15 December 2007

Rubbish information

Newspaper editors are well aware that the readers scan the headlines but don’t always read the entire articles. By skilful manipulation of the headlines, it is possible to alter reality, to the point where the meaning of the headline is the exact opposite of what appears in the article itself.
The Thursday 13 December edition of Turin’s “La Stampa” newspaper carried the headline: “Montenero di Bisaccia fined and penalised 20 points – Attempted corruption for Di Pietro’s Squad – The Minister: they are getting just what they deserve, sever the hands of those who cheat”.
Instead, in the body of the article itself, it is stated clearly that I have no ties whatsoever with the squad, other than having had the misfortune to be born in Montenero.
However, anyone who did not read the actual article will have gained the impression that Di Pietro owns a football team that is involved in some sort of corruption.
This is not information, it is absolute rubbish. Unfortunately this is not an isolated case and the phenomenon is not limited to a single newspaper.
Information is one of the tools of power, in the hands of groups in power, and anything that does not conform to the general guidelines is therefore obscured or defamed. That is why we need to do some serious reflection on these consensus machines, on who really owns the newspapers and ask ourselves who actually dictates their editorial policies: is it the Editors, or perhaps the proprietors, expressing their wishes through the Board of Directors?
And as regards who the proprietors are and where their real interests lie: to spread information or disinformation.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Information