Facebook, fake news and Donald Trump’s election
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- Date published:
9:33 am, December 26th, 2016 - 72 comments
Categories: International, making shit up, Media, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, us politics, you couldn't make this shit up -
Tags: donald trump, facebook
In a year of many political surprises the election of the Donald must rank at the top of the unexpected list.
How did he do it? How after a string of embarrassing revelations, little funding and after most of the senior Republican party including living Republican Presidents stating they would not support him did he get over the line?
One theory is that it had a lot to do with his Facebook campaigning. He may have been pilloried in the press, had no on the ground campaign, and lost the popular vote but the result points to either incredible good luck or impressive and effective targeted campaigning using that medium.
Facebook is an interesting campaign tool. I used it quite a bit for local campaigning this year. The problems with general political posts are self evident, it becomes clear that there are bubbles of mostly similar thinking friends and acquaintances liking your profound thoughts but there is little initial cut through to other groups of people. The posts that worked best were those on local issues that received attention on community pages. And all news is treated of equal quality. The more extreme and newsworthy the more clicks.
Facebook also has a sophisticated way of driving impressions to selected users, and potential permutations include age, geography, links to friends and interests. With a degree of surgical precision paid advertising can be delivered to all sorts of different groups and individuals.
Trump clearly had a two pronged approach. One prong was aimed at depressing turnout of Clinton supporters. From a post by Joel Winston:
“We have three major voter suppression operations under way,” a senior Trump official explained to reporters from BusinessWeek. They’re aimed at three groups Clinton needs to win overwhelmingly: idealistic white liberals, young women, and African Americans.”
The goal was to depress Hillary Clinton’s vote total. “We know because we’ve modeled this,” the senior Trump official said. “It will dramatically affect her ability to turn these people out.”
For example, Trump’s digital team created a South Park-style animation of Hillary Clinton delivering the “super predator” line (using audio from her original 1996 sound bite), as cartoon text popped up around her: “Hillary Thinks African Americans are Super Predators.” Then, Trump’s animated “super predator” political advertisement was delivered to certain African American voters via Facebook “dark posts” — nonpublic paid posts shown only to the Facebook users that Trump chose.
And this aspect of the campaign worked. Turnout for Clinton was demonstrably lower than the turnout for Obama.
On Election Day, Democratic turnout in battleground was surprisingly weak, especially among sporadic and first-time voters. David Plouffe, manager of President Obama’s 2008 campaign, noted that, “in Detroit, Mrs. Clinton received roughly 70,000 votes fewer than Mr. Obama did in 2012; she lost Michigan by just 12,000 votes. In Milwaukee County in Wisconsin, she received roughly 40,000 votes fewer than Mr. Obama did, and she lost the state by just 27,000. In Cuyahoga County, Ohio, turnout in majority African-American precincts was down 11 percent from four years ago.”
Trump’s presidential election victory is the most successful digital voter suppression operation in American history. The secret weapons in Trump’s digital arsenal were Project Alamo, his database of 220 million people in the United States, and the Facebook Advertising Platform. By leveraging Facebook’s sophisticated advertising tools, including Facebook Dark Posts, Facebook Audience-Targeting, and Facebook Custom Audiences from Customer Lists, the Trump campaign was able to secretly target Hillary Clinton’s supporters and covertly discourage them from going to the polls to vote.
Trump also used Facebook to expand the list of supporters and raise money as well as support. Again from Winston:
To start, [head of of Trump’s digital operation Brad] Parscale uploaded the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of known Trump supporters into the Facebook advertising platform. Next, Parscale used Facebook’s “Custom Audiences from Customer Lists” to match these real people with their virtual Facebook profiles. With Facebook’s “Audience Targeting Options” feature, ads can be targeted to people based on their Facebook activity, ethic affinity, or “location and demographics like age, gender and interests. You can even target your ad to people based on what they do off of Facebook.”
Parscale then expanded Trump’s pool of targeted Facebook users using “Lookalike Audiences”, a powerful data tool that automatically found other people on Facebook with “common qualities” that “look like” known Trump supporters. Finally, Parscale used Facebook’s “Brand Lift” survey capabilities to measure the success of the ads.
And to increase further the level of unease Team Trump created a database with the unusual name of Project Alamo which contains up to 4 to 5,000 data points on 220 million Americans and let them target the different audiences with precision. From Joshua Green at Bloomberg:
Although his operation lags previous campaigns in many areas (its ground game, television ad buys, money raised from large donors), it’s excelled at one thing: building an audience. Powered by Project Alamo and data supplied by the RNC and Cambridge Analytica, his team is spending $70 million a month, much of it to cultivate a universe of millions of fervent Trump supporters, many of them reached through Facebook. By Election Day, the campaign expects to have captured 12 million to 14 million e-mail addresses and contact information (including credit card numbers) for 2.5 million small-dollar donors, who together will have ponied up almost $275 million. “I wouldn’t have come aboard, even for Trump, if I hadn’t known they were building this massive Facebook and data engine,” says Bannon. “Facebook is what propelled Breitbart to a massive audience. We know its power.”
Since Trump paid to build this audience with his own campaign funds, he alone will own it after Nov. 8 and can deploy it to whatever purpose he chooses. He can sell access to other campaigns or use it as the basis for a 2020 presidential run. It could become the audience for a Trump TV network. As Bannon puts it: “Trump is an entrepreneur.”
