The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 completely lifted the long-existing ban on the domestic dissemination of U.S. government-produced propaganda
In the age of legal, weaponized propaganda directed at the American people, false narratives have become so commonplace in the mainstream and even alternative media that these falsehoods have essentially become normalized, leading to the era of “fake news” and “alternative facts.”
Many of these government-friendly narratives first began at U.S.-funded media organizations overseen by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) -— an extension of the U.S. state department.
A key example of this, is the influence of the new think-tank The Alliance for Securing Democracy, whose advisory council and staff are loaded with neocons, such as the National Review’s Bill Kristol, and former U.S. intelligence and State Department officials like former CIA Director Michael Morell.
VICE Media
After the propaganda ban was lifted, VICE’s citations of BBG sources “spiked.”
He continued:
One of the things I immediately noticed was that [VICE news] were so quick to call out other countries’ media outlets, but yet -— in every instance I looked up of them citing BBG sources -— they never mentioned where the funding came from or what it was and they would very briefly mention [information from BBG sources] like these were any other media outlets.”
He added that, in many of these cases, journalists at VICE were unaware that references to VOA or other BBG sources appeared in their articles.
This was an indication that “there is some editorial staff [at VICE News] that is putting this in from the top down.”
Martin noted that, soon after the ban was lifted, “VICE’s coverage mirrored the type of coverage that BBG was doing across the world in general,”
In Martin’s view, this indicates “there was definitely some coordination between the State Department and VICE.”
This coordination was also intimated by BBG’s overwhelmingly positive opinion of VICE in their auditing reports, in which the BBG “seemed more excited about VICE than any other media outlet” -— especially since VICE was able to use BBG organizations as sources while maintaining its reputation as a “rebel” media outlet.
Sources Of Fake News / 4am Talking Points
The Alliance for Securing Democracy
https://securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/about-us/advisory-council/
Broadcasting Board of Governors / United States Agency for Global Media
https://www.bbg.gov/who-we-are/our-leadership/board/
Sauce:
https://www.mintpressnews.com/planting-stories-in-the-press-lifting-of-us-propaganda-ban-gives-new-meaning-to-old-song/237493/
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/vice-media-reorganize-lay-10-percent-staff-1181785
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