by havanagilla » Thu May 18, 2006 11:38 am
FWIW, here is a bit of personal experience on the local mockingbird MO. (I used to work in one of Israel's newspaper, without names, but most of you know which it is).<br>The "bird" from the mocking op, was admited to work at a fairly young age, in a medium low administrative position. From there he worked his way up, till finally he served as CEO (not editor, but the highest administrative/business office). The guy was a master of manipulations. His position with secret Services was well disguised, and by the time it was made known officially, he was sacked, but could not be reprimanded. OK this is how he worked his way up. -1/ collecting stench on key journalists. 2/bribing softly, ebcause he had the coupons and perks (the department of marketting and advertising has the "barters" and promotion perks 3/ bringing in his buddies from the same orgs to work with him. 4/ spreading rumors about the owner re sexual issues, with a looming, but unfocused, threat of making it bigger. AND doing an excellent job business wise, to create an addiction to profits. gradually he also affected editorial policies, etc. Very early in his work he made some key steps to ensure his position (such as, in my case, he made a connection for me with the editor of one of the sectors, which was a HUGE break for me and then influenced subtly the topic of the article I freelanced. i wasn't aware of anything suspicious because the topic was good, but it was smartly directed against a certain business person, and so he made a name for himself as someone who is able to "commission" bad rap, namely, that if he wanted to he could ruin someone's reputation. but this was smartly done. i was not aware, the editor was not aware, etc.). Later he used the newspaper's infrustructure for one intel op abroad, so that from then on he had the owner by the balls, for the rest of his tenure, etc. The only reason it stopped, btw, was because his enemies within the intel wanted his head and presented his affiailaition officially, and didn't back him. so the owner felt free to sack him. The reason intel got rid of him, is that because he started being too dangerous for them, and using his position to blackmail etc. namely, the piss went up to his head, in terms of the BAD GUYS. Otherwise, he would still be there...and I am sure he has a replacement. I think there is a lesson in that too. All those "moles" in the press are certain candidates for a decapitation, because they are potentially dangerous for the orgs.<br>--<br>As for the majority of the media owners, usually they are fully cooperative because they are themselves part of the "power elite". etc./ I am quite sure the same is done in your country. these are cases that are hard to expose until they are irrelevant, OR they eventually hurt the wrong person. But the Miller affair reminded me of this MO. IMportant to bear in mind that you can't easily blame someone. Usually, it is so sophisticated...the reigns are usually in the hands of the highest intel authorities. So, I wouldn't go running to call anyone "gatekeeper" before you walk in their shoes to see how easy a person, as mighty as he is or smart, can be taken on a ride. These are<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong> professionals</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> who are running this show, and they have ALL the powers in their hands. <br>--<br> <p></p><i></i>
