US Military Paid Journalists to Write 'Good' Stories on Iraq?
Ninemsn, Australia
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Washington (US):
The US military intended news stories that were placed in Iraqi newspapers to be "paid advertisements," but some ran without disclaimers that they had been paid for, a US senator said Friday.
Senator John Warner, after being briefed by defense officials, said the Pentagon was still gathering information on the extent of the secret program and whether Iraqi journalists were paid by the military to write favorable stories.Senior Pentagon officials confirmed that a private firm, the Lincoln Group, was contracted to pay Iraqi news organizations to run military-produced stories as paid advertisements, he said.
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See Also:
US Admits to Paying Iraqi Newspapers
Senate looks into use of US propaganda in Iraq
Faults Are Acknowledged in Program That Pays Iraqi Newspapers
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He said the stories were put together by a group working directly under Lieutenant General John Vines, the second ranking commander in Iraq.
"Lincoln Group is authorized to provide payment for placement of this material in Iraqi newspapers, similar to the way in which any advertiser, marketer or public relations firm would place advertisements," Warner said.
The Los Angeles Times reported this week that Lincoln Group staff in Iraq sometimes posed as freelance journalists or advertising executives when delivering stories to Iraqi news outlets, masking their connection to the military.
Knight-Ridder newspapers reported this week that the military also has paid Iraqi journalists to write favorable stories, making payments of up to 200 dollars a month to members of a military-organized Baghdad Press Club.
The Lincoln Group has remained silent on whether it has paid Iraqi news organizations to run stories without identifying them as produced by the military.In a statement Friday, the Washington-based firm said it "has consistently worked with the Iraqi media to promote truthful reporting across Iraq.
Our priority has always been, and continues to be, accuracy and timeliness."
Dec 03, 2005
Ninemsn, Australia_______________
Washington (US):
The US military intended news stories that were placed in Iraqi newspapers to be "paid advertisements," but some ran without disclaimers that they had been paid for, a US senator said Friday.
Senator John Warner, after being briefed by defense officials, said the Pentagon was still gathering information on the extent of the secret program and whether Iraqi journalists were paid by the military to write favorable stories.Senior Pentagon officials confirmed that a private firm, the Lincoln Group, was contracted to pay Iraqi news organizations to run military-produced stories as paid advertisements, he said.
____________________________
See Also:
US Admits to Paying Iraqi Newspapers
Senate looks into use of US propaganda in Iraq
Faults Are Acknowledged in Program That Pays Iraqi Newspapers
_____________________________
He said the stories were put together by a group working directly under Lieutenant General John Vines, the second ranking commander in Iraq.
"Lincoln Group is authorized to provide payment for placement of this material in Iraqi newspapers, similar to the way in which any advertiser, marketer or public relations firm would place advertisements," Warner said.
The Los Angeles Times reported this week that Lincoln Group staff in Iraq sometimes posed as freelance journalists or advertising executives when delivering stories to Iraqi news outlets, masking their connection to the military.
Knight-Ridder newspapers reported this week that the military also has paid Iraqi journalists to write favorable stories, making payments of up to 200 dollars a month to members of a military-organized Baghdad Press Club.
The Lincoln Group has remained silent on whether it has paid Iraqi news organizations to run stories without identifying them as produced by the military.In a statement Friday, the Washington-based firm said it "has consistently worked with the Iraqi media to promote truthful reporting across Iraq.
Our priority has always been, and continues to be, accuracy and timeliness."
Dec 03, 2005
