Archive for the ‘Media Control’ Category

Trump defends start of his presidency, calls media ‘out of control’ – Charleston Post Courier

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump mounted a vigorous defense of his presidency Thursday, pushing back against media reports that his campaign advisers had inappropriate contact with Russian officials and vowing to crack down on the leaking of classified information.

Nearly a month into his presidency, Trump said in a free-wheeling White House news conference that his new administration had made "significant progress" and took credit for an optimistic business climate and a soaring stock market.

The president denounced media reports of a chaotic start to his administration marked by a contentious executive order now tied up in a legal fight to place a ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations.

"This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine," Trump declared. He said he would announce a "new and very comprehensive order to protect our people."

Throughout the news conference in the East Room of the White House, the new president delivered repeated criticism of the news media, accusing it of being "out of control" and promising to take his message "straight to the people."

He dismissed recent reports in The New York Times and CNN that Trump campaign aides had been in contact with Russian officials before his election. Trump called Paul Manafort, his former campaign manager who has ties to Ukraine and Russia, a "respected man."

Trump called the reports a "ruse" and said he had "nothing to do with Russia." Trump added, "Russia is fake news. This is fake news put out by the media."

Amid reports of widespread leaks within his administration, Trump also warned that he would clamp down on the dissemination of sensitive information, saying he had asked the Justice Department to look into the leaks. "Those are criminal leaks," adding, "The leaks are real. The news is fake."

The president announced that Alexander Acosta, the dean of the Florida International University law school, would be his nominee for Labor secretary. It came a day after fast-food executive Andrew Puzder withdrew his nomination for Labor after losing support among Republican senators.

Trump, a reality television star and real estate mogul who was elected as an outsider intent on change, opened the hastily arranged news conference to bash coverage by the news media. He accused reporters of not telling the truth and only serving special interests.

"The press has become so dishonest that if we don't talk about it, we are doing a tremendous disservice to the American people," Trump said.

The president said his ousted national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was "just doing his job," but said he was "not happy" with how information about Flynn's phone call to a Russian diplomat was relayed to Vice President Mike Pence.

But Trump said what Flynn did "wasn't wrong" and said he had identified a strong replacement for Flynn, which made the decision to let him go easier.

Trump is said to favor Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a former Navy SEAL, as his next national security adviser, according to a White House official. Harward met with top White House officials last week and has the backing of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. He is slated to meet with officials later Thursday.

Earlier in the day, Trump had a breakfast meeting with some of his staunchest House supporters.

The White House has said Trump asked for Flynn's resignation because he had misled Vice President Mike Pence over his dealings with Russia and whether he had discussed sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. before Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration. Flynn previously had denied those conversations to Pence and other top officials.

On Thursday, he warned in a pair of tweets that "low-life leakers" of classified information will be caught. As journalists were being escorted out of the breakfast meeting, Trump responded to a reporter's question on the subject by saying: "We're going to find the leakers" and "they're going to pay a big price."

Reach Caitlin Byrd at 843-937-5590 and follow her on Twitter @MaryCaitlinByrd.

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Trump defends start of his presidency, calls media 'out of control' - Charleston Post Courier

Editorial Presses Gun Control-Loving Journalists on Firearms Facts – Bearing Arms

Its not surprising. The leftist, gun control-loving mainstream media will do everything in their power to disarm the average Joe. The Richmond Times-Dispatch, a newspaper based out of Richmond, Virginia, recently wrote an editorial mocking this pocket of the press.

As big supporters of the Second Amendment, we have long opposed any suggestion that a license should be required to own a gun.

On reflection, maybe licensing is a good idea at least for journalists. Or at least for journalists at The Washington Post.

David Fahrenthold is an outstanding reporter who should get a Pulitzer for his coverage of Donald Trump. But he should stay away from firearms.

The editorial goes on to call out different scenarios where the media attempts to look like firearms and Second Amendment experts, when in reality, they knowabsolutelynothingabout either one.

Fahrenthold himself compared pulling the trigger of a confetti-loaded gun to that of anactualfirearm. Another Washington Post reporter wrote about how silencers are unnecessary, but uses a .22LR one of the least powerful rounds and their lack of sound as her reasoning, as if to say more powerful rounds would be just as silent.

The best incident of all? A Huffington Post reporter asked if the foam earplugs he took pictures of during the Ferguson riots were rubber bullets.

The editorial can be summed up best by this sentence:

The ignorance is embarrassing, but it does make the medias support for gun control a tad more explicable: People fear what they dont understand.

You got to give it to theRichmond Times-Dispatchfor speaking out against their colleagues. At leastsomeonein the media business sees the hypocrisy of the gun control movement, especially by journalists, who are supposed to be unbiased and report the facts, not their agenda.

Author's Bio: Beth Baumann

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Editorial Presses Gun Control-Loving Journalists on Firearms Facts - Bearing Arms

The media assault on ‘alpha females’ is just a way of putting women back in the kitchen – Telegraph.co.uk

Where to begin? First, it goes without saying in this view that its women who must find peace with men, not vice versa after all, the emotional work of keeping a couple togetherfits with womens in-built compassion, right? Its just natural that its women job to repair relationships.

