4 ms·

The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 opened the door for materials produced by the US Department of State and the Broadcast Board of Governors to be spread

by black6 4y ago

The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 opened the door for materials produced by the US Department of State and the Broadcast Board of Governors to be spread within the borders of the US.

tablespoon 4y ago
> The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 opened the door for materials produced by the US Department of State and the Broadcast Board of Governors to be spread within the borders of the US. What's been the actual effect of that? It's been 10 years, and I can't recall seeing a VOA story reposted in a local outlet or radio stations switching to a VOA-based format.
- somenameforme 4y ago
  It's rather more broad. The text from the bill itself, "The Secretary and the Broadcasting Board of Governors are authorized to use funds appropriated or otherwise made available for public diplomacy information programs to provide for the preparation, dissemination, and use of information intended for foreign audiences abroad about the United States, its people, and its policies, through press, publications, radio, motion pictures, the Internet, and other information media, including social media, and through information centers, instructors, and other direct or indirect means of communication." I don't understand the implications of that, because I don't know the details of the law beforehand. But something that's clear is that it opens the door to some very nasty stuff - especially if there is no obligation for source/identity disclosure.
- ImHereToVote 4y ago
  "What's been the actual effect of that?" What is the mainstream medias opinion on Julian Assange?
  - unity1001 4y ago
    Isn't the mainstream media selling that very propaganda...
  - fortuna86 4y ago
    The "mainstream media" is a collection of thousands of people at hundreds of independent organizations, it doesn't have a single collective opinion about anything..
    - alfiedotwtf 4y ago
      > hundreds of independent organizations You forgot the /s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_fHfgU8oMSo https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_fHfgU8oMSo
      - fortuna86 4y ago
        Yes, hundreds. https://adage.com/images/random/100mediacos03.pdf https://adage.com/images/random/100mediacos03.pdf Worldwide, thousands. But do go on about how they all meet in secret once a month to go over their collective talking points.
    - jessaustin 4y ago
      There are six TV news firms in USA. In many locales, the same local news "team" appears on all broadcast channels.
      - fortuna86 4y ago
        Now do print, online, radio, etc. All of that is "mainstream news", right?
        jessaustin 4y ago
        It's the same six firms. [0] How do you not know this? Oh yeah, plus Amazon Prime Video owns WaPo... that brings in the full range of anonymous-leak TLA opinions. [0] https://www.webfx.com/blog/internet/the-6-companies-that-own-almost-all-media-infographic/ https://www.webfx.com/blog/internet/the-6-companies-that-own...
- walterbell 4y ago
  > What's been the actual effect of that? One example mentioned in the article and visualized on TV shows—teams of software-assisted humans each acting under multiple online personas, e.g. on social media or discussion forums. The more problematic elements often intersect with private contractors and commercial activity, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29838001 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29838001
- jonnybgood 4y ago
  VOA has much of the same content as major US news organizations. It's actually a pretty decent news source. I don't know what you mean by VOA-based format.

by black6 4y ago

The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 opened the door for materials produced by the US Department of State and the Broadcast Board of Governors to be spread within the borders of the US.

tablespoon 4y ago

> The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 opened the door for materials produced by the US Department of State and the Broadcast Board of Governors to be spread within the borders of the US. What's been the actual effect of that? It's been 10 years, and I can't recall seeing a VOA story reposted in a local outlet or radio stations switching to a VOA-based format.

somenameforme 4y ago
It's rather more broad. The text from the bill itself, "The Secretary and the Broadcasting Board of Governors are authorized to use funds appropriated or otherwise made available for public diplomacy information programs to provide for the preparation, dissemination, and use of information intended for foreign audiences abroad about the United States, its people, and its policies, through press, publications, radio, motion pictures, the Internet, and other information media, including social media, and through information centers, instructors, and other direct or indirect means of communication." I don't understand the implications of that, because I don't know the details of the law beforehand. But something that's clear is that it opens the door to some very nasty stuff - especially if there is no obligation for source/identity disclosure.
ImHereToVote 4y ago
"What's been the actual effect of that?" What is the mainstream medias opinion on Julian Assange?
- unity1001 4y ago
  Isn't the mainstream media selling that very propaganda...
- fortuna86 4y ago
  The "mainstream media" is a collection of thousands of people at hundreds of independent organizations, it doesn't have a single collective opinion about anything..
  - alfiedotwtf 4y ago
    > hundreds of independent organizations You forgot the /s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_fHfgU8oMSo https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_fHfgU8oMSo
    - fortuna86 4y ago
      Yes, hundreds. https://adage.com/images/random/100mediacos03.pdf https://adage.com/images/random/100mediacos03.pdf Worldwide, thousands. But do go on about how they all meet in secret once a month to go over their collective talking points.
  - jessaustin 4y ago
    There are six TV news firms in USA. In many locales, the same local news "team" appears on all broadcast channels.
    - fortuna86 4y ago
      Now do print, online, radio, etc. All of that is "mainstream news", right?
      - jessaustin 4y ago
        It's the same six firms. [0] How do you not know this? Oh yeah, plus Amazon Prime Video owns WaPo... that brings in the full range of anonymous-leak TLA opinions. [0] https://www.webfx.com/blog/internet/the-6-companies-that-own-almost-all-media-infographic/ https://www.webfx.com/blog/internet/the-6-companies-that-own...
walterbell 4y ago
> What's been the actual effect of that? One example mentioned in the article and visualized on TV shows—teams of software-assisted humans each acting under multiple online personas, e.g. on social media or discussion forums. The more problematic elements often intersect with private contractors and commercial activity, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29838001 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29838001
jonnybgood 4y ago
VOA has much of the same content as major US news organizations. It's actually a pretty decent news source. I don't know what you mean by VOA-based format.