Skilled News Management in the Midst of Tragedy

Before leaving for a speaking engagement in Japan, I want to mention an interesting article published on the web site of Columbia Journalism Review Daily on Hezbollah's clever news management in Southern Lebanon that exploits the tragedies of Qana and other places for the perennial terrorist publicity scheme. Today's terrorists are sophisticated communication and media experts who are well aware of the impact of the media--especially television--on public and elite opinion. Some members of the news media, who take part in Hezbollah's guided press tours in order to be allowed into certain areas, do at times refer to the restrictions they face, to the fact that they only see what Hezbollah wants them to see. But one wonders, whether their audiences catch on to this sort of censorship.