Journalism

Journalism, an intricate and evolving field, has served various purposes throughout history, ranging from impartial reporting to overt Propaganda. Its transformation reflects broader societal shifts, technological advancements, and the changing relationship between power structures and the public.

Early Developments and the Rise of War Correspondence

The practice of war correspondence, considered the foundation of modern journalism, emerged significantly during the Crimean War with figures such as William Howard Russell. Russell, often called the father of war journalism, documented the disorganisation and heroic disasters of the Crimean campaign, with his reports reaching the London Times quickly via "steam packet," a medium-sized steamboat used for mail.

His focus on issues like medical care for troops and provisioning, championed by figures such as Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole, marked the journalist as a vector of social intervention. This era saw journalists gain influence by reporting on the care harm issues of conflict, sometimes even becoming a nuisance to authorities and bringing down administrations.

The invention of the telegraph facilitated this new type of journalism. However, the military quickly recognised the potential for information control. General Sir Frederick Roberts notably introduced this approach, which was later adopted and advanced by Lord Kitchener, the War Minister in World War I. Winston Churchill, as First Lord of the Admiralty during WWI, also stated that "a warship in action has no room for a journalist".

World War I and the Birth of Propaganda 

Despite initial resistance from military leaders, mass mobilisation during World War I created a public appetite for war news, forcing Kitchener to send accredited correspondents to the Western Front. These journalists were billeted in Chateaux hotels, chaperoned, and subject to censorship. Their role became less about crusading and more about mere chronicling of the power of generals and the glory of war.

This period marked the beginning of modern Propaganda techniques. When facts were removed from information, it became propaganda. While early propaganda, such as the "Daddy what did you do during the war" poster, was not always effective in its initial impact, it laid the groundwork for future manipulation.

The "Radio War," for instance, saw pro-German broadcasts by figures like William Joyce ("Lord Haw-Haw") outperforming BBC listenership in Britain during the early stages of World War II, fostering significant public doubt about the war.

World War II and the Perfection of Mythmaking 

World War II served as a pivotal point, with propaganda methods from WWI being perfected. The Ministry of Information was established within two days of the war's outbreak, dictating journalists' actions.

The Dunkirk evacuation, for example, was subject to a news blackout on anything but bland communiques. Journalists were instructed to "act as shock absorbers," absorbing the "national shock" by transforming a military defeat into a "miracle of evacuation".

This involved deliberately not showing footage of a barefoot and bedraggled army struggling home to avoid demoralising the British public, instead providing stirring music and a message that Britain is safe. Similarly, images of troops guarding a bombed-out store were not shown, as the implication of looting would contradict the official image of united Londoners.

This period solidified the concept that propaganda lives in us due to public "investment in reassurance". Churchill himself became a central mythic expression of the nation, with his speeches issued on records as propaganda.

The war was intentionally presented as a matter of good and evil, a narrative that persists even decades later. Official historians, like some journalists, were often expected to conceal information, operating as professional liars.

The Dambusters raid, though involving undoubted heroism, was manufactured into a triumph and myth by the press, despite its limited actual damage to the German war economy and significant cost to Britain's bomber squadron. This all aligns with The Boomer Truth Regime where victory justifies all actions and facts are secondary.

Between 1940-41 Churchill initiated the "anger campaign" , aimed to demonise Germany and justify the bombing of its cities in the eyes on the nation.

The Rise and Fall of the Journalist as a Hero 

The 1970s saw investigative journalists rise as heroes, exemplified by their exposure of the Watergate Scandal and President Nixon by The Washington Post. Figures like Trevor McDonald were venerate" for their perceived integrity, and had a kind of voice of God authority, becoming associated with dependability and trustworthiness. Bruce Page, a journalist for the Sunday Times, was notable for uncovering the Kim Philby scandal and the Thalidomide scandal.

However, this heroic image began to decline during the George W Bush and Barack Obama presidencies. The Bush administration adopted a hostile stance towards journalists, making embeddedness crucial for access to information, effectively controlling the narrative.

Non-embedded journalists were often treated as traitors. The Obama administration further transformed the press into an arm of the administration, reducing journalists to stenographers for power who largely reported press releases. This shift also saw politicians like Tony Blair, who proclaimed that "perception is as important as the reality", master the art of media manipulation and naked Machiavellianism".

Modern Journalism and its Challenges 

Contemporary journalism is characterised by its pervasive use of factoids and a cost accountancy view, with every conversation needing to be scienced and supported by citations. This reliance on factual appearance, however, often conceals underlying manipulation.

Key challenges for modern journalism:

- "Dumbing down":

The decline of elitist, stimulating discussion programs on television, replaced by superficial entertainment.

- Loss of curation:

The removal of silent curators means that audiences, left without guidance, tend to consume slop.

- Emotional journalism:

This style seeks to create a physiological response in the audience, turning history into a detached spectacle rather than fostering real emotional connection and involvement.

- Social media influence:

The hive mind effect on social media leads to simplicity rather than plurality, forcing mainstream media to navigate between polarised extremes. This environment has led to a situation where journalists themselves lacking independent intellectual judgment and a full account of the facts.

- Demoralisation:

The phenomenon of news showing terrible, uncontrollable events, leading to feelings of helplessness and depression, with the only response being "oh dear".

- Political control of narrative:

Politicians and leaders increasingly see their role as "news editors," directing journalists on "what the story is". Where elite direct society, with the elites themselves curating and articulated the narrative. These elites believe people are otherwise "aimless and without purpose". This is a "paternalistic elitism" that believes people need guidance from a secular priest class.

- Compromised independence:

In Britain, journalists operate under unwritten rules and legal restrictions, especially concerning sensitive topics like Northern Ireland. This intricate machinery of compromise means journalists are constantly weighing how much they "can get away with" rather than solely focusing on factual reporting.

This results in a situation where the public believes itself to be free due to a perceived diversity of news outlets, even though these outlets largely cleave towards the same centre and coordinate with state entities.

The media's partnership with politicians is one of the least admirable things in all of humanity - a malign alliance.

- The "Boogeyman" narrative:

Modern Western democracies are seen to exist in a "sea of worry," driven by constant anxiety about drastic events beyond their control. Political actors, like the Bush Jr. administration with terrorism, exploit these fears by transforming threats into "all powerful Boogeymen" to facilitate state action.

Conflicts are redefined as "battles against dark demonic forces" rather than political struggles, leading to a stark vision of the coming battle between good and evil. David Cameron’s attempt to normalise referring to ISIS as "Daesh" to avoid references to Islam exemplifies this simplification, leading to an exclusion of dissenting views and a lack of self-reflection among elites.

Ultimately, the distinction between factual reporting and propaganda has become increasingly blurred. The observation that "perception is as important as the reality" has become a guiding principle in political communication, leading to a landscape where governments and media consciously manufacture triumph and myth.

See ELITE THEORY