This is just one tired but remarkably resistant set of poisonous assumptions. Another is the dichotomy between "alpha" and "the feminine" here Venker is regurgitating the deeply-held belief that unapologetically assertive, ambitious, articulate and strong-willed cannot be real women. Then comes the classic kicker: the idea of the "real" power in being feminine, of the naturalness of being the ying to mans yang, with all good things coming to you when just give in and embrace submissiveness. This kind of logic is given regular airing in most ultra-orthodox religions as well.

Once more, the "alpha women are not real women" line is most aggressively used to corner single women. After all, a woman without a mans lust and devotion is the faultiest type of all. Thus Venker admits that being "alpha", "competitive", "too much like men" may be good at work but in "love" its a disaster. Women need to let men dominate more at home no wonder they find themselves alone and miserable. Theyve been bred to be leaders!

Depressingly, similar talk is surfacing in more liberal Britain. Prominent sociologist Catherine Hakim has gone public with the view that men are being deprived of sex. Guess whos to blame? Modern women, of course.

History moves in ellipses, and while we do make progress, old tropes repeat with remarkable persistence. One is that Jews control the world. Another is that women do. In the case of women, while we continue to move towards an equal share of the pie, unfortunately well keep seeing these rashes of old-fashioned misogyny gaining currency. Its an added sorrow that some of them come from women. But this only shows the need for the alpha women of the world to take this rubbish in stride, give a haughty smile, and keep going.

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The media assault on 'alpha females' is just a way of putting women back in the kitchen - Telegraph.co.uk

MSM whines as it loses control over the message – Personal Liberty Digest

With changes in who has front-line White House press access under the Trump administration, a media establishment already embarrassed by the 2016 election is desperately trying to remain relevant.

MSM reporters are claiming that the president is avoiding tough questions by handpicking friendly reporters during press events.

Writing for The Washington Times, columnist Kelly Riddell pointed out a recent exchange between media mainstreamers on Twitter:

By handpicking reporters, Trump manages to get through a news conference without being asked about Flynn, New York Times reporter Peter Baker lamented on Twitter failing to mention that all U.S. presidents handpick reporters.

Bloombergs Angela Greiling Keane helped him clarify.

By *handpicking* friendly reporters. To be fair, the previous WH also handpicked reporters. But it was very different than this, she tweeted.

Mark Murray at NBC News was equally flummoxed.

In response to a tweet from Lizzie OLeary who aptly pointed out that White Houses have been calling on specific reporters they know wont grill them since time immemorial, Mr. Murray responded: But not during bilateral pressers with world leaders, where questions typically go to wire reporters (AP, Reuters).

Hadas Gold at Politico, quoted NBC Journalist Brian Williams, who noted on-air what wasnt being asked at the press conference, adding the New York Times and Washington Post werent called upon.

Deputy Washington Editor of the New York Times, Jonathan Weisman, wasnt pleased.

Biggest papers in the U.S. blare headlines on embattled National Security Adviser Flynn. Trump calls on WJLA & Daily Caller, no Flynn questions, he tweeted.

Greiling is right, the Obama White House certainly handpicked reporters during press conferences. Things were pretty typical: Mainstream media reporters were on hand and the big dogs favored by the Obama White House got to ask the questions.

And the Obama administration did so to the despair of many U.S. conservatives who repeatedly noted that the press had a nasty habit of swooning over the power they were supposed to be checking.

Reason last year that Obama screws, skewers the media, but they do so love him. Its worth a read

With Obama it was worse than simple swooning, though.

Throughout Obamas presidency, the White House trampled on press freedom and continuously sought to control the media narrative by releasing its own highly-polished reports and information. It was in many ways a press release presidency.

Trump, if hes sincere about wanting to open the White House to more outlets, is actually giving both mainstream and alternative outlets a chance to do better.

If the Trump administration demonstrates a willingness to field tough questions by opening the floor to lesser-known liberal or libertarian-leaning outlets critical of his administration, the MSM argument that hes being bolstered by sympathetic conservative media (which, for now, is fair considering how his administration is structured) will slowly fall apart.

. Bookmark the

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MSM whines as it loses control over the message - Personal Liberty Digest

How far is Egypt willing to go to have strong grip on media? – Al-Monitor

Former spokesman for the Egyptian armed forces and now director general at Al-Aseema Television Network, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Samir. Posted Aug. 14, 2015.(photo byTwitter/@alwasatengnews)

Author:Khalid Hassan Posted February 12, 2017

CAIRO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Samir, a former spokesman for the Egyptian armed forces, assumed the position of director general at Al-Aseema Television Network Jan. 15, which sparked much controversy in the Egyptian street, raising questions as to the future of Egyptian media. Does this step mean that the executive branch will now have full control of the media?

