We tend to think that our era is unique and the corruption of news…is by all accounts NEWS because it’s relatively new. But we would be dreadfully and even tragically wrong :)
The audio today is about how the railroads influenced public opinion at the turn of the century. Listen close as there are many keys to today’s temple secrets.
Without spoiling the article for you, I want to give you a taste of how corporate America, the ultimate idea bullies, were subtly and deftly continuing to work on the public mind.
The Editor and Publisher raised alarm in the February 15, 1919 issue over an anonymous fuel insertion in the paid space of The New York Times.
An UNSIGNED advertisement, impressive in size at fourteen inches deep and 5 columns wide was placed in the New York Times of Feb 10, 1919 cleverly implicates the government for enforced prices in war times which entailed losses to the Coal operators, “the inference being that operators were now entitled to recoup these 'patriotic' deficits.“
“It is not likely that any newspaper which carried this coal ad made any effort to analyze it editorially, or to correct any dangerous impression its publication might create in the public mind. The larger aspects of the propaganda involved were not discussed. The ad would leave the average reader in a mood to stand for a rise in the price of coal without immediate protest —- for he would have the assurance of the Government that the former prices meant a sacrifice on the part of the companies…
The editorial went on to speculate that “wide publication in the Influential newspapers, such as the Times, might serve to disarm, in a measure, criticism of corporate greed in the coal industry. It might convince many people that they had sadly misjudged the coal barons who, under compulsion in the stress of war, "patriotically" continued to mine coal at prices fixed by the Government. It might help to soften condemnation of future profit-greediness.” from Daily Newspapers in America Lee 456
Questions raised by the editorial:
“The drift seems to be strongly set toward advertising designed to sell POINTS OF VIEW, economic creeds, opinions, states of mind to the people. —Oh Alice, we are a long way from that now.
The Advertiser, with selfish purposes, with profit motive, attempts to create a barrage of public opinion behind which he may operate in security.
Should the newspaper make this possible for him?”
They did.
They would.
And they still do.
Have fun with the Baker article….
AND NEW FOR THE FIRST TIME
…a handy study guide to go along with the article. An instant lesson plan to use with your kids or grandkids. There is a summary, a short quiz with the answers, essay questions and a glossary of terms.
LET ME HEAR FROM YOU IN THE COMMENTS
Please let me know if you find this resource helpful.
I’m back to working on the book. Coveting your prayers to help me finish the second book for a fall launch!! Only a 2 chapters and conclusion left to go
