The Real IRA in Alvor, Portugal: Chronological list of news articles
Moved to stand-alone page HERE
(With apologies for any confusion. The case is currently (May 2010) underway and the index is being buried as articles are added.)
Continue Reading...
(With apologies for any confusion. The case is currently (May 2010) underway and the index is being buried as articles are added.)
Labels:
2010,
Donegal
Apparently...the only "Missing Child" that *really* matters
This video is shown on the front page of the Virtual Global Task Force Website:
Labels:
CEOP,
Jim Gamble,
Madeleine McCann
Praia da Luz Revisited
Praia da Luz revisited
9 May 2010
Blogue do jornalista Frederico Duarte Carvalho
Frederico Duarte Carvalho
You can also follow him on Twitter: HERE
Continue Reading...
9 May 2010
Blogue do jornalista Frederico Duarte Carvalho
Frederico Duarte Carvalho
You can also follow him on Twitter: HERE
Labels:
2010,
Madeleine McCann
Techniques of Propaganda used in the Madeleine McCann case
Sources:
SourceWatch
Wikipedia-Propaganda
Examples from the Madeleine McCann case
More to follow - suggestions and insights are welcome.
(Please note: I am breaking these up into individual posts and it is taking some time. Thanks for your patience.)
A number of techniques are used to create messages which are persuasive, but false. Many of these same techniques are by definition logical fallacies since propagandists use arguments which, although sometimes convincing, are not necessarily valid.
It is essential to have some knowledge of the following techniques for generating propaganda. (In other words - this knowledge is very helpful when trying to sort the wheat from the chaff.):
Labels:
2010,
CEOP,
Jim Gamble,
Madeleine McCann
Propaganda - General Information
Types of Propaganda
Excerpts from SourceWatch
Propaganda shares many techniques with advertising or public relations; in fact, advertising and PR can be said to be propaganda promoting a commercial product. ... In a narrower and more common use of the term, propaganda refers to deliberately false or misleading information that supports a political cause or the interests of those in power.
The propagandist seeks to change the way people understand an issue or situation, for the purpose of changing their actions and expectations in ways that are desirable to the interest group. In this sense, propaganda serves as a corollary to censorship, in which the same purpose is achieved, not by filling people's heads with false information, but by preventing people from knowing true information.
Appeal to Authority
Appeal to Authority:
Authority is evoked as the last word on an issue.
Appeals to authority cite prominent figures to support a position idea, argument, or course of action.
This sort of reasoning is fallacious when the person in question is not an expert. In such cases the reasoning is flawed because the fact that an unqualified person makes a claim does not provide any justification for the claim. The claim could be true, but the fact that an unqualified person made the claim does not provide any rational reason to accept the claim as true. Since people have a tendency to believe authorities, this fallacy is a fairly common one.
Labels:
2010,
Brian Kennedy,
CEOP,
Gordon Brown,
Jim Gamble,
Madeleine McCann
Common Man / Plain Folks
Common man
The "plain folks" or "common man" approach attempts to convince the audience that the propagandist's positions reflect the common sense of the people. It is designed to win the confidence of the audience by communicating in the common manner and style of the target audience.
Labels:
2010,
Madeleine McCann
Euphemisms
Euphemisms
When propagandists use glittering generalities and name-calling symbols, they are attempting to arouse their audience with vivid, emotionally suggestive words. In certain situations, however, the propagandist attempts to pacify the audience in order to make an unpleasant reality more palatable. This is accomplished by using words that are bland and euphemistic.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Stereotyping or Labeling
Stereotyping or Labeling:
This technique attempts to arouse prejudices in an audience by labeling the object of the propaganda campaign as something the target audience fears, hates, loathes, or finds undesirable.
Labels:
Gonçalo Amaral,
Madeleine McCann
Testimonial
Testimonial:
Testimonials are quotations, in or out of context, especially cited to support or reject a given policy, action, program, or personality. The reputation or the role (expert, respected public figure, etc.) of the individual giving the statement is exploited.
Labels:
2010,
CEOP,
Jim Gamble,
Madeleine McCann
Scapegoating
Scapegoating
Assigning blame to an individual or group, thus alleviating feelings of guilt from responsible parties and/or distracting attention from the need to fix the problem for which blame is being assigned.
Labels:
2010,
Find Madeleine Fund,
Gonçalo Amaral,
Robert Murat
False Comparison or Analogy
False Analogy
In this technique, two things that may or may not really be similar are portrayed as being similar.
