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| (US) 2/06 - MSNBC offering conservati... |
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Pat Vesely
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Pat_vesely
Post Number: 12
Registered: 02-2006
Best of Black Box? 
Votes: 3 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 12:10 am: | 
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If this isn't illegal, it ought to be!
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
MSNBC offering conservative voter outreach, for a price
Well, isn't this interesting.
A top MSNBC producer, who worked on Hardball with Chris Matthews, and now works for MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, is off giving paid-only lectures about how to influence conservative voters. Gee, can you get more partisan than that? We're not just talking influencing conservatives, we're talking influencing VOTERS. That means elections. That means MSNBC staff is actively working to influence elections to help Republicans.
No right-wing bias there.
MSNBC senior producer Mike Tirone is speaking on a $279 per listener conference call on Feburary 16. The title of the call is "How to Reach Masses of Conservative Voters with Your Cause, Policy or Political Message." Kind of transparent on its face what that call's about.
But there's more on the Web site of the group hosting the call.
Millions of conservative voters — and the media that serve them — wield enormous influence in America’s public debate. Learn how you can reach this powerful political block with your agenda by listening and talking to editors at top moderate-to-conservative media. These influential decision-makers will explain which kinds of stories you need to tell to grab their attention and how you can develop long-term relationships with them.And things get particularly interesting in the next paragraph on the site:
Conservatism — from the Christian right and traditional business interests to the ascendant “neo-con” political movement — has emerged as one of the most powerful forces in American life. Likewise, the media that serve this growing segment can deliver your perspective with awesome credibility and power to millions of passionate voters. To gain incomparable insight into the mindset of the conservative voter — as well as find out how to pitch their favorite media — plan to attend this exclusive panel discussion. These editors will tell you how to be more successful in breaking into their media, as well as how to more effectively communicate with their audience.
<more>
http://openlettertochrismatthews.blogspot.com/2006/02/msnbc-offering-conservativ e-voter.html
FAIR USE NOTICE This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Paper ballots are the 'Currency of Democracy'. They've been helping to curb election fraud since 139 BCE!
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Catherine Ansbro
Frequent Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Catherine_a
Post Number: 1702
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 1:53 am: |
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From the purely corporate angle you could look at this as a major marketing campaign. They are selling their services (viewers' eyes) to those who would hand over $$$ to advertise. In this case, the target market is those with a conservative agenda. At the financial level they probably see this as the market with more money plus more political clout (= more access to top figures = easier to attract top-dollar advertisers).
From a purely corporate angle it's a legitimate strategy. Who said any major media must be unbiased? This is most likely a reflection of the viewpoints of the company owners.
As with other big media, it is difficult to separate the corporate interest from political interests, and most likely there isn't much separation.
Do you think they'll give a similar or scaled-down opportunity to progressive-leaning groups? Just for face-saving, if nothing else?
This is merely (!!!) a reflection of how the media is defined within our existing system: media is primarily and almost exclusively a corporation beholden to its shareholders. While in name only use of public airways requires a miniscule public service component, this has become smaller and smaller over time and only the tiniest middle-of-the-night public service announcement will satisfy any legal requirements.
If this is not the service we want media to describe, then it will be up to us (we the people again) to agitate, legislate, etc. to redefine the role and responsibilities of the media. |
Bev Harris
Board Administrator
Username: Admin
Post Number: 3622
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 9:04 am: |
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Does this fall under any disclosure requirement?
i.e. lobbying, campaigning, and my very next question is, what is the corporate entity through which he is being paid (probably a one-man consulting entity) and can we find that entity in the disclosure documents of expenses paid by Republicans?
This story is potentially explosive.
Great catch and excellent analysis, Pat. |
Catherine Ansbro
Frequent Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Catherine_a
Post Number: 1706
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 9:40 am: |
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It would be crucial to sort out immediately whether this is a one-man consulting entity or whether he's representing MSNBC. I didn't consider that he might be doing his own thing.
Does his contract with MSNBC permit such activities?
Or--might his "private" activities be an unofficial but sanctioned part of his MSNBC role? |
John Washburn
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Johnwashburn
Post Number: 6
Registered: 02-2006
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 11:07 am: |
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Does this fall under any disclosure requirement?
No. Media is specifically exempted un McCain-Feingold and other campaign finance laws. |
Pat Vesely
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Pat_vesely
Post Number: 13
Registered: 02-2006
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 11:19 am: |
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In my opinion this is a little more sinister than most realize. Mike Tirone is not only acting as a paid lobbyist for conservative causes but he also is a central actor in the disturbing trend of media outlets using "infotainment" type "news stories" to distract attention from more serious news.
As an example, our media seems transfixed on cute missing blond women while many important stories that deserve in-depth coverage get nary a mention. Guess who winds up becoming part of the 'missing blond in Aruba' story? Distraction, misdirection, fear, terror, don't trust anyone, not even the private security guards protecting you in paradise! Only the government can protect you now!
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8088376/
Scarborough producer met Holloway suspect
MSNBC's Mike Tirone talks about encounter
Updated: 11:08 a.m. ET June 7, 2005
Scarborough Country senior producer Mike Tirone just came back from a vacation in Aruba and coincidentally stayed at the same hotel where one of the suspects in the Natalee Holloway case worked as a security guard. Tirone met and interacted with the security guard and appeared on Monday's program to discuss his experience.
