The war between Israel and Hezbollah is being fought not just on the ground but also in the media. Both sides are adept at propaganda--to persuade the other side it's losing and to influence the ideas and images reported in the rest of the world. Israel bombards southern Lebanon with phone calls, e-mails and leaflets that one reporter has called "propaganda bombs" that flutter to the streets "like confetti." Hezbollah provides "escorts" for western reporters. How do mainstream newspapers, radio and television stations sort it all out? We speak with journalists and Middle East experts about propaganda on both sides and ask how the mainstream media figure out what's true and what's false.
In Mid-East Fighting, What's News? What's Propaganda?
Credits
Guests:
- Ilene Prusher - Jerusalem Bureau Chief, Christian Science Monitor
- Hanady Salman - Reporter for the Lebanese newspaper, As Safir
- Walid Phares - Director of the Future of Terrorism Project, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies'
- Ali Abunimah - Electronic Intifada - @aliabunimah
- Tim Rutten - Los Angeles Daily News