A great deal has been written about the use of fake news particularly on Facebook feeds and the effect this had on perceptions of the candidates. Unbelievable stories such as the Pope had endorsed Trump, or Hillary Clinton had a romantic relationship with Yoko Ono in the 1970s found their way onto people’s feeds. But there may have been a simple explanation for the proliferation of these stories and the associated websites unconnected to Trump’s political ambitions and caused purely by human greed and its motivation on a bunch of teenagers in a small village in Macedonia. From Jonathan Vankin on Buzzfeed:
… the [fake news] sites in Macedonia are run mostly by teenagers looking to turn a quick buck. While U.S. publishers struggle to build revenue streams from Facebook shares and search engine clicks, the small amounts of money paid by those sources can be substantial in a struggling economy such as Macedonia’s.
The Macedonian teens interviewed by BuzzFeed earlier experimented with fake or often plagiarized stories about Bernie Sanders, but found that even Sanders with his devoted cult following did not generate the same level of traffic as Trump.
“People in America prefer to read news about Trump,” the 16-year-old proprietor of pro-Trump site BVANews.com told BuzzFeed.
While not all stories even on the Macedonian sites are flatly false, BuzzFeed found that false stories on average generated significantly more internet “clicks” than accurate news stories. A false story claiming that Clinton in 2013 had described Trump as “honest and can’t be bought” generated 480,000 Facebook shares, comments and reactions in one week — compared to the New York Times bombshell revealing that Trump had likely paid no income tax since 1995, which produced 175,000 Facebook engagements.
And how and why did it work? Paul Horner a fake news veteran gave this very clear description of the current state of affairs. From the Washington Post:
Honestly, people are definitely dumber. They just keep passing stuff around. Nobody fact-checks anything anymore — I mean, that’s how Trump got elected. He just said whatever he wanted, and people believed everything, and when the things he said turned out not to be true, people didn’t care because they’d already accepted it. It’s real scary. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Issy Lapowski in Wired concludes:
Whether fake news did or didn’t affect the election’s outcome, Facebook as a platform did. The winning candidate was not just willing, but eager to break with traditional models of campaigning. His team invested in new ways of using the digital tools and platforms that have come to dominate the media landscape. Anyone who wants to defeat him in the future will have to do the same.
Trump may have been heavily outspent by Clinton in terms of mainstream media. But clearly he made his spend count. And by judicious use of existing bubbles, whether it was to suppress enthusiasm among likely Democrat supporters or to peddle fake stories amongst those willing to believe his tactics worked.
The world’s democracies may never be the same …
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Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...4 days ago - Release: Penny drops – but what about Seymour and Peters?Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...4 days ago
- Another ‘Stolen Generation’ enabled by court ruling on Waitangi Tribunal summonsTonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...4 days ago
- Release: Budget blunder shows Nicola Willis could cut recovery fundingIt appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...5 days ago
- Further environmental mismanagement on the cards
The Government’s resource management reforms will add to the heavy and ever-growing burden this Government is loading on to our environment. ...5 days ago - Release: RMA changes will be a disaster for environmentThe Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour supports urgent changes to emergency management systemLabour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour calls for New Zealand to recognise PalestineThe Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...6 days ago
- Release: Three strikes law political posturing of worst kindThe Government is bringing back a law that has little evidential backing just to look tough, Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...6 days ago
- Release: Government cuts unbelievably target child exploitation, violent extremism, ports and airpor...Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...6 days ago
- Three strikes has failed before and will fail againResurrecting the archaic three-strikes legislation is an unwelcome return to a failed American-style approach to justice. ...6 days ago
- Release: Environmental protection vital, not ‘onerous’The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...6 days ago
- Ferris – Three Strikes targets those ‘too brown to be white’The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts doctors and nurses in hiring freezeCuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...1 week ago
- Fast-track submissions period must be extendedThe Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...1 week ago
- Release: Progress on climate will be undone by GovtNew Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Dark day for Kiwi kids as a third of Govt cuts affect themNews that 1000 jobs at the Ministry of Education and Oranga Tamariki could go is devastating for future generations of New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Alarm as Government signals further blow to school lunchesMore essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...2 weeks ago
- Oranga Tamariki cuts commit tamariki to state abuseTe Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Quick, submit – stop Govt’s dodgy approvals billThe Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...2 weeks ago
- Government throws coal on the climate crisis fireThe Government’s policy announced today to ease consenting for coal mining will have a lasting impact across generations. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Public transport costs to double as National looks at unaffordable roading project insteadCancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Cost of living in Auckland still not a priorityA laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...2 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori to visit Queensland to strengthen ties with Māori in AustraliaTe Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...2 weeks ago
- Greens look to fast-track submissions on harmful lawThe Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt should stop making people’s lives harder and build more homesThe National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Melissa Lee missing in action on mediaThe action Melissa Lee promised to protect democracy and the media sector is missing, Media and Communications spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...2 weeks ago
- Landlord Government leaves little hope for rentersThe Government’s announcement on tenancy rules prove that it does not care about renters. ...2 weeks ago
- Opportunity to build a more sustainable economyGreen Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...2 weeks ago
- Significant step forward in fixing cruel and unjust pastA significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...3 weeks ago
- Missed opportunity but NZ will surely one day recognise the right to a sustainable environmentNew Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Don’t cut our lunches – clear message sent to GovernmentTens of thousands of people are demanding the Government commits to fully funding free and healthy school lunches. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Govt makes U-turn on Suicide Prevention OfficeLabour welcomes the Government’s U-turn on the closure of the Suicide Prevention Office, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...3 weeks ago
- CCC issues warning over further climate delayToday’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...3 weeks ago
- Luxon targets lame and lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...3 weeks ago
- Luxon targets are lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...3 weeks ago
- Pharmac Chair appointed
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...2 hours ago - Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisorderHundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...24 hours ago
- New sports complex opens in KaikoheRegional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...1 day ago
- Diplomacy needed more than everForeign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...1 day ago
- Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery BelgiumAmbassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...2 days ago
- Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk BairDistinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...3 days ago
- Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, TürkiyeMai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...3 days ago
- PM announces changes to portfoliosPaul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...4 days ago
- New catch limits for unique fishery areasRecreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...4 days ago
- Minister welcomes hydrogen milestoneEnergy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...5 days ago
- Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment BillThe coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...5 days ago
