EDITORIAL PICK: Debunking Israel’s ‘Human Shield’ Defense in Gaza Massacre

‘The Savage Punishment Of Gaza’: Israel’s Latest Assault On Palestine’s Open Prison

Recent media coverage of Israel and Palestine, not least by BBC News, has been full of the usual deceptive propaganda tropes: Israel is ‘responding’ or ‘reacting’ to Palestinian…

In contrast to Media Lens modestly marking a mere two decades in July, the Guardian has been deluging itself with praise on reaching two centuries this year. Not that we would expect otherwise. As editor Katherine Viner proclaimed in a long, celebratory essay:…

In contrast to Media Lens modestly marking a mere two decades in July, the Guardian has been deluging itself with praise on reaching two centuries this year. Not that we would expect otherwise. As editor Katherine Viner proclaimed in a long, celebratory essay:…

Broadcast on BBC News at Ten on 8 June 2021 under the title, 'Iraq Tensions'.

Summary:
----------------
BBC Newspeak:

Iran = 'foreign interference'

US armed forces = 'protection'

'They came to help fight the Islamic State group.'

No mention of exploiting…

After 20 years of Media Lens, it seems only natural that we should look back in gratitude at the support we’ve received. In response to one of our early pieces, a kindly columnist at the Observer commented:



‘Dear David,‘Thank you very much for sending…

11. The BBC On The Saintly Motives For Waging War On Iraq And Libya



In focusing on the grim future in April, US vice president, Kamala Harris, surely revealed far more than she intended about the grim past:



‘For years and generations, wars have been…

A short video introducing our recent two-part media alert, '"That Is Actually Bollocks": 20 Propaganda Horrors From 20 Years of Media Lens'

Part 1:
https://www.medialens.org/2021/that-is-actually-bollocks-20-propaganda-horrors-from-20-years-of-media-lens…

Andrew Marr once claimed:

‘When I joined the BBC, my Organs of Opinion were formally removed.’ (Marr, Daily Telegraph, 10 January 2001)

This is impossible, of course – Organs of Opinion cannot be surgically removed. But consciences can be.

Recall, the…

In 2007, a front-page Guardian piece by Simon Tisdall claimed that Iran had secret plans to do nothing less than wage war on, and defeat, American forces in Iraq by August of that year.

Iran, it seemed, was ‘forging ties with al-Qaida elements and Sunni…

As we have pointed out since Media Lens began in 2001, a fundamental feature of corporate media is propaganda by omission. Over the past week, a stunning example has highlighted this core property once again.



A major witness in the US case against Julian…

As we have pointed out since Media Lens began in 2001, a fundamental feature of corporate media is propaganda by omission. A recent stunning example has highlighted this core property once again.

A major witness in the US case against Julian Assange has…

During last week’s Tory Cabinet reshuffle, ITV political editor Robert Peston inadvertently summed up the primary function of political journalists:



'I simply pass on'



His tweet was in reference to a ministerial source saying that Priti Patel was ‘not…

A short video introducing our media alert of 22 September 2021, titled:

'Gaslighting The Public: Serial Deceptions By The State-Corporate Media'

https://www.medialens.org/2021/gaslighting-the-public-serial-deceptions-by-the-state-corporate-media/

On one…

In their classic book on the news media, ‘Manufacturing Consent’, Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky presented a ‘propaganda model’ of how the major broadcasters and newspapers operate. Whereas the ‘mainstream’ media declare that their aim is to educate, inform…

One of the most damning assessments of COP26, the UN climate conference being held in Glasgow, came from Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist:



‘#COP26 has been named the must excluding COP ever.This is no longer a climate conference.This is a…

A short video introducing our media alert of 22 October 2021, titled:

'Manufacturing Ignorance: Keeping The Public Away From Power'

In their classic book on the news media, ‘Manufacturing Consent’, Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky presented a ‘propaganda…

A short video introducing our media alert of 8 November 2021, titled:

‘A Crime Against Humanity’: The ‘Greenwash Festival’ Of COP26

One of the most damning assessments of COP26, the UN climate conference being held in Glasgow, came from Greta Thunberg,…

Huge media coverage has been devoted to allegations, and now serious evidence, that a Christmas party was held at 10 Downing Street on 18 December 2020. London was then in a strict lockdown with social events banned, including parties.



In leaked footage…

If we didn’t have better things to do, it would be a simple matter to produce The Media Lens Book of Obituaries.



The cover might feature grim Death shrouded in tattered newsprint carrying a five-bladed scythe with ‘Ownership’, ‘Advertising’, ‘Sources’…