TranslatorSahar Ghoussoub

The TVchannels programs and broadcasting were suspended due to the change of management. The channel has yet to reopen with new programs.

Sherry Media Advertising Company issued a statement Jan. 15, saying that it has been officially handed the management of Al-Aseema TVand appointed Samir as its director general. The company stressed that it is keen on providing professional media content, contributing to raising awareness in the community on various issues.

Sherry Media Advertising Company, which was established by businessman Ihab Talaat on Dec. 2, 2016, specializes in advertising.

Talaat is seen as a media expert. He is also accused of trying to monopolizethe media in Egypt. Before starting his own company, he sponsored a large number of TV stationsand newspapers through Pro-Media Company, including the Tahrir Channel, ONTV, al-Shorouk newspaperand Al-Masriy Al-Youm daily.

Talaat was chosen as the chairman of the board of directors of Hayat Media Services Co. on Feb. 6, which is the exclusive advertising agent for all Hayat TVnetwork channels, Egypts biggest network.

Egyptians opposing the appointment of Samir believe it is a miserable attempt by authorities to nationalize the media, unify its message and block any opposing voices against the government.

Others believe that owning and running media outlets should not be limited to certain parties, whethermilitary men or politicians, and that it is the right of any individual to run media institutions as long as this is done according to professional rules and standards. They argue that Samir left the army and is now an ordinarycivilian like any other Egyptian citizen.

On the Facebook page of the spokesman for the armed forces, a statement was posted on Dec. 31, 2016, that said, As part of the military bulletin for promotion and reassignments of armed forces officers, scheduled in the months of January and July of every year, Gen. Sedki Subhi, the general commander of the armed forces and minister of defense, approved the appointment of Chief of Staff OfficerCol. Tamer Mohamed Mahmoud al-Rifaias the official spokesman for the armed forces, effective as of Jan. 1, in succession to Brig. Gen. Mohamed Samir, whose services will end on Jan. 1, 2017.

This Facebook post came at the same time as the announcement that Talaat would be managing Al-Aseema channels 1 and 2, after a final agreement with member of parliament Saeid Hasaseen, the owner of both TVchannels. The decision was effective on Dec. 28, 2016.

Samir graduated from the Egyptian Military Academy on July 1, 1988, and joined the infantry. He received several military training programs and obtained a bachelor's degree in business from Ain Shams University.

During his tenure as spokesman for the armed forces, Samir built good relations with people in charge of newspapers and media outlets in addition to his close relations with the countrys businessmen.

Journalist Magdi Shanadi, the editor-in-chief of al-Mashhad newspaper, told Al-Monitor, Appointing Samir as head of Al-Aseema TVchannel means that the regime is no longer running media outlets through its close circles or affiliated persons, but it has now direct control over them.

Shanadi added, The regime thinks of the media as a dangerous tool and that it is necessary to highlight some issues in the media, while hiding others, without any regard to journalistic and media standards and professionalism. This is no secret to anyone. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had previously expressed his dissatisfaction with the media outlets performance, saying that he would like to have the same media support as Gamal Abdel Nasser."

In his speech during the new Suez Canal inauguration ceremony on Aug. 5, 2014, Sisi said, Gamal Abdel Nasser was lucky as he had the support of the media. The Egyptian media has a great responsibility and has to side with the people.

For his part, Dandarawi al-Hawari, the executive editor of Youm7 newspaper, told Al-Monitor, Samir has left the army of his own free will and retired. Now he is a civilian, enjoying full civil and political rights like any other Egyptian citizen and has the right to assume any civil position.

He said, Businessman Talaat, owner of the TVstation, appointed Samir in his position. Talaat is known for his interest and investment in the media and has a long history in the media domain. Therefore, any talk about Samir being appointed by pulling strings by the army is unfounded."

Commenting on whether Samir has adequate experience in running a media outlet, Hawari said, As a military man, Samir did not have any civil expertise. However, he has been dealing with different media outlets and newspapers for 2years, servingas a spokesman for the armed forces. This allowedhim to gain experience in this domain, not to mention that he built good relations with people running newspapers and TVchannels.

Huwaida Mustafa, the dean of the Higher International Institute for Media at El Shorouk Academy, told Al-Monitor, The media plays a pivotal and influential role in public opinion. That is why businessmen and institutions are keen on owning shares in media outlets, which is normal and there is nothing wrong in it. However, media institutions have to be clear and open about their political inclinations. This is the case of all media institutions around the world.

Commenting on talks about the states attempt to control the media, Mustafa said, We have tens of TVchannels and radio stations affiliated with the state, but they have little influence on the ground. It is only normal for the state to try to relay its messages to the public opinion. This does not mean that Brig. Gen. Samir is a tool in the hands of the state, and there is no proof of this anyway. He is now a civilian and has the right according to the constitution to take up a senior civil position in the state, whether by owning or running media outlets.

Read More: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/02/egypt-army-state-control-media.html

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How far is Egypt willing to go to have strong grip on media? - Al-Monitor