- Overseas decommissioning models consideredOverseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...5 days ago
- Release of North Island Severe Weather Event InquiryEmergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...5 days ago
- Justice Minister to attend Human Rights CouncilJustice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...6 days ago
- Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facilityAssociate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...6 days ago
- Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...6 days ago
- Government to introduce revised Three Strikes lawThe Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...6 days ago
- New diplomatic appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...6 days ago
- Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and SomaliaNew Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...6 days ago
- Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho CollectiveMinister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...7 days ago
- Supporting better financial outcomes for KiwisThe Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...1 week ago
- Trade relationship with China remains strong“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...1 week ago
- PM’s South East Asia mission does the businessPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...1 week ago
- $41m to support clean energy in South East AsiaNew Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...1 week ago
- Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder listThe Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...1 week ago
- Judicial appointments announcedAttorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...1 week ago
- Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in SingaporeEducation Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...1 week ago
- Value of stopbank project proven during cycloneA stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...1 week ago
- Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visitForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...1 week ago
- Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac DayScience, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...1 week ago
- Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...1 week ago
- Government commits $20m to Westport flood protectionThe Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...1 week ago
- Taupō takes pole positionThe Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...1 week ago
- Cost of living support for low-income homeownersLocal Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...1 week ago
- Government backing mussel spat projectThe Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...1 week ago
- Government focused on getting people into workBenefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...1 week ago
- Clean energy key driver to reducing emissionsThe Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...1 week ago
- Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forwardThe Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...1 week ago
- Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic PartnershipPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...2 weeks ago
- Government consults on extending coastal permits for portsRMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...2 weeks ago
- Inside the home of New Zealand’s greatest crime writer
Ngaio Marsh House is one of Christchurch’s best kept secrets – and contains more than a few mysteries of its own. Trust Ngaio Marsh to leave more than a few mysteries scattered through her house long after her departure. For a start, there’s the curious concrete portal in the garden, ...2 hours ago - ‘Apologies to Dvořák’: How a serenade for strings cemented one of New Zealand TV’s strongest...Appointment viewing has been lost to the mists of time, but memories of Montana Sunday Theatre can still be conjured by hitting play on a particular piece of classical music. “You’re not going to be able to sell it.” Over 30 years on, Karen Bieleski still recalls how the task ...3 hours ago
- An Ode to .. King Luxon
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...3 hours ago - In the studio with artist power couple Claudia Kogachi and Josephine JelicichThe pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like. ‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...6 hours ago
- An ode to the muesli bar, a national treasureThank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...6 hours ago
- Government urged to hit the gas on revamp of road user charges
Infrastructure New Zealand is pushing for new road user charges to be brought in quicker to help relieve pressure on strained transport funding. ...17 hours ago - US student Palestine protests against Israel’s war on Gaza inspire global action
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...19 hours ago - Former Te Whatu Ora chairperson Rob Campbell criticises Health NZ's 'savings' directi...Rob Campbell said it shows "poor management" and is "frankly irresponsible". ...20 hours ago
- ‘To lead is to serve’ – Governor-General to call PM election in Solomon IslandsRNZ Pacific The race to form the next government of Solomon Islands could be a tight one, with no single party emerging from the election with enough seats to govern. Caretaker prime minister Manasseh Sogavare’s Our Party did the best, securing 15 out of the 50 seats in the House. ...21 hours ago
- Bryce Edwards – FastTrackWatch: The Case for the Government’s Fast Track BillAnalysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz) New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...22 hours ago
- NZ and Türkiye pledge cooperation during natural disastersThe two countries have "a long history of coming to each other's aid", including after the 2023 Turkish earthquakes, Winston Peters says. ...1 day ago
- Waste not, want not: New series Food Waste Kitchen turns food trash into treasureTara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...1 day ago
- Vaping regulations fight 'immeasurably harder' under coalition – campaignerFocus on Politics - Successive governments have claimed crack downs on youth vaping, but the bending and breaking of rules seems pervasive. ...1 day ago
- Dog of the month: Scout, who is so independent she could be a catScout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...1 day ago
- ‘I don’t know if we were brave or stupid’: Megan Alatini on changing reality TVMegan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...1 day ago
- Behind the counter: Wellington shopkeepersA new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...1 day ago
- Iranian Solidarity Group New Zealand Condemns Toomaj Salehi's Death Sentence And The New Aggres...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...1 day ago - Short story: Calf Creek, by Anna ScaifeMy cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...1 day ago
- Newsroom welcomes the Secret DiaryNewsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...1 day ago
- I saw ‘The Sign’, and it opened up my eyes: All the fuss around Bluey, explainedTara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...1 day ago
- Jessica Tater has ambition without bordersWorking as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...1 day ago
- The island where people’s stories are paramountThere’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...1 day ago
- Australian author leads silence protest over ‘blood debt’ owed to PapuansAsia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...1 day ago
- Israel delays Gaza Freedom Flotilla departure with bureaucratic ‘block’Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...1 day ago
- Have New Zealanders really been ‘misled’ about AUKUS, or is involvement now a foregone conclusio...ANALYSIS: By Marco de Jong, Auckland University of Technology and Robert G. Patman, University of Otago When former prime minister Helen Clark spoke out against New Zealand potentially compromising its independent foreign policy by joining pillar two of the AUKUS security pact, Foreign Minister Winston Peters responded bluntly: On ...1 day ago
- Palestine protesters challenge TVNZ over Israeli ambassador’s ‘propaganda’Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...2 days ago
- Lynley Hood Opinion – Senator Fulbright must be spinning in his grave2 days ago
- Fast-track bill could affect NZ's reputation – Transparency InternationalThe ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...2 days ago
- We’re all feeling the collective grief and trauma of violence against women – but this is the pr...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...2 days ago
- Species living closely together in symbiosis is far older and way more common than you might thinkSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis. AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...2 days ago
- What is childhood dementia? And how could new research help?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...2 days ago
- Jobseekers get about $345 less than pensioners each fortnight. This gap is hurting, and is set to wi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...2 days ago
- Does fighting inflation always lead to recession? What NZ data tellsHere is what 60 years of New Zealand data shows us. ...2 days ago
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And thus we have another reason for compulsory voting. Probably a very important reason as well as it would remove negative influencing from the political campaigns repertoire.
