It's been exactly one month since I first went public with my suspicions that the media was suppressing the story about ICANN. First, I reported how one of the most biased news sources in the ICANN debate had admitted to coordinating information with multiple "reporters at other nationally-distributed publications." Then, I revealed the techniques of media bias by giving some examples from News.com, ZiffDavis, and Reuters. After revealing this blatant bias, I often asked: "I wonder why?" In response to these inquiries, I received many private notes that attempted to explain away the evidence. Here are some of the "explanations" that have been forwarded: 1) Complexity, Confusion, etc. The first explanation that I received was that this story is too complicated for reporters and editors to understand. And even if they did understand it, their readership never could. In response to this "explanation," I wrote a very comprehensive summary of the ICANN debate, one that correctly framed the importance of this debate in terms that the public could easily understand. I made this summary available for publishing to over 150 reporters on my private press list. Not a single U.S. media outlet picked up this story, nor did they cover the significant issues that it revealed. Again, I wonder why? Could it be that my story was inaccurate? If so, then why hasn't there been a single critique suggesting this possibility? If so, then shouldn't it be subject to a public debate? If so, then why *has* it been published in Germany? http://www.heise.de/tp/english/inhalt/te/5166/1.html No! Complexity, confusion, etc. can't possibly explain the media blackout on ICANN! 2) The Ogilvy Explanation One of the more interesting suggestions was that the media blackout was a result of ICANN's P.R. firm -- Alexander Ogilvy and its parent company Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide: http://www.icann.org/icann-pr03feb99-2.html This scenario implies that a P.R. firm *could* suppress stories through most media outlets, to the point of a total blackout. While counter to what most believe about a free press, this scenario raises some interesting questions. For example, hiring a P.R. firm for strategy, positioning, and communication purposes can be an expensive proposition. How much *more* expensive would a blackout service be? And given that ICANN is almost a million dollars in debt, who is fronting ICANN the funding for this expensive proposition? 3) The Self-Interest Scenario Gordon Cook has suggested that the Internet challenges the existing order of things. http://www.cookreport.com/icannregulate.shtml The media is no exception. What used to be a virtual monopoly on the distribution of news, the media is now under assault from any Tom, Dick or Harry who has something to say, and a web page to say it with. Under this scenario, there is no coordination behind this blackout, only independent self preservation. 4) The European Connection For many years, Europe supported a repressive and highly regulated networking standard known as OSI. The U.S., on the other hand, supported TCP/IP, an open standard that was the foundation for today's Internet. Over time, OSI was completely decimated by the success of TCP/IP. Ever since, Europe has been trying to recapture some authority over the inter-networked world. This scenario assumes that Europe, somehow, has the ability to influence the coverage in the free press. How is this possible? Once upon a time, there were strict limits to the amount of foreign ownership allowed in U.S. media outlets. Without knowing the current limits, it would be an interesting exercise to find out who owns which media outlets, and which ones are predominately foreign owned/controlled. In closing . . . While I don't know how it is being coordinated, it is now apparent that a media blackout is in effect, just like the one that occurred when the Green Paper was announced. I encourage anyone who has any idea of how this blackout is being coordinated to go public with your theories. If you prefer, you can send them privately to me, and I'll protect your identity if you so desire. Until next time . . . Respectfully, Jay Fenello President, Iperdome, Inc. 404-943-0524 ----------------------------------------------- What's your .per(sm)? http://www.iperdome.com "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third, it is accepted as self-evident." (Arthur Schopenhauer)