The Manipulation of Journalists by External Forces: Government and Corporate Influence on Media Control
Overview
This paper examines how external forces, particularly governments and corporations, manipulate journalists and control media narratives. Using historical examples from Nazi Germany and contemporary instances like the Bush administration's influence on Iraq War coverage, the paper argues that media manipulation has become increasingly prevalent and sophisticated in modern society.
What this essay covers
- Introduction: Historical context of Kristallnacht and Nazi propaganda under Joseph Goebbels
- Key External Forces: Government control of media in Nazi Germany and contemporary examples
- Corporate influence on journalism and the prioritization of sensationalism over objective reporting
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The Manipulation of Journalists by External Forces
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The Manipulation of Journalists by External Forces
Introduction
On November 9, 1938, also known as the night of the broken glass, anything connected to the Jew community, including synagogues, businesses, and homes, was set on fire or torn down (Fulbrook, 2018). Those responsible for emergency services were instructed not to act unless the destruction touched on the properties belonging to Germans of the Aryan race. Thousands of Germans stood by while the Jew' lives were destroyed, and further millions supported Hitler's regime despite its atrocities. A key reason for the inactivity by Germans to resist or defy Hitler's actions can be attributed to the use of sheer force and terror by the government. Notwithstanding this perspective, the use of propaganda under the direction of Joseph Goebbels was a crucial instrument in swaying many Germans to support Hitler's actions. The events of this night provide a basis on which the manipulation of journalists by external forces manifested (then), across the 19th and 20th century, to today. In essence, the manipulation of journalists by external forces is increasingly more straightforward in modern society.
Key External Forces
When Adolf Hitler took power in 1933, the Nazi party controlled a mere 3% out of the 4,700 papers in Germany (USHMM, n.d.).