Very much agree, DTB.
It is well past time the Left came to terms with the fact that Hillary was a discredited ,untrustworthy and unsuitable candidate. Deeply unpopular with a poor track record, and yet the “machine” decided she was to be their candidate. The Party set about destroying Bernie on her way to the top spot and they believed their own bullshit about her invincibility. They ran a shocking campaign from their “bubble” in New York and still can’t get over their stupidity and incompetence in being so out of touch with Americans. Blaming Russia is just another sign of their inability to take stock of all their mistakes.
Are we being set up by this ‘fake news’ news?
So we accept new laws like this….
Obama Quietly Signs The “Countering Disinformation And Propaganda Act” Into Law
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-24/obama-signs-countering-disinformation-and-propaganda-act-law
That looked interesting when AsleepWhileWalking posted it over in Open Mike, so I went looking for more information. While it seems to be all over the kook and crank websites that live by gathering clicks from the gullible, there’s a definite lack of sober fact-checking analysis raising concerns about the legislation.
So for now, it looks to me like it probably belongs in the “fake news” basket.
We should be aware we are often played.
By who? By you?
“there’s a definite lack of sober fact-checking analysis raising concerns about the legislation
‘Saddam has WMD’s’
Fact checking and the MSM!
‘Legal Propaganda’
The Patriot Act
NDAA
Your movement nurtures infinite miracles.
Andre – yes US legislation is renowned for “hidden” snippets.
Try this – in the Bill implicated and linkedby Zerohedge;
(Sec. 1259C) Establishes a Global Engagement Center to lead and coordinate efforts to track foreign propaganda and disinformation efforts intended to undermine U.S. national security interests, and to develop strategies for countering such campaigns. Authorizes the center to provide grants to support civil society groups, journalists, nongovernmental organizations, federally-funded research and development centers, private companies, or academic institutions in analyzing, reporting on, and refuting foreign disinformation efforts.
From;
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4909
Pretty much what ZH asserted in their headline and only took a few clicks to find.
Andre – yes US legislation is renowned for “hidden” snippets.
Try this – in the Bill implicated and linked by Zerohedge;
(Sec. 1259C) Establishes a Global Engagement Center to lead and coordinate efforts to track foreign propaganda and disinformation efforts intended to undermine U.S. national security interests, and to develop strategies for countering such campaigns. Authorizes the center to provide grants to support civil society groups, journalists, nongovernmental organizations, federally-funded research and development centers, private companies, or academic institutions in analyzing, reporting on, and refuting foreign disinformation efforts.
From;
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4909
Pretty much what ZH asserted in their headline and only took a few clicks to find.
Sorry for duplicate – had a typo in my email address originally – thought moderators were slow – so reposted – but my bad – and – please – may life be cool – for all.
Andre – yes US legislation is renowned for “hidden” snippets.
Try this – in the Bill implicated and linked by Zerohedge;
(Sec. 1259C) Establishes a Global Engagement Center to lead and coordinate efforts to track foreign propaganda and disinformation efforts intended to undermine U.S. national security interests, and to develop strategies for countering such campaigns. Authorizes the center to provide grants to support civil society groups, journalists, nongovernmental organizations, federally-funded research and development centers, private companies, or academic institutions in analyzing, reporting on, and refuting foreign disinformation efforts.
From;
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4909
Pretty much what ZH asserted in their headline and only took a few clicks to find.
“Are we being set up by this ‘fake news’ news?
So we accept new laws like this….”
Problem reaction solution.
http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Problem_Reaction_Solution
“Just like that, the US Ministry of Truth is officially born.”
Fake news does need to be dealt to but the US seems to have gone about it the wrong way.
To do it the right way is simply to require sources for what’s said so as to enable fact checking. If the source fails to provide credible evidence then they get a massive fine and shut down as well as the propagation sites after that.
“Fake news does need to be dealt to but the US seems to have gone about it the wrong way.”
Unintentionally, perhaps.
Alternatively, they seized the opportunity the problem presented to push through a preconceived agenda.
In some cases sources require to remain anonymous. To ensure sources are encouraged, journalists have to protect their sources.
Forcing journalists to reveal them, jeopardizes their sources. Which could result in harming their career or perhaps even putting their lives at risk.
