) definition for "foods of minimal nutritional
value." Harken wants USDA guidelines to limit saturated fat, trans
fat, added sugar and other bad stuff in schools, instead of
filtering foods by their nutrients. Aside from advocating voluntary
guidlines, industry groups like the Center for Consumer Freedom say
the problem isn't the food, it's the kids and parents. Industry
consultant Lisa Katic told the Tribune, "The industry's not going to
support a bill that's not showing results." She added that children
need more pushups, not less fat or sugar. Kelly Brownell, director
of the Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders, told the New
York Times that he fears "that the food industry, with the soft
drink industry taking the lead, will work its hardest to weaken or
kill this act."
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, April 14, 2006
For more information or to comment on this story, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/node/4735
6. CNN FEATURES REAL NEWS ABOUT FAKE TV NEWS
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/reliable.sources/
Our groundbreaking exposé "Fake TV News: Widespread and
Undisclosed" continues to make waves. Dan Price, co-author of the
report with CMD's Diane Farsetta, was interviewed Sunday, April 16,
by Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post on his CNN Reliable Sources
program. Federal Communications Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein was
also interviewed and pledged bipartisan action from the FCC. Dan
Price is a CMD research consultant and novelist who has his own
website. If you click here you can view on Dan's site his appearance
on CNN' s Reliable Sources. It's some of the best news you will ever
watch and yes, it is real. Our colleagues at Free Press have made it
easy for you to contact the FCC to ask the agency to investigate
this abuse of the public airwaves and to penalize stations that
break the law by deceiving their audiences with undisclosed fake
news. Act today, and ask five friends to do the same.
SOURCE: CNN's Reliable Sources, April 16, 2006
For more information or to comment on this story, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/node/4734
7. K STREET TO GET A TM?
http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/041206/news2.html
While "most other Republicans" are avoiding the phrase K Street
Project, following lobbyist Jack Abramoff's January agreement to
plead guilty to corruption charges, Grover Norquist is seeking to
trademark it. Norquist's organization, Americans for Tax Reform,
runs the project as what he describes as "an innocuous list of job
openings for Washington lobbyists and a database of lobbyists'
political ties and federal campaign contributions. The lists are
circulated among high-level conservatives, with critics calling the
efforts an improper 'whitelisting' and 'blacklisting' of potential
hires," reports The Hill. Norquist says the K Street Project, which
he founded in 1989, has been wrongly described as "a nefarious
practice of Republican lawmakers pressuring groups to hire
right-leaning employees." Trademarking the phrase will allow
conservatives to "jealously guard the real phrasing" and to "sue
anyone who says it wrong and make lots of money," explained
Norquist.
SOURCE: The Hill, April 12, 2006
For more information or to comment on this story, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/node/4733
8. PUBLIC SERVICE OR WAR PROPAGANDA?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/08/BUGROI5SPN1.DTL&hw=propaganda&sn=001&sc=1000
In early April, "a public-service advertising campaign began ...
encouraging Americans to show support for American troops." The San
Francisco Chronicle asks, "Is it a genuine message of gratitude or
poorly designed advocacy for the war in Iraq?" The non-profit
Advertising Council designed the print, radio and online ads for the
U.S. Defense Department. The spots direct people to the Department's
"America Supports You" website. Some marketing professionals "said
they believe the message crosses into partisan territory." The
founder of Venables, Bell & Partners remarked, "I feel the war
propaganda machine." Ad Council president Ellis Verdi rejected the
criticism, saying, "What's important is that these are 18-year-old
human beings, Americans, who are under stress." The Ad Council was
formed in 1942, to increase support for World War II; its campaigns
from that time include Rosie the Riveter and "Loose Lips Sink
Ships."
SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle, April 8, 2006
For more information or to comment on this story, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/node/4732
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Thursday, April 20, 2006
Here is a copy of Grist which is a daily eco newsletter digging up the dirt on the dirty guys. Look at this issue and if you'd like you could subscribe for free delivery to your own machine if you wanted to.
Thursday, 20 Apr 2006
It's Like Chile, Only Wider
Haven't entered our Great Peru Giveaway yet? What are you waiting for? Sign up today and you could win an eco-trip for two to this lush South American nation.