An excerpt of the segment:
Joe Scarborough: Mike, I know that you were very surprised. We talked about this before the show, obviously. You're looking on TV and one of the suspects in the Natalee Holloway disappearance and possible -- we hope not, but possible murder, is a guy you interacted with. Tell me about him.
Mike Tirone: Joe, we were in Aruba at the Allegra resort for about 10 days. We interacted with this security guard. He was high-fiving my 7-year-old son. We had -- we saw him on a daily occurrence every day. I would take a jog and talk to him.
He was a really nice guy. He had a lot of charisma. He was a fun guy. He went out of his way to help people. And I was very surprised. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the AP and MSNBC put his face up. It was a real surprise.
Scarborough: You know, Mike, we're actually looking at some of the video ... from the resort where you stayed. We're looking at it right now. I mean, this place looks like a tropical paradise. And you told me that -- that, again, very charismatic, that you would not be surprised at all that an American -- that an American tourist, like Natalee Holloway, would certainly approach a guy like this and certainly not fear for her life, again, a very charismatic character.
Tirone: Yes. He would -- I could see how Natalee would trust this guy. This guy has a way about him that made you feel warm. He -- like I said, my 7-year-old was high-fiving him. I talked to him regularly. He was just a nice guy. He had -- you know, he had a nice, warm smile.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8088376/
This is all a part of something much bigger that Joseph Goebbels would have loved. :-(
Pat A. Vesely ;-)
FAIR USE NOTICE This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Paper ballots are the 'Currency of Democracy'. They've been helping to curb election fraud since 139 BCE!
|
Catherine Ansbro
Frequent Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Catherine_a
Post Number: 1707
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 11:42 am: |
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Tin-foil hat warning
Tirone could also be intelligence.
Since many decades there are intimate links between the intelligence community and all major media. It's the ideal way to control the messages that go out (e.g. distraction, disinformation, controlling media focus, going along with the official government story or corporate spin, self-censorship on the real stories). Doing the "right thing" by one's employer(s) ensures access and rapid advancement up the career ladder. |
John Washburn
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Johnwashburn
Post Number: 7
Registered: 02-2006
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 1:43 pm: |
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US media today reminds of one of the better lines from the movie, They Live!: Sleep. Stay Asleep.
Fortunately, people are waking up. Many with the attitude: [they want] to kick ass and and chew bubble gum. [ and they are] all out of bubble gum. |
Pat Vesely
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Pat_vesely
Post Number: 14
Registered: 02-2006
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 4:00 pm: |
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Here's the actual current ad for the conference.
http://www.infocomgroup.com/conferences/
NEW AUDIO CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 16
How to Reach Masses of Conservative Voters with Your Cause, Policy or Political Message
Millions of conservative voters — and the media that serve them — wield enormous influence in America’s public debate. Learn how you can reach this powerful political block with your agenda by listening and talking to editors at top moderate-to-conservative media. Join John McCaslin, Political Columnist, The Washington Times; Kathryn Jean Lopez, Editor, National Review Online and Michael Maslansky, President, Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research and learn the kinds of stories you need to tell to grab their attention.
Note his name has been removed from the page!
Here's a Google Cache of the original notice.
NEW AUDIO CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 16
How to Reach Masses of Conservative Voters with Your Cause, Policy or Political Message
Millions of conservative voters — and the media that serve them — wield enormous influence in America’s public debate. Learn how you can reach this powerful political block with your agenda by listening and talking to editors at top moderate-to-conservative media. Join Wesley Pruden, Editor in Chief, The Washington Times; Mike Tirone, Senior Producer for MSNBC’s “Scarborough Country” and Michael Maslansky, President, Luntz Research Companies and learn the kinds of stories you need to tell to grab their attention.
Too much heat?
Pat A. Vesely ;-)
Paper ballots are the 'Currency of Democracy'. They've been helping to curb election fraud since 139 BCE!
|
Pat Vesely
Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Pat_vesely
Post Number: 15
Registered: 02-2006
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 4:21 pm: |
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Here's the current 'How to Register' page.
<snip>
What you'll learn:
* What are the hottest political and social issues these editors and their media will be covering over the coming months and year?
* How today’s top political and cause-related blogs influence these journalists, and which blogs you should be monitoring
* What possibilities exist at these media for scoring profiles and other coverage of your organization’s leaders or spokespeople?
* What’s the best way to get face time, such as editorial board meetings, with these journalists and their equally influential colleagues?
* What PR pros must do to establish their credibility — and maintain it — when pitching conservative media
* How can you grab attention for local and regional issues and political players with these media?
* How the best PR pros have gained the ear — and the trust — of these leading editorial gatekeepers — and how you, too, can build valuable long-term relationships with them
* How each of these media views its audience and social/political mission, how they differ from one another, and how you can use these insights to pitch more effectively?
I'd love to see the crystal ball they use to figure out the first item on the list! Can you say, "manufacturing consent"?
Pat A. Vesely ;-)
Paper ballots are the 'Currency of Democracy'. They've been helping to curb election fraud since 139 BCE!
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