The Oregonian runs a top of the page web site “report” about an author – who happens to have previously worked for the paper – coming to a local bookstore to discuss her new book. There is no new “news” in this report – it is a prominent free ad for the author and her new book. Literally, a free ad for someone that once worked for the paper.
This is known as public relations propaganda: Working with General Motors, Netflix will put EVs into as many of its movies and shows as it can. There’s a Super Bowl ad to prove it. Source: Netflix Wants to Make Electric Cars Its Next Big Stars – CNET Netflix is doing this for free.
“Fan-baiting” is said to be a movie marketing technique where studios intentionally create controversy about the plot, characters or casting for the purpose of creating outrage and social media discussions, thereby increasing publicity for the film.
The AP accepted an $8 million grant from climate change organizations and is using the grant to pay for 20 new staff members. 50 AP staff members are now paid from external, third-party grants. How can a reader tell if a news report is news or propaganda? They can’t tell. The only valid assumption is to assume all news reports are propaganda. Source: Climate activists spend millions for friendly Associated Press ‘news’
Meta (parent of FB and IG) lost one quarter of its market value last week. This occurred because of significant risks to FB’s core business model – which is surveillance of users to build dossiers used for advertising and marketing purposes. FB no longer has control over the collection of data – as Apple, Google/Android have restricted data collection via apps, and as Europe’s data privacy regulations restrict data. This has long term strategic implications for Meta’s business model. The company noted this in its financial report, hinting that at worst case, it might have to shut FB and IG in Europe.