ADVERTISEMENT
NEW IN GRIST
It's All in the List
Our list of environmental goodies, oddities, and inanities
We thought about being earnest this Earth Day -- compiling some sort of inspiring list of in-the-trenches eco-heroes who need recognition and encouragement -- but then we remembered: we're Grist. So we bring you instead a capricious rundown of our favorite highs, lows, and wacky bits of the last year. Who's the hottest eco-model? The mustachiest geo-green? What's the kinkiest eco-innovation? The most self-defeating anti-Kyoto argument? Survey our superlatives to find out, then add your own ideas in Gristmill.
new in Main Dish: It's All in the List
new in Gristmill: It's All in the List
One for the Record Books, If They Survive the Floods
U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions hit record high
This week, the feds quietly -- as in, tiptoeing in socks, holding breath -- released annual stats on U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions, as required by the U.N. climate-change convention. The news is roughly as good as you would expect: The U.S., with only 5 percent of the world's population, is its biggest GHG polluter; emissions rose 1.7 percent between 2003 and 2004, the biggest increase since 2000, part of a 15.8 percent rise since 1990; in 2004, the U.S. spewed the equivalent of 6.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide. Not surprisingly, fossil-fuel combustion was responsible for the bulk (94 percent) of the emissions. Demand for electricity in the U.S. keeps on rising, as does the number of cars on the road. Said U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson: "[T]he U.S. is making significant progress toward the president's greenhouse-gas reduction goals." Said us: What the hell are you talking about?
straight to the source: The Independent, Steve Connor, 19 Apr 2006
straight to the source: Environment News Service, 18 Apr 2006
discuss in Gristmill: EPA releases new report on greenhouse-gas emissions
NEW IN GRIST
We're So Vain, We Think This Party's About Us
A dispatch from the launch party for Vanity Fair's green issue
In case you haven't noticed, we're pretty dang excited that our own Chip Giller made the glossy green pages of the latest issue of Vanity Fair. And Vanity Fair's pretty excited to exclaim to the world that they're turning an environmental corner. This week, they did that by hosting a swank soiree at a luxury home-goods store ... but hey. One step at a time. Emily Gertz was there, and dishes the dirt on the beautiful people.
new in Dispatches: We're So Vain, We Think This Party's About Us
see also, in Gristmill: Vanity Fair green issue
Knock, Knock. Hu's There.
Oil issue looms as Chinese prez visits White House
Buying oil from unsavory regimes, thus ensuring their grip on power. Attempting to lock up oil supplies to increase geopolitical influence. Growing heedlessly and unsustainably, polluting the air and water. These are the kinds of behaviors the world can no longer tolerate from ... China. Wait, whaaa? Seriously: During Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the White House today, President Bush was expected to lecture him about oil. You see, the U.S. doesn't appreciate China's "mercantilist" policy of buying oil from places like Sudan, Burma, and, most significantly, Iran, with no heed for those countries' geopolitical misbehavior. The U.S. is attempting to build international support for economic sanctions against Iran over its budding nuclear program, and China could potentially stymie those plans. Bush planned to encourage Hu to get on board about Iran, quit buying oil from suspect regimes, and concentrate on energy efficiency. Hu planned to teach Bush the Chinese terms for "pot," "kettle," and "black."
straight to the source: The Globe and Mail, Barrie McKenna, 20 Apr 2006
straight to the source: The New York Times, David E. Sanger, 19 Apr 2006
Death Rides a Slightly Less Pale Horse
Climate change may not totally wipe out the human species
In what passes for good news on global warming these days, a new study has determined that climate sensitivity -- the extent to which climate will react to increased greenhouse-gas levels -- is likely within the mid-range of predictions. That means an atmospheric doubling of GHG levels, which everyone expects, will raise the global average temperature between roughly 2.5 and 8 degrees -- not the wacky 16-degree jump some had warned of. "This still commits us to quite a bit of climate change, but it leaves the door open to avoiding the largest and most devastating consequences," said lead researcher Gabriele C. Hegerl. Of course, a rise of 7 or 8 degrees in global average temperature will ensure massive storms, droughts, and sea-level rises, sufficient to hobble human society. But a 16-degree rise would be much more likely to wipe us out entirely. So, um ... we have a chance of maybe surviving! Who says the media never reports the good news?
straight to the source: The Washington Post, Rick Weiss, 20 Apr 2006
Thursday, 20 Apr 2006
It's Like Chile, Only Wider
Haven't entered our Great Peru Giveaway yet? What are you waiting for? Sign up today and you could win an eco-trip for two to this lush South American nation.
