Media, politics and the crisis in Syria

John Kerezy, JMC Assistant Professor

Cuyahoga Community College

September 20, 2013

Media Ignorance

• About Syria

“Can we just press pause on Syria? It’s about to be Fashion Week for God’s sake.” http://www.pittnews.com/opinion/article_ffa9c654-18e3-11e3-ae0d-0019bb30f31a.html

The Twitter pages for major news sources such as The Huffington Post, Fox News and CNN, for example, maintain about a 1-to-10 ratio regarding foreign-policy articles and other, less intimidating topics. Basically, if you want to keep yourself informed on global issues, you have to look for them yourself.

Media ignorance leads to popular ignorance as well …

There were 19 times as many stories about Syria on web pages on Monday, August 26 than there were stories about Miley Cyrus’ performance at the VMA. There were 12 times more viewer “hits” on Miley Cyrus stories than on Syria on that same day.

Media ignorance leads to popular ignorance as well …

Media ignorance leads to popular ignorance as well …

Media Ignorance

• About Syria

• About the Middle East in general

Media Ignorance = Public Ignorance about Middle East

• How many people died in Iraq in 2003-2009? (US-led invasion, government change, etc.)

A. Less than 100,000

B. 100,001 to 250,000

C. 250,001 to 500,000

D. 500,000 to 1 million

E. More than 1 million

The truth is out there … but you have to look hard to find it.

• Lack of reporting leads to the “best story wins” scenario

• Let’s watch the video (Amistad, 1989, Spielberg)

• Groups are vying hard to influence public opinion through social media, lobbying, etc.

• More about this is coming

The truth is out there … but you have to look hard to find it.

On Tuesday, GOOD MORNING AMERICA allowed nine minutes and 24 seconds to the massacre at the Navy Yard. However, an interview with Brittany Spears and a full report on dissecting Dancing With the Stars (another ABC program) amounted to 11 minutes and 54 seconds.

In July (2013) GMA obsessed over the British royal baby for 62 minutes. In comparison, the network allowed just 24 minutes, over two and a half months, to the IRS scandal.

The “bias” tug of war is real!

Influencers are just as real too….

Cited by Kerry, McCain, and fired for lying on her resume…

Providing PR and lobbying services to the nation of Russia

Influencers – seen this before!

Nayirah al-Sabah, lied to Congress

“Astroturf organization, represented by Hill & Knowlton Public Relations

“Better” sites/sources

• Accuracy in Media (AIM) • Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) • Media Research Center (MRC) CAMERA: Committee for Accuracy on Middle East Reporting in America

Ignorance is NOT bliss. Ignorance contributes to the slaughter

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/07/politics/us-syria-chemical-attack-videos/index.html

People who shot the video and pictures of the chemical attack on August 21 may have paid for their efforts with their lives … http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/08/29/youtube_syria

Ignorance is not bliss …

Really disturbing …

• Media reports (Foreign Policy, elsewhere) that our government knew about the August 21 chemical attack at least two days BEFORE it happened.

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/08/30/us_had_intel_on_chemical_strike_before_it_was_launched

Two years ago, we had choices Today, we’re in zugzwang in Syria

• Hillary Clinton and David Petraeus wanted to arm Free Syrian Army and “pro-democracy” rebels a couple of years ago

• US Gov’t refused to do so

• Instead, US Gov’t was involved in a CIA-led effort to divert weapons from Libya to Syria

Two years ago, we had choices Today, we’re in zugzwang in Syria

• Al-Qaeda-supported rebels and ISIS have a much stronger role in the civil war today

• These rebels are practicing “ethnic cleansing” of Christian villages and towns

Two years ago, we had choices Today, we’re in zugzwang in Syria

FROM A STUDENT: For me, social media is huge for understanding news events nowadays. If it weren’t for my social media I wouldn’t know half of what is going on in the world. I don’t have any time anymore to sit and watch the news. The only time I go to the television is when I know something big is going on. I don’t have more or less confidence that our government is telling us the truth. I’ve always been a skeptic. I definitely think that they are only telling us very little. Obviously were not gonna know everything but i think that our government keeps plenty from us already. Why would they decide to tell the full truth about Syria? I guess we will see what happens.

Two years ago, we had choices Today, we’re in zugzwang in Syria

• There’s more, (three slides) but I’ll stop for questions for me or others on the panel

• LOVE to have someone ask, “Why and how has Russia obtained such a prominent role in this process, when it’s been Russia that’s been the single largest backer of the Bashar al-Assad regime in the first place?”

“Euro/American Public Opinion” on Syria -- today

German Marshall Fund poll found 62 percent of Americans and 72 percent of Europeans believed their countries should avoid military intervention in Syria’s civil war.

http://www.firstpost.com/world/americans-europeans-oppose-military-intervention-in-syria-polls-1117969.html?utm_source=ref_article

Wouldn’t it be nice … And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. -- Isaiah 2: 3-4

Do you know???

• How many people have died so far in the Syrian civil war?

• How many Syrians are refugees from the war?