Moreover, it would discourage the willingness of future potential sources to come forward, potentially robbing us of info that requires to be publicly aired.
You mean like the way that Manning and Snowden are being persecuted by the US government ATM for showing the the US government was, essentially, psychopathic?
And that’s despite the fact that the US does have such protections of journalist sources.
Such protections would have to stay in place. In fact, I don’t think the ones we have are good enough as the government attack on Nicky Hager shows. What Hager showed should have resulted in criminal charges against the National Party and not Hager or his source.
But we need to be careful with those protections so that they don’t become a carte blanche protection for people spreading lies.
Manning and Snowden were not anonymous sources. But they have been persecuted.
What took place with Hager was an example of how state authorities can overstep the line.
I’m pretty sure that Manning was an anonymous source until investigations figured out she was the one who supplied the information to Wikileaks.
In other words, the legal protections of journalists sources doesn’t actually protect them – it protects the journalists. The government can still go after the source.
My mistake, apparently Manning was dobbed in.
But yes, we need to protect sources.
But how does one protect sources and provide safeguards ensuring countering propaganda isn’t used to silence dissenting opinion?
gee more fake news about Bernie. The’party’ didnt destroy him, it was the millions more voters in the primaries that did.
get over it.
Its Clinton who must feel hard done by twice , she wins nearly 3 mill more votes but still still loses to Trump, and in 2008 she wins more primary votes than Obama, and still loses.
If you really want to talk about fake news and Bernie how about this piece in the Observer
http://observer.com/2016/11/bernie-sanders-presidential-run-was-sabotaged-by-fake-news/
“Democrats would be insane to nominate Bernie Sanders,” “Bernie Sanders’s fiction-filled campaign,“ Bernie Bros Made Me Finally Recognize Misogyny in America,” “The Bernie Bros are out in full force harassing female reporters,” “Bernie Sanders’s real problem with black and Hispanic voters,” “Hillary Clinton Made History, but Bernie Sanders Stubbornly Ignored It” and “Stop sending around this photo of ‘Bernie Sanders’ “ were just some of the popular fake news headlines published during the Democratic primaries. ” (the actual links are provided in the article)
The DNC played dirty, and they lost the chance to run a real candidate for the Democrats and the American People.
Trump the new face for success lol and eventually he will become synonymous with all that is bad, decayed and corrupt in the system he gamed to win.
He’ll make people fondly remember Clinton.
+1
Note that in the sources quoted in the post above, black and women voters were targeted for voter suppression.
Related to the quotes in the post, is this article on Salon by Sean McElwee.
The article cites research that shows the significant factors that gained support for Trump, were racism and sexism. Though McElwee discounts education and economic anxieties as the reason for people voting Trump, they also do appear to be lesser, but significant related factors.
The main you gov survey cited used a fairly small sample. However, other research cited also comes to the same conclusion.
McElwee argues that calling out racism by Trump didn’t work, as his supporters, especially among Republicans, just use that as confirmation that whites are being hard done by.
He argues that the best way to combat this racism is:
However, McElwee also refers to evidence that shows combating racism this way will be a long hard battle:
“Fake news”
h.r.c won the popular vote, so she won!
It’s all Bernie’s fault.
“Real News”
h.r.c is a loser and she was always going to lose, she almost lost to a no name, from no where, with no money, what his name again, Sanders or somthing.
h.r.c ran a bloody awful campaign, and was the establishments spiv.
Yet, Clinton still won the popular vote. The ways Clinton has been discredited, doesn’t explain how Trump won – a guy with even less credibility than Clinton. Trump has been discredited as a businessman, a human being, and a politician.
Clinton ran a better campaign in conventional terms than Trump. But the post explains how Trump used alternative media to get him enough electoral college votes.
So you make your own false narrative rather than face facts. Or in this case ‘fake news’.
h.r.c and the democratic party went into the election KNOWING it had to win the electoral college vote, the popular vote means nothing.
h.r.c lost, she lost because she ran a bad campaign, she lost because she was establishment, she lost because she is a loser along with the rest of the democratic establishment.
And worst of all, she lost and her supporters can’t face the fact she is a loser. Plus add in no admission of fault, an outstandingly retarded approach to politics, no wonder the republicans wiped the floor of them.
It’s a whole new level of ignoring reality by many social democrat’s. Wake up, you lot dropped the ball. You would not listen to criticism of h.r.c from the left, and now trump won. Don’t blame fake news, don’t blame the Russians, blame h.r.c and the democratic party establishment – they are the people who lost.
@adam +1
The continual referencing of the ‘fake news narrative’ serves only to propagate and ensure the agenda of those pushing the narrative, can implement the ‘next steps’
Facebook, google et al are performing a role they were designed for!
The so called Arab Spring was tracked using tools controlled by the ‘spy agencies’
Perhaps it’s time for folks to open their eyes to the ‘bigger picture’ because being picked off as dupes parroting the ‘spoon fed talking points’ is a major part of the problem
Articles like this are lightweight in thought and shallow in rationale
BTW – How many core ‘news’ distribution points are there globally, and how many companies control all US media?
More root cause analysis and less symptom tracking is required!
Write us a better article, then, OT.
If you are able.
It’s not about writing a better article….
It’s about the need for individuals to focus on non superficial issues which are provided to them to repeat ad nauseum
It’s about researching the depths of the human psyche and understanding there are centuries of planning gone into the singular focus of ‘deceipt’
The majority continue to fall for the bait, trapped into a narrow passage of ‘ideas’, none of which are their own
By way of illustrating the traps this articles auther appears to be caught up in, The Washington post is used to qoute ‘fake news veteran’ Paul Horner.
