With thirty days to go, the New York Times remains one of the *only* major media outlets to report on the Congressional investigation into the establishment of ICANN (minimal as it was)! At 12:19 PM 5/2/00, Jay Fenello wrote: >The New York Times Scoops the Rest (again)! >http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/05/cyber/capital/02capital.html Shouldn't really be a surprise, I guess . . . http://216.173.206.96/imc/display.php3?article_id=151 News Blackout Creates Chaos by dan merkle 6:32pm Tue Nov 30 '99 The failure of the U.S. mainstream press to cover the substantive concerns regarding the WTO has caused a huge backlog of anger and frustration that has now been released. Scholars, scientists and activists from around the world have been voicing concerns over the WTO policies without an voice in the U.S. press. U.S. politicians, mainstream press and business leaders will privately wonder why 50,000 people descended on Seattle to voice their concerns over the policies of the WTO. They will also wonder why there was so much anger. Yet, the outward spin will be clear and direct: these activists do not understand the issues and do not offer another vision superior to that mandated by the corporate interests. The question as to what triggered the most powerful riot in the U.S. in the last 30 years is any easy one for scholars, scientists, intellectuals and activists around the world: the failure of these very same politicians, press and business leaders to seriously address their concerns. Like a precocious teenager, those who have been voicing concerns against U.S. corporate policies have been ridiculed, ignored and jailed. For some, their countries have been invaded and destroyed. The biggest fear of this extremely small, but powerful, number of people, is that the truth will be exposed. Like South Africa, Russia and the British Empire, the use of manipulation and force is a temporary mechanism to control the social dynamics to maintain the status quo. Many in the U.S. who have not directly been subject to the abuse of power by this government and the corporate interests will have a hard time understanding this level of wrath. Yet, as the story unfolds and the crimes of history are put in their proper perspective, we will look back to the last 20 years as a painful and bewildering period. The embargoes which kill millions of people will be subject to review by international human rights courts. The millions killed by the tobacco industry will be the evidence of the loss of balance between protecting our community versus the obsessive compulsion to maximize corporate profits and shareholder wealth. For the last 40 years the corporate machine has ensured that the use of force would be available whenever necessary. Much of the rest of the world is very aware of this market dynamic. However, the conintued use of force and might can only be maintained in two scenarios: if the citizens are supportive of the policies; or if the press manipulates the motivations and effects of such policies. The U.S. corporate machine has aggressively controlled the mainstream press for many years. The accelerated consolidation of every aspect of the media channels over the past 5 years has solidified the control over the content and means of distribution of what is clearly an in-house public relations firm for the corporate interests and wealthy class. The wonderful notion of free press must be qualified in the U.S.: its free as long as it doesn\'t challenge the structural policies of the corporate machine. Even Europe is willing to allow for a healthy debate over the substantive issues which affect our policies. The information that challenges these policies is available. However, the corporate media machine will not allow for an open and honest debate. Rather, the last remaining soapbox is the streets. Benaroya Symphony Hall in downtown Seattle was the home of international experts expressing concerns for 2 days this past weekend. Yet, the mainstream press barely paid lip service to these intelligent and thoughtful positions. Rather, the mainstream press has covered only 2 stories: more trade is better (ignoring the implicit dilemma of the need for a healthy balance and the need for participation of all segments of our community in debating and formulating policies); and the activists are childish and not to be trusted in their extreme views. This country will now undergo a significant transformation which will evolve in one of two directions: a further tightening of the manipulation and blackout of the voices of concern; or the explosion of positive change supported by diverse communities with the intellect, commitment and ability to influence the course of history. Karma, the strength of the human spirit and finally the power of the internet, satellite and faxes lead me to bet on the latter outcome. If the latter vision prevails, the possibilities are unlimited. -- Respectfully, Jay Fenello, New Media Strategies ------------------------------------ http://www.fenello.com 770-392-9480 Aligning with Purpose(sm) ... for a Better World ------------------------------------------------ "If we want to change the world, we have to begin by changing ourselves" -- Deepak Chopra