ADVERTISEMENT
NEW IN GRIST
It's All in the List
Our list of environmental goodies, oddities, and inanities
We thought about being earnest this Earth Day -- compiling some sort of inspiring list of in-the-trenches eco-heroes who need recognition and encouragement -- but then we remembered: we're Grist. So we bring you instead a capricious rundown of our favorite highs, lows, and wacky bits of the last year. Who's the hottest eco-model? The mustachiest geo-green? What's the kinkiest eco-innovation? The most self-defeating anti-Kyoto argument? Survey our superlatives to find out, then add your own ideas in Gristmill.
new in Main Dish: It's All in the List
new in Gristmill: It's All in the List
One for the Record Books, If They Survive the Floods
U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions hit record high
This week, the feds quietly -- as in, tiptoeing in socks, holding breath -- released annual stats on U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions, as required by the U.N. climate-change convention. The news is roughly as good as you would expect: The U.S., with only 5 percent of the world's population, is its biggest GHG polluter; emissions rose 1.7 percent between 2003 and 2004, the biggest increase since 2000, part of a 15.8 percent rise since 1990; in 2004, the U.S. spewed the equivalent of 6.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide. Not surprisingly, fossil-fuel combustion was responsible for the bulk (94 percent) of the emissions. Demand for electricity in the U.S. keeps on rising, as does the number of cars on the road. Said U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson: "[T]he U.S. is making significant progress toward the president's greenhouse-gas reduction goals." Said us: What the hell are you talking about?
straight to the source: The Independent, Steve Connor, 19 Apr 2006
straight to the source: Environment News Service, 18 Apr 2006
discuss in Gristmill: EPA releases new report on greenhouse-gas emissions
NEW IN GRIST
We're So Vain, We Think This Party's About Us
A dispatch from the launch party for Vanity Fair's green issue
In case you haven't noticed, we're pretty dang excited that our own Chip Giller made the glossy green pages of the latest issue of Vanity Fair. And Vanity Fair's pretty excited to exclaim to the world that they're turning an environmental corner. This week, they did that by hosting a swank soiree at a luxury home-goods store ... but hey. One step at a time. Emily Gertz was there, and dishes the dirt on the beautiful people.
new in Dispatches: We're So Vain, We Think This Party's About Us
see also, in Gristmill: Vanity Fair green issue
Knock, Knock. Hu's There.
Oil issue looms as Chinese prez visits White House
Buying oil from unsavory regimes, thus ensuring their grip on power. Attempting to lock up oil supplies to increase geopolitical influence. Growing heedlessly and unsustainably, polluting the air and water. These are the kinds of behaviors the world can no longer tolerate from ... China. Wait, whaaa? Seriously: During Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the White House today, President Bush was expected to lecture him about oil. You see, the U.S. doesn't appreciate China's "mercantilist" policy of buying oil from places like Sudan, Burma, and, most significantly, Iran, with no heed for those countries' geopolitical misbehavior. The U.S. is attempting to build international support for economic sanctions against Iran over its budding nuclear program, and China could potentially stymie those plans. Bush planned to encourage Hu to get on board about Iran, quit buying oil from suspect regimes, and concentrate on energy efficiency. Hu planned to teach Bush the Chinese terms for "pot," "kettle," and "black."
straight to the source: The Globe and Mail, Barrie McKenna, 20 Apr 2006
straight to the source: The New York Times, David E. Sanger, 19 Apr 2006
Death Rides a Slightly Less Pale Horse
Climate change may not totally wipe out the human species
In what passes for good news on global warming these days, a new study has determined that climate sensitivity -- the extent to which climate will react to increased greenhouse-gas levels -- is likely within the mid-range of predictions. That means an atmospheric doubling of GHG levels, which everyone expects, will raise the global average temperature between roughly 2.5 and 8 degrees -- not the wacky 16-degree jump some had warned of. "This still commits us to quite a bit of climate change, but it leaves the door open to avoiding the largest and most devastating consequences," said lead researcher Gabriele C. Hegerl. Of course, a rise of 7 or 8 degrees in global average temperature will ensure massive storms, droughts, and sea-level rises, sufficient to hobble human society. But a 16-degree rise would be much more likely to wipe us out entirely. So, um ... we have a chance of maybe surviving! Who says the media never reports the good news?
straight to the source: The Washington Post, Rick Weiss, 20 Apr 2006