Listening Post - US election narrative - 26 Sep 08 - Part 2

The Listening Post takes a look at constructing the narrative: how John McCain is dictating the media's daily talking points in the US presidential election.

We head to the US where the presidential election campaign is in full swing. And what are the media talking about during these times of economic woes and interminable foreign wars? As one TV anchor put it, they will be talking about "whatever the McCain campaign wants"!

We look at how crafting the media narrative in order to win the news cycle has led the media to seriously consider the veracity of what the politicians and their campaigns are saying. Misleading adverts, misquoted statements and downright lies are coming back to haunt John McCain in a media backlash.

But who will come out best in this battle to grab the voters' attention?

In Newsbytes: Zimbabwe moves to relax restrictions on the media; A24, a new online initiative for pan-African journalism, is launched in Kenya; Egyptian campaigners employ SMS messaging to expose torture; Myanmar releases writer U Win Tin after 19 years in prison but the media faces a new threat as the ruling military government launch a cyber-war against anti-government online publications; and computer hackers target US Republicans at the highest level.

Our Video of the week offers a master class in improvised musical instrumentation. This innovative Japanese man has created an orchestra out of vegetables. Learn all you need to know from his YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/heita3?ob=1

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Listening
• Post
• Richard
• Gizbert
• US
• presidential
• election
• John
• McCain
• Barack
• Obama
• campaign
• media
• message
• Zimbabwe
• Myanmar

[djoasis]

as an american, i love that the most honest news I've seen, is from an Arab channel. Thanks.

[gobbledygookie]

Al Jazeera can teach US media a lesson in objectivity, it's a sham what's going on there

[aivanv69]

We head to the US where the presidenti...

[654321yhtaeD]

i hope no 1 kill Obama

[ezelepra22]

6 does anhyone have msn!!! msg me jane23belle 9

[thelostkez]

Nope, you're just putting words into my mouth.

you're still a douche

[Marduk2009]

Yeah. And when people literally insult George W. Bush, who is holder of the office of President of US, insulting him by the filthiest words its okay. But when I make a play on words, saying "Barack Osama", then I'm the scapegoat. This is your hypocrisy at its best :-)

[thelostkez]

Nope, i'm talking about your "Barak Osama" comment.

douche

[Marduk2009]

Yep. Just disagree with the majority and I'm ignorant. There are NO good candidates this election campaign, John McCain has enough flaws as it is. But you people look at Obama's magnetic "personality" (what a great guy!) and support him and only a few people like us analyse this from a military, religious, geopolitical and strategic perspective. Since I do so, I am "ignorant".

[thelostkez]

Wow, way to be ignorant.

[jammoexii]

Barack Obama is full of shit. If he gets elected his policies are going to be almost identical to Clinton's, even though he's attractive and friendly and intelligent. While they're both horrid liars and hypocrites, the Republicans are a little more honest about the policies they actually intend to implement.