“Honestly, people are definately dumber. …”
Yes they are!
Time to examine the root causes of WHY!
The WaPo reference was to an interview with one of the major alt news creators. All of the others were referenced in a number of different news sources, some main stream some alternative. Are you saying that we cannot rely on any of them?
Why “rely on any of them” ?
Because otherwise you will have no chance of knowing what is happening in the world. Sure be critical of the sources but by reading widely enough and relying on middle of the road and left wing sources you can get at least a general appreciation.
Perhaps I took use of the word ‘rely’, too literally
The approach you outline is a sensible one, if seeking to gain understanding of world events. It does come with limitations and some hooks
Central distribution
Disinformation
Controlled Opposition
Congative dissonance
Perception bias
Personal predjudice
Etc
Living in an age where digital technology enables unprecedented capability to deceive and distort, the onus is very much on the interpretation of the receiver
Should the receiver have any ‘barrier’ which censors certain information sets, the approach becomes flawed as any other
Quintessentially it is an impossible task for a human being to master, thus perpetuating falsehoods and perhaps making decisions on flawed information can have greater impact than could be comfortable to acknowledge. School curriculums would.be a good (bad) example of the ‘human condition’ and the propagation of falsehoods
How many core ‘news’ distribution companies are there globally, and how many companies control all US media?
6, I believe
These 6 Corporations Control 90% Of The Media In America
The issue is superbly covered in this film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SAUborWbPw
Thanks for posting the trailer, had a look at the film last night.
Is this is a joke? isn’t it plainly obvious that this whole “fake news” narrative is just the MSM structure spinning yet more bullshit in the vain hope that nobody notices that they, before our very eyes, over the past 12 months, have became all but redundant as a propaganda tool for their billionaire owners and the relentless economic war on the citizens of their countries.
Four huge battles took place this year, Brexit, Corbyn, Hillary/Sanders and Hillary/Trump.
They won one and lost four.
The full weight and perceived power of pretty much all MSM lost three major battles right out in the open, surely that is the biggest news story of the year?
In recent memory I cannot remember another time when all MSM unhooked itself from any semblance of impartiality at all, and completely came down on one side so overtly, it was like watching MSM on a crazed P bender, totally unhinged and on a inevitably downward self destructive spiral.
Probably during wartime, and maybe during some general strikes we might have seen this sort of thing before, but in peace time, never.
Sure there is fake news, there has always been fake news, there will always be fake news…but fake news sure as shit wasn’t the news in 2016.
Spot on.
Address the specifics of the post. Which particular allegation is not correct. Just saying “its not true” is lazy.
The essence of your post is trump ran a better campaign. And yeah he did, he won.
He played the system, and so what, we get played with everyday.
Don’t you think it better to accept that h.r.c lost?
The only thing this really highlights is that money in politics is evil no matter in whose hands it is, and the fact that the MSM is owned by so few people is a nightmare, if for no other reason because people no longer trust the MSM.
No false flags and spin are going to get over the fact money in politics has killed any chance of working class people actually being listened to.
Plus what did trump do any differently than Berlusconi? The main difference I can see is that Berlusconi owned the papers in which he ran his B.S. trump used the net.
The essence of your post is trump ran a better campaign. And yeah he did, he won.
He played the system, and so what, we get played with everyday.
Don’t you think it better to accept that h.r.c lost?
Sure she was an awful candidate and I would have voted for Sanders in the primaries.
My post is all about the tactics and the methods.
I believe they are underhand. The left either decides to use the same tactics or it works out how it is going to counter these tactics. Either way a study of the election and what Trump did is important.
@ mickysavage
“The left either decides to use the same tactics or it works out how it is going to counter these tactics”
What an incredible statement, I assume by your posts that you are closely tied to the Labour party, and involved in their campaigns?
Yet you seemed to not have noticed that during the past year, two self proclaimed socialists have invigorated and mobilized their citizens in a way not seen on the (real) Left for a long long time, with NO MSM support, in fact, actively attacked by establishment liberal news outlets like The Guardian and The Washington Post etc, both actively undermined by their own party establishment, yet both now still standing, while all their detractors have all crashed and burned into a fiery messy heap.
Both campaigns where run on the same simple strategies, a very simple message of fairness, equality for all citizens delivered by a candidate with unquestioned integrity and honesty and spoken from that traditional Left moral high ground, which is very difficult position for your opposition to attack.
Because this simple message resonates so easily, both candidates had no problem in getting thousands of willing citizens to campaign and work for them, no negative politics here, just good old socialism. delivered to a modern public at the right time…which is now.
But this winning position can only be taken on the Left when the cancerous neo liberial element is cut completely from the host.
Which is why NZ labour still struggles, and always will while it is captured by a free market laissez-faire economic ideology.
But it’s not new, well OK the way it was done was new, but at a tactics level it is nothing new. It has been around for a while. Reagan used it, and as I said, Berlusconi was a master at it. Indeed, I believe the trump team based much of his campaign on Berlusconi.
A good example of Reagan using it was his famous, “Welfare Queen” a complete and utter fabrication. There are more examples – look up Reagan lies.
The point is one which Peter Fraser knew in spades. The establishment will lie about you, those with power will lie about you, they care for nothing but power and money, so they will lie about you. So the only weapon you have is truth and your morals.
