Newspeak in the 21st Century

by David Edwards, David Cromwell

Since 2001, Media Lens has encouraged thousands of readers to challenge the filtered and distorted version of the world provided by major newspapers and broadcasters. The media responses, collected in Newspeak, are an exposé of the arrogance and servility to power of our leading journalists and editors, starring Andrew Marr, Alan Rusbridger, Roger Alton, Jon Snow, Jeremy Bowen and even George Monbiot.

Picking up where the highly acclaimed and successful Guardians of Power (2006) left off, Newspeak is packed with forensic media analysis, revealing the lethal bias in "balanced" reporting. Even the "best" UK media -- the Guardian, the Independent, Channel 4 News and the BBC -- turn out to be cheerleaders for government, business and war.

Alongside an A-Z of BBC propaganda and chapters on Iraq and climate change, Newspeak focuses on the demonisation of Iran and Venezuela, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the myth of impartial reporting and the dark art of smearing dissidents.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Journalism

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Tom Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orwell says in "1984" that the purpose of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought, and that the sinister thing about literary censorship is that it is largely voluntary.

"1984" gave us "newspeak" in the context of a totalitarian state. Most of us were brought up to dismiss the pronouncements of the enemies of the West as lies and propaganda, and to cherish that we lived in a world of free speech.

This book will severely test those assumptions. What is compelling about this book is its forensic thoroughness. It argues that the media in the West is simply a mouthpiece for the government and corporate agenda, complicit in their crimes and with no serious attempt to hold politicians to account. It focuses on the UK 'liberal' media in particular - The Guardian, Independent, BBC, Channel 4, and reveals systematic and institutionalised distortion of world events. The forensic analysis of media mentions using media search engines reveals how views supportive of the Western Agenda are propogated, whereas those critical are ignored, or ridiculed.

This book is highly recommended to anyone interested in cultivating a world view free of the distortions of the mass media. This is a book you can read cover to cover, or dip into on particular subjects. I found the chapter on the demonisation of Hugo Chavez particularly enlightening. Compare that to the failure of the media to hold to account the mass murderer Pinochet, and the Western goverments that put him in power.

[Mark Hebden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most vital books I have read on the subject of mass media and public consumption of news. It is all the more important for the fact that it focuses on those areas of our media we expect better from, such as the BBC, the Guardian, Channel 4 and the Independent. Were a similar book to be written regarding bias and malfeasance in the Sun and the Daily Mail we should wince at the damage done to global forestry for the amount of paper that would be required. This book shows that deep infection of conformity that runs in a think vein through out media outlets. How the institutions are not just linked to the corporate, capitalist system, but that they are the corporate, capitalist system. As a result their impartiality is a well groomed myth that we swallow daily when we switch BBC news on or hand over our £1 for the Guardian. The authors posit that this isn’t even a coherent conspiracy, it is simply the grooming of our media sources of years of institutionalisation so that when it comes for them to report, at their own free will they will conform to the state’s wishes. It is because of this that we give more credence to disasters that happen in English speaking countries, that we show capitalist opinion without opposition, it is why a Palestinian is a terrorist and an Israeli settler an activist, it is why Hugo Chavez is a “controversial figure” whereas Tony Blair is merely “The Prime Minister”, when other descriptions (far more serious than “controversial”)would suit him better, and so on and so on. Our journalists are conditioned over years to repeat the states views as their opinions, and are blocked from any potential dissent. There are voices out there such as George Monbiot, Robert Fisk and John Pilger but they struggle to be heard against the din of indignation from the right, who have become through a series of twists and turns, the sensible centre. The final chapter of the book is an attempt to provide a solution for those who wish to free their open minds. In addition to utilising independent news sources and blogs to gather news from a variety of places the authors use this section to try and persuade people to live their lives according to a more spiritual, Buddhist-like mantra. It is slightly twee and goes off on a tangent to be honest but the sentiment is correct; do what you can but don’t let the bastards get you down. An excellent book that documents significant areas of our press, who have power with little responsibility, and challenges them to be better and more balanced in their attitudes, to report the world as it is seen and not how the powerful want it to be seen. A must read for anyone wishing to understand the power dichotomy and struggle between the people and the guardians of authority.

[Zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good expose of some of the bias. It is, to my memory, a bit biassed in its own way, in a second-campist reactionary anti-imperialist kind of way, but I read it a long time ago so I might be wrong. It doesn't give the best exposition of what the source of the problems are. Finally, it has a kind of liberal solution: writing letters to editors of the bosses' press rather than building our own ecosystem of workers' press.

[Elizabeth Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone committed to knowing and sharing the truth, dealing with people so conditioned to react to the manipulation that is standard procedure for 21st-century media it's become entirely reflexive is deeply frustrating. This book didn't tell me anything I don't already know about this malfeasance, but if you haven't read Chomsky this is certainly an excellent alternative. It even offers an simple meditation technique that could go a long way toward breaking away from the cult mindset that's gripping our culture.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Newspeak in the 21st Century is a great analysis of reporting by popular news outlets like the BBC which are often (incorrectly) assumed to be impartial in their reporting. The chapters are short and easy to read but still explain how media is often manipulated by imperialist powers and their military-industrial complexes. Especially in the age of "fake news," this book is extremely important because it gives clear evidence to how media is often biased, but biased in favour of those in power rather than against them (which is contrary to what the loudest proponents of the "fake news" narratives actually argue). Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in politics or journalism, or those who want to become more informed about the mechanisms of media but are unsure where to begin.

[Robert Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important books I have read in years. MedialLens' David Edwards breaks down into concise passages about how journalism in the west struggles with corporate and political agendas. The BBC, The Guardian, and The Independent newspapers do not come out well, notably the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

MediaLens is a small impartial organisation that challenges media commentary that isn't giving balanced content. and as social media is now the new battleground for hearts and minds; never so vital.

I certainly won't take any newspaper content at face value again.

Brilliant

[John Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was captivated in parts by this book. If you know the works of Pilger or Chomsky, you won't learn a lot more here. Some parts of it feel quite nihilistic and at times also nasty. But there is no doubt that Media Lens do a vital job in holding British journalism to account.

[Willem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and superb in uncovering the subtle propaganda of supposedly "free-thinking" news channels like The Guardian.

[Mathew Argument · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good take on the media system and how it 'really' works!