I'm delighted to present and invite you to join TELL UNTOLD PUBLISHING LTD, a Non Profit with a mission to counter the Mainstream Corporate Media's manipulation of public opinion by building CO-OPs & journalists-owned Media Organisations worldwide, and empower them to grow into Mainstream Media
Founding Chair
Why?
Because Mainstream Corporate Media has metamorphosed itself from "News Source" into "Influencer" over the years. A concerning tendency is the growing influence of media owners and political organisations on narratives, as seen by the way the public's image of war has been shaped by mainstream corporate media.
From the Vietnam War to contemporary conflicts like the Israel-Gaza and Russia-Ukraine wars, mainstream corporate media's role has changed dramatically, frequently driven by the political agendas and interests of its owners.
The Vietnam War: Most people agree that the Vietnam War was the first "television war." It signalled a dramatic change in the public's perception and reporting of conflicts. Television networks sent journalists to Vietnam to expose the world to the horrific facts of the war. Widespread distrust and escalating anti-war sentiment were caused by the sharp contrast between the official government story and the pictures that were broadcast on television.
The Gulf War 1990 -91: The emergence of 24-hour news networks like as CNN during this conflict signified another important development in the field of war reporting. Watchers may track the clash in real time for the first time.
By carefully controlling the information flow and integrating journalists with the troops, the U.S. government and military took advantage of this new media.
The Iraq War 2003: This war served as another evidence of how popular opinion has evolved and how the media has shaped it. By emphasising the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and connecting Iraq to terrorism, the Bush administration successfully used mainstream television to support its argument for war.
Major news networks promoted these storylines, frequently failing to critically challenge the claims made by the government.
The Russia Ukraine War: A prime example of a contemporary battle in which information warfare is crucial is the Russia-Ukraine War. Both sides use social media and conventional media to sway public opinion across the world and win over supporters from other countries.
Russian state-run media outlets, like Sputnik and RT, portray the war as a defensive measure to defend communities that speak Russian and stave off Western encroachment.
On the other hand, Western media portrays the war as Russia's unprovoked invasion, emphasising the suffering of civilians and the tenacity of Ukrainian soldiers in an effort to win over sympathy and support from across the world for Ukraine.
The Israel Gaza War: And, now the mainstream corporate media has completely metamorphosed itself into "Influencer"and Perception Manipulator during the current Israel Gaza war that started on October, the 7th, 2023.
The public's opinion of the Israel-Gaza conflict is significantly impacted by the biases present in mainstream media coverage of the conflict. The media is largely responsible for spreading false information and endorsing policies that prioritise Israel over Palestinian rights and justice. This is because they support the interests of Western governments, particularly those of the United States, and present the conflict in an oversimplified and ahistorical manner.
The Solution
Community Ownership
Establishing independent, honest, and responsible alternative mass media institutions is essential to addressing these issues.
The creation of cooperative media enterprises owned by journalists and the public is a workable approach. By using this paradigm, media outlets may be guaranteed to represent the interests of the general people instead of those of influential owners or political parties.
- Ownership by Journalists and Audience: Journalists and the public should own and run cooperative media enterprises. Because decisions would be made in the public interest rather than for profit or political benefit, this ownership structure can promote independence and accountability.
- Transparency and Accountability: High standards of transparency should be followed by these groups, including the explicit disclosure of funding sources and editorial practices. Audience confidence may be established and accountability ensured by frequent audits and public reporting.
- varied and Inclusive Coverage: In order to represent a broad spectrum of viewpoints and opinions, cooperative media should work towards varied and inclusive coverage. This strategy can combat the polarisation and prejudices present in mainstream media.
- Community Engagement: For cooperative media to succeed, community engagement is essential. The media may be made to serve the needs and interests of the people by implementing participatory journalism, public forums, and regular feedback systems.
- Education and Media Literacy: Raising public media literacy can enable people to evaluate media material critically and identify biases and false information. When it comes to offering courses and instructional materials on media literacy, cooperative media organisations may be quite important.
Let's Join Hands
I, as the founding chair of the organisation, invite all of you, from all over the world, to join the movement -- If you believe in the organisation's mission and ideologies.
The organisation is still in formative stage and I invite participation on board level, too. Private invitations are being sent, but you are welcome to submit your interest or recommend anyone directly, too.
The board will comprise of members from the UK as well as other countries.
Warmest Regards,
Tashu Gudokin
Founding Chair,
Tell unTold Publishing Ltd