Take the moral high ground, and call them on their lies. That takes backbone, and no sniping from your side. Which means the NZ labour party at present is a bit stuck, it has neo-liberalism in the tent. Because both you and I know at it’s core, neo-liberalism has no morals, (or at best, very shallow ones) so how can you take a strong moral position? Look at the UK labour party – so many of their MP’s have just proven how utterly lacking in a moral compass they have. And as I’ve got worked up about, the DNC is another organisation full of people who lack morals, and basic human decency.
Look I’m going to say it out loud, a purge, it’s long over due. The left has been purged from labour a few times over the years, it is not beyond time that that the neo-liberal vagarious wing from the party got the same treatment?
Another tactic, get money out of politics. Force utter and open transparency, of where the money is coming from.
You know it is hard to know where to start…
But how about this…
Firstly you are actually quoting stories from the Washington Post, who got rightfully vilified in March when they ran 16 negative stories on Sanders in one 24 hour cycle.
http://usuncut.com/politics/washington-post-bias-against-bernie-sanders/
and then went on to openly endorse Hillary…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/hillary-clinton-for-president/2016/10/12/665f9698-8caf-11e6-bf8a-3d26847eeed4_story.html?utm_term=.8647459b6fa5
Your other source is from Bloomberg News, owned by Micheal Bloomberg who endorsed Clinton also..
https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-07-24/michael-bloomberg-to-endorse-hillary-clinton-in-speech-this-week
So anything they now say on this topic is now suspect don’t you think?
Which is exactly my point, nearly all MSM (including your sources) shed all pretenses to journalistic and editorial impartiality in endorsing and then pretty much campaigning for Clinton, so you can’t now use them to prove your point that there was some conspiracy of fake news, even if it is true, you should know that you can’t have it both ways.
I could unpack more of your piece, but this will do for now.
If the WaPo reported that it was raining yesterday would you refuse to accept this?
And is everyone who endorsed Clinton completely untrustworthy? I have my own reservations about her but you know at least I can trust most of what she said. Whereas I would double check if Trump said today was Tuesday.
And address the specifics. Which part of my post is inaccurate or wrong and what are your sources?
I don’t think you are getting the gist of my position.
If it rained yesterday, I am sure that is a fact we can all agree on, I think you need to try a little harder than that.
However if the Washington Post come out with some story as to why their openly endorsed political candidate suffered probably one of the most humiliating defeats in US political history, there by themselves sharing in that public humiliation, then how do I or for that matter you, have any idea that their story has any credibility?
My problems with your story IS your sources, how can you trust them, or expect us readers to trust them? surely you must see the obvious conflict of interests in use media sources that have a stated political agenda…that is my position, and one probably shared by most critical thinkers who read your post..well one would hope.
Why should I disbelieve everything that the MSM prints? My post is an attempt to explain what happened and how Trump won even though he lost the popular vote. The use of targeted Facebook advertising explains this. Please point out specifically which particular point I have discussed is wrong. Saying it is all wrong because the MSM printed it is not a fruitful discussion.
Thanks for the post Mickey. Unfortunately some of the reactions to it here show how easy it was for Trump. Worrying for democracy worldwide.
Yep + 1 . Good post ms and some interesting reactions which show how deep the left are going to have to dig. I don’t agree that the left should copy the right in these tactics.
@mickysavage, I have never said you should disbelieve everything MSM prints, I said (or implied) you should not use information sources for your posts from sources about a subject, where that source has openly admitted they have a bias, without some sort of disclosure or preface that that source is biased (by it’s own admission).
I will say it again, if you use and reference openly biased news sources in your posts, how can you or your readers be sure that the articles you are quoting from are not biased as well?
This is my point, and without you addressing this singular question, we cannot proceed further to have a meaningful discussion on the content of your post, and quite frankly I don’t see how anyone else could.
@mickysavage
Here is quite a good interview re; fake news with Jeff Cohen….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF29e5pFXnM
This to article to me offers a fitting response to these matters: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/12/post-truth-fake-news-trump-clinton-election-russia/
The fact that Trump won the election with less money and the entire political-media establishment pitted against him is far more telling than the method his team used to do it. No method works when people are not interested in what you have to say, and almost any method works when they are. Nationalism appeals to a lot of people who have been shafted by the current system because they think they must at least count for something as members of their nation, which has more appeal than being pitied or vilified as globalism’s outcasts. Establishment liberalism has failed as a stand-in for democratic socialism, and that is where any serious soul-searching should be focused.
That is exactly right, with no traditional Left wing alternative to this now plainly defunct and discredited free market laissez faire nightmare that is still being peddled by Labour/National in NZ, you end up with nationalism, hence Trump.
This is exactly why I view the neo liberal terrorists burrowed deep into the soft flank of the Labour Party here in NZ, and the western Left generally, to be the greater enemy to the progressive future of our country and the world itself, than the Right.
Having no credible Left safety valve for people to turn to, is turning out to be an incredibly dangerous political reality.
I will make one point that you left out re; Trump, he got an incredible amount of oxygen resulting in some serious traction that really enabled him to propel himself right over his Republican rivals, absolutely free from the MSM, until at the 11th hour when they realized that he was an actual real threat, and then turned on him like a bunch of rabid dogs (which they should have done in the beginning, when he started dog whistling like the madman he is).
locally it was just bizarre to listen to RNZ get on it’s high horse about the amount of coverage Trump was getting and tut tutting, then in almost the same breath, without the slightest hint of embarrassment, give us another salacious Trump story.
