Patterns of manipulation in the world's mainstream press.

Patterns of manipulation in the world's mainstream press.

The mainstream press, made up of large media corporations, plays a fundamental role in shaping public opinion. It is responsible for informing and educating people about world events, and therefore has enormous power of influence.

However, this power can also be used to manipulate public opinion. Media corporations can use a range of techniques to control what people think and feel, according to their own interests.

In this text, we will present some of the most common patterns of manipulation used by the world's major press.

Selective selection of information.

One of the most basic techniques of manipulation is the selective choice of information. Media corporations can choose which information to publish and which to omit, according to their own interests.

For example, a newspaper may prominently report a negative event in a foreign country, but ignore a positive event in the same country. Or, a television channel may give more airtime to a politician who defends its interests than to another politician who defends opposing interests.

Use of biased language.

Language can also be used to manipulate public opinion. Media corporations can use biased language to convey a certain message.

For example, a newspaper might use terms like "violence" or "terrorism" to describe a protest, when in fact there was no violence or terrorism. Or, a television channel might use terms like "disastrous" or "inefficient" to describe a government policy, when in fact it's not that bad.

Use of biased images and videos.

Images and videos can also be used to manipulate public opinion. Media corporations can use biased images and videos to convey a certain message.

For example, a newspaper might publish a photo of a protest that shows only people destroying property, when in fact the majority of protesters are peaceful. Or, a television channel may show a video of a politician saying something controversial, but not show the whole video, which shows that he explained himself afterwards.

Use of biased sources.

Media corporations can also use biased sources to manipulate public opinion. They can interview only people who defend their interests, or cite only studies that support their theses.

For example, a newspaper may only interview an expert who advocates war, when there are other experts who advocate peace. Or, a television channel may cite only one study showing that a particular policy is effective, when there are other studies showing that it is not effective.

Use of simplistic narratives.

Media corporations can also use simplistic narratives to manipulate public opinion. They can divide the world into two sides, good and evil, and present a Manichean view of events.

For example, a newspaper might present the war as a battle between good and evil, when in fact it is a complex conflict with many nuances. Or, a television channel may present a politician as a hero or a villain, when in fact he is a complex human being with virtues and defects.

Use of fear and anger.

Media corporations can also use fear and anger to manipulate public opinion. They can create a sense of threat so that people accept their narratives.

For example, a newspaper might publish a series of news stories about violent crime to create a sense of insecurity. Or, a television channel can show advertisements that appeal to the fear of terrorism so that people support tougher security policies.

Use of humor and entertainment.

Media corporations can also use humor and entertainment to manipulate public opinion. They can present controversial information in a fun or exciting way so that people don't take it seriously.

For example, a comedy show can make jokes about a politician to make people see him in a less serious light. Or, a reality show might present a particular policy in a positive light so that people support it.

Here are some tips for identifying manipulation in the mainstream press:

Be critical of the information you receive. Don't believe everything you read or hear.

Compare information from different sources.

The patterns of manipulation presented in this text are just some of the many that are used by the world's mainstream press. It is important to be aware of these techniques so that we are not manipulated and so that we can form our own opinions about world events.