PASCUAL SERRANO TO SPEAK
An interview against disinformation
Mariló Hidalgo
Stop a moment and think. Do not believe everything you say. Beware, be critical. This journalist specializing in international political and media analysis and a founder of the alternative newspaper Rebellion, invites us to think against the grain.
is an expert at analyzing the media and the information we receive. It has an exquisite sharpness when dissecting reality and bringing new opportunities for reflection and views. Get make clear the gap between the reality of what is happening out there and what they tell us. A difficult task that always emerges victorious. His articles and books, are proof of that. "Disinformation. How to hide the world media "(Peninsula) and" Journalism is news "(Icaria), are the latest titles. With his work attempts to "the greatest number of people leaving the group of passive consumers of information and incorporated into a critical, distrustful of the media who want to know the truth then be truly free."
can read daily newspapers, hear the news and instead being uninformed. What is this disinformation? What mechanisms do you use?
The methods are numerous and complex, not only does the lie there also, but are more subtle. It is important to note that there are two types of misinformation: the structural, the result of a simplified reporting format that is delivered to the spectacle and the platitude and omitted items background and context, and ideology, which occurs when there is a clear intention to distort a reality. In my book "Disinformation" is explained in more detail.
Behind " of disinformation are ideological or economic reasons? How to orchestrate the media disinformation campaign?
depends on what issue, conflict or region is being addressed in the information. On Africa, for example, an information blackout and the presentation tribal conflicts that have interests behind the first world. In the case of Latin America are used to demonize leftist political leaders. In Asia, the absence of context, with the most obvious example of Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Your articles and books make clear that you have become a specialist in detecting traps power in terms of journalistic language is concerned. The case of Latin America is an example. What is happening there and what it wants to silence?
In much of Latin America are developing leftist governments have come to power through the ballot box is being put in place progressive policies that have pointed to the disastrous neoliberal policies of previous decades. This shows that in fact can change many things. That has made the big media groups are leading the political opposition to those governments, and showing that the information and freedom of expression for them is only an excuse to attack those governments and their leftist policies. The result is an aggressive and unprecedented media manipulation in history.
information, unrelated, no history, no context can be unbearable, how to get that interaction to really get to the city?
is not easy, the city is also deformed because they are getting used to brief and superficial news in print, and spectacular and empty in the media. We must continue to make him see that consumers from these formats are not used to being informed. Check that does not know or understand the events international, and to models, it is preferable to turn off the television and close the paper to replace a book or a good story writing. Mentally
associate censorship dictatorship but things have changed today What is censorship and what new elements have been introduced?
Mainly what I would call media noise. That is, information that prevents straw distinguish valuable information from the superficial, even false. The result turns out to be as effective for disinformation as censorship. If the city you mix the real with the false information and can not differentiate, it's like the first censure.
You are constantly talking of the need to change the model information. What role should it play throughout the state?
Their role is crucial. On the one hand, by developing public-owned media, yes, and control mechanisms to ensure democratic participation are not mere mouthpieces of governments or parties. On the other, backing from public authorities on the development of alternative and community media. Audiovisual law recently passed in Spain to limit the budget of a nonprofit radio to 50,000 per year and a television to 100,000 is an example of the opposite policy.
Wikileaks published the famous website 92,000 files a few days ago the U.S. military leaked on the war in Afghanistan, a period between 2004 and 2009 -. These documents are a kind of war diaries written by soldiers detailed military actions and killings of civilians, including children. Three renowned media echo information: New York Times, The Guardian and Der Spiegel. This I want to ask several questions. The first, what is a filter of this type at this time (say it is one of the largest in history)?
is certainly a contribution to transparency. The fact that this has happened because in secret by the military and violating the law, shows we do not live an information democracy.
Secondly, history shows that any leakage is concerned. What do you think in this case?
who is interested does not mean to be negative. May have an interest in denouncing the occupation of a country, to defend human rights of civilians killed, etc ... However, I note that this information had to go through the funnel of the three media have said, which shows that largely remain the key to the dissemination of information.
Changing the subject. Do not think that should be included in the institutes a subject to help us raise curiosity, to read back the information that reaches us, to participate, discuss, reflect ...
course, has always seemed absurd that schools and colleges are established activities such as making a college magazine and never taught to use media. These children, in the future, magazines will not do, however do go to read them. I find it more logical to educate them in the latter than the former.
you a member and founder of the electronic publication Rebellion, an alternative means of reference. What gives credibility to a medium of communication?
First, know that behind there is no business interest or a return objective, no influence of advertising. This is key, so I always say the first thing to know half is knowing who their owners. The mere fact that they are a group of people with no financial interest and is a great endorsement. Then, more factors are required to observe, including the credibility of their signatures.
D Etrasa of what you write there is always an invitation to the reader to beware ... What should be wary?
As in all areas, information should be wary of money. If a doctor makes money by prescribing a medicine, when prescribed distrust; if a teacher win money with each book to recommend, nor would trust us your suggestions. I think the business pervert everything, so, contrary to the assertions of the neo-liberals believe that the profitability does not independence, but the grave. Pascual Serrano
regularly works in ten English and Latin American media issues and international politics, including the newspaper Público, the monthly Le Monde Diplomatique, the biweekly Diagonal Cuban cultural magazine La Jiribilla. Telesur was editorial adviser
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