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The World of Disinformation

The World of Disinformation. Journalism. Trick #2: Frame It and Claim It. Not estate tax, but death tax Called death tax by James. L. Martin, head of a conservative over 60’s group, who wanted to repeal the estate tax (taxes on a person’s inheritance)

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The World of Disinformation

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  1. The World of Disinformation Journalism

  2. Trick #2: Frame It and Claim It • Not estate tax, but death tax • Called death tax by James. L. Martin, head of a conservative over 60’s group, who wanted to repeal the estate tax (taxes on a person’s inheritance) • Ran in to some resistance because people equated estate tax with rich people (i.e. a tax on the estate) and it did put a heavier burden on people inheriting wealthy estates • By framing it as the “death tax,” it implied it was for all classes. • The estate tax was repealed as the death tax, but the changes impacted only the rich

  3. Trick #3: Weasel Words • They suck the meaning out of a phrase or a sentence, the way weasels supposedly suck the contents out of an egg • “Up to 50% off” Weasel words = “up to”. It can mean anywhere from 1% to 50%. • “Skin Perfecting Crème Firming Nourisher makes tiny lines seem to disappear” (Este Lauder). “Seem” is the weasel word • “The taste of real eggs” (Egg Beaters) Weasel word = taste or meaning partial • Journalists use words such as “largely”, “most”, or “several” as weasel words meaning they don’t know the true amount; such amounts can mean anything.

  4. Trick #4: Eye Candy • People are visual, and they remember visual better • Famous ads: medicine that lists the side effects while showing the family happy together for a long time presumably thanks to the drug

  5. Trick #5: The Average Bear • Average does not mean typical • Bush sold his tax cuts to the public by saying the average cut for taxpayers would be $1586 per filer • Half of the Americans received only $470 or less • That’s not typical • Be careful not to equate average with typical

  6. Trick #6: The Baseline Bluff • Clinton accused his opponent Bob Dole of wanting to cut Medicare by $270 billion dollars • Dole only wanted to hold down the rate of increase • It was a cut only in relation to projected future spending. Experts call this a baseline • Clinton himself wanted a $120 billion dollar cut in projected Medicare spending

  7. Trick #7: The Literally True Falsehood • “Reduced fat” does not mean “low fat.” It may mean reduced from a previous amount • Lean Cuisine: Some things we skimp on: Calories. Fat. Sodium…always less than 1 gram of sodium per entrée. • 1 gram of sodium is a lot. It equals 850 milligrams of sodium, 1/3 of what the FDA recommends for a full day. • KFC: With a bucket of kentucky fried chicken in front of them, a family boasted that they were now eating better since two chicken breasts has one less gram of fat than a Burger King whopper. • They did have 5 grams less fat, but… • They had three times more cholesterol and slightly more calories (50)

  8. Trick #8: The Implied Falsehood • In 2003 most Americans believed that Saddam Hussein had something to do with the 9/11 attacks • Bush never said in public or anywhere that he felt Hussein was involved in the attack • Chenney said, “We’ve never been able to confirm it or knock it down.” • Be suspicious if you’re forced to read between the lines. Ask: why don’t you state it directly?

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