Yes you are right. Trump was pumped up by the media for as long as they assumed he would be the joke candidate, but turned on with a vengeance once he started to look like a serious threat. And at both ends of this spectrum he was assessed in like-dislike terms, rather than on the positions he espoused.
Yet, there’s research pointing to factors that gave Trump an electoral victory: the use of facebook, the focus on racism and sexism, strategic targeting of specific states, etc.
“Fake news” is a subjective category and means different things to different people, and is thus a side issue..
Richard Seymour at Lenin’s tomb sums up how the corporate media connived to make post truth politics happen….
http://www.leninology.co.uk/2016/12/the-nocturnal-side-of-reason.html?m=1
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/12/fake-news-history-long-violent-214535
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/remedy-spread-fake-news-history-teachers-180961310/
Fake news, ain’t nothing new here.
It’s not the issue of the year, and It’s not the reason Hilary lost. Why buy into the press and the DNC covering its own arrogant failure??
Siobhan did you know h.r.c has not admitted any fault, nor have the DNC? They have been spinning like the trolls they are, to not have to admit that got it wrong.
It’s so tiresome.
Well address Trump’s Facebook campaigning which I found incredibly interesting yet terrifying at the same time.
how and why did it work? Don’t think of it as ‘news’, think of it as the economics of clickbait.
It’s about search engine optimisation and advertising revenue. Facebook and Google make their money out of advertising. Their business model relies on clicks, likes and re-posts etc.
The US RW have a lot of sites like PrisonPlanet.com
that aggregate ‘news’. These get tagged with advertising and when they are passed around on facebook, the platform gets paid. Making up clickbait is easier than journalism, that’s why there’s so much bullshit.
The Macedonians didn’t invent this, they piggy-backed on an existing network of RW sites that monetised bullshit.
The other side of this is that Facebook now has a lot of information on users that they sell to advertisers. Trump’s team used this to target a small group of voters in vital electorates.
There is also a growing suspicion that Facebook radicalises by presenting users with ‘news’ that they ‘like’, and isolating them from news or points of view that make them feel uncomfortable.
Very true – and when for many social media is their only source of “news” it is very easy to present false information as reality.
Trump uses this extensively, he now conducts his international “diplomacy” via twitter. Not even his “advisors” know what he is thinking before he erupts with some new ill conceived tweet.
But when two countries are at the brink of Nuclear War because of some irresponsible “News” the world needs to stop and think just where it is heading with all this.
EOY report on Ben Self – “Can do better”
Lol. Get over it. The continued justification is embarrassing
You might like this Micky.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd1GlZHmMmM
As a librarian part of my job is to assess information for its credibility in order to present users with the most accurate information to meet their needs. Having spent over 10 years working in libraries, I can readily accept that a lot of people aren’t as critical as they should be when looking at information.
When you consider that my sample are those people who are motivated enough to come to a library, I am particularly worried about the people who don’t go to any extra effort to seek out information. Unless readers have the information literacy to distinguish poor sources from reliable ones, this will be a problem that will stay.
There are some rules of thumb: the reputation of the source – are they members of the Press Council, or the Online Media Standards Authority (this is indicative only – opinion sites like Pundit, The Spinoff and Kiwiblog are on one or the other of these too). Are they under the jurisdiction of the Broadcasting Standards Authority?
Do news sources issue retractions when they get things wrong? Do they provide strong evidence for strong claims? Does a story pass the sniff test? Is it picked up by other media with a strong reputation.
The immediate criticism of this is that it entrenches mainstream media. I disagree. New media outlets do manage to establish themselves – The Newsroom looks interesting and Scoop is quite venerable now. But what it does do is encourage the maintenance of journalistic standards – which while sometimes are flawed, provides far more reliable information.
“Honestly, people are definitely dumber.”
Having watched footage of Trump rallies during the campaign and observed supporters being interviewed, this is a real issue. I know you hate Hillary, and you just want the blue team to win because Jesus told you that Mexican rapists and Muslims will steal your jobs, confiscate your guns and devour your children… but come on.
Sometimes all you can do is shake your head.
i think he said it best (and it is applicably everywhere ) a few decades ago:
“America… just a nation of two hundred million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns and no qualms about killing anybody else in the world who tries to make us uncomfortable.”
Hunter S. Thompson
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/huntersth103997.html
and what she says.
Digby
http://digbysblog.blogspot.co.nz/2016/12/just-putting-down-marker.html
Her conclusion:
Quote” Now we have Trump, the horror story some of us were screaming about until we were hoarse for the last 18 months, knowing that he could and might very well win unless the media, the Republican establishment and some very silly voters sobered up. They didn’t. And now we all have to deal with the hangover.
I’m officially done writing about this unless something new emerges. It’s navel gazing at this point and since I believe that Trump is going to change politics and possibly the world so dramatically that lessons to be drawn from Hillary Clinton’s personal foibles or strategic decisions are useless going forward. It’s a new world.” Quote
and then there is this.
“Ostensibly a news organization, the National Rifle Association’s NRATV is actually a pro-Trump propaganda effort that routinely labels protected-speech reporting on the president-elect as a plot to destroy the United States, “anti-patriotic,” and an “assault against freedom and the Constitution.”
In fact, the opposite is true. Freedom of the press is enshrined in the First Amendment, which reads in part, “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”
https://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/12/26/inauguration-approaches-nratv-says-dissent-against-trump-assault-constitution/214895
but of course, no one saw that coming. right? right?
git yer guns boys. git yer guns.
“
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-24/obama-signs-countering-disinformation-and-propaganda-act-law
Basically information is going to be vetted, Pravda style.