Consumer Reports WebWatch and the Center for Media Democracy recently launched Full Frontal Scrutiny. They explain it this way.
“The American public deserves to know when someone is trying to persuade them.”—U.S. FCC commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008
We strongly agree. That’s why we created this site: to focus public attention on the people and organizations who function in our society as hidden persuaders. You’ll find them at work posting to blogs, speaking before city councils, quoted in newspapers and published on the editorial page, even sponsoring presidential election debates. All this while pretending to represent the grassroots when in fact they are working against citizens’ best interests. We call these organizations front groups. One of the best ways to put their agendas in proper perspective is to expose their work. That’s what this website is for. We hope you’ll use it, tell your friends about it, even contribute to it.
Astroturfing, by the way, is basically the idea explained here – “fake grassroots.” Clever, right?
I am not always aligned with the Center for Media Democracy, which occasionally has a view that’s a bit too narrow and negative for my tastes. However, this is an excellent idea. Ethical public relations practitioners don’t do this. And they tell clients who suggest it, “no.” I have. It’s not easy. But I have.
This is particularly timely with the upcoming election season.
What do you think?
Image: Corbis