Labels:
Gonçalo Amaral,
Madeleine McCann
"Either / Or" also called "Black and White"
EITHER / OR
This technique is also called "black-and-white thinking" because only two choices are given. You are either for something or against it; there is no middle ground or shades of gray. It is used to polarize issues, and negates all attempts to find a common ground.
Continue Reading...
This technique is also called "black-and-white thinking" because only two choices are given. You are either for something or against it; there is no middle ground or shades of gray. It is used to polarize issues, and negates all attempts to find a common ground.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Transfer
Transfer:
In this technique, an attempt is made to transfer the prestige of a positive symbol to a person or an idea.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Straw Man
Straw Man
Because it is easier to demolish a man of straw than to beat a live opponent fairly, propagandists sometimes pretend that they are responding to the views of their opponents when they are only setting up a type of artificial opposition which they can easily prove to be wrong.
Labels:
BBC,
Gonçalo Amaral,
Madeleine McCann
Name calling
Name calling:
This techniques consists of attaching a negative label to a person or a thing. People engage in this type of behavior when they are trying to avoid supporting their own opinion with facts. Rather than explain what they believe in, they prefer to try to tear their opponent down.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Appeal To Fear, Scare Tactics
Appeals to fear
seeks to build support by instilling fear in the general population - for example Joseph Goebbels exploited Theodore Kaufman's Germany Must Perish! to claim that the Allies sought the extermination of the German people.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Labeling
Labeling
Labeling is the propagandist technique of using a EUPHEMISM to increase the perceived quality, credibility, or credence of a particular ideal. The propagandist uses a DYSPHEMISM to discredit, diminish the perceived quality, or hurt the perceived righteousness of "the Mark". By creating a "label" or "category" or "faction" of a population, it is much easier to make an example of these larger bodies, because the propagandist can uplift or defame "the Mark" without actually incurring legal-defamation.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Faulty Cause and Effect
Faulty Cause and Effect
(See also: Fallacy: Confusing Cause and Effect)
This technique suggests that because B follows A, A must cause B.
Remember, just because two events or two sets of data are related does not necessarily mean that one caused the other to happen. It is important to evaluate data carefully before jumping to a wrong conclusion.
In order to determine that a fallacy has been committed, it must be shown that the causal conclusion has not been adequately supported and that the person committing the fallacy has confused the actual cause with the effect. Showing that the fallacy has been committed will typically involve determining the actual cause and the actual effect.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Obfuscation, intentional vagueness, confusion
Obfuscation, intentional vagueness, confusion
Generalities are deliberately vague so that the audience may supply its own interpretations. The intention is to move the audience by use of undefined phrases, without analyzing their validity or attempting to determine their reasonableness or application.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Ad Hominem
Ad Hominem
Translated from Latin to English, "Ad Hominem" means "against the man" or "against the person."
Attacking the person instead of attacking his argument.
(For an excellent explanation of this technique, see Fallacy: Ad Hominem
A common form is an attack on sincerity.
Continue Reading...
Translated from Latin to English, "Ad Hominem" means "against the man" or "against the person."
Attacking the person instead of attacking his argument.
(For an excellent explanation of this technique, see Fallacy: Ad Hominem
A common form is an attack on sincerity.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Rationalization
Rationalization:
Favorable generalities are used to rationalize questionable acts or beliefs. Vague and pleasant phrases are often used to justify such actions or beliefs.
Examples:
- "like dining in your garden"
- responsible parents
- (More to follow...)
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Glittering Generalities, Euphemisms and Slogans
Glittering Generalities:
This technique uses important-sounding "glad words" that have little or no real meaning. These words are used in general statements that cannot be proved or disproved. Words like "good," "honest," "fair," and "best" are examples of "glad" words.
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This technique uses important-sounding "glad words" that have little or no real meaning. These words are used in general statements that cannot be proved or disproved. Words like "good," "honest," "fair," and "best" are examples of "glad" words.
Labels:
2010,
CEOP,
Jim Gamble,
Madeleine McCann
Card-stacking
Card-stacking
Sources: Changing Minds
This term comes from stacking a deck of cards in your favor. Card stacking is used to slant a message. Key words or unfavorable statistics may be omitted, leading to a series of half-truths. Keep in mind that an advertiser (spokesperson, PR person) is under no obligation "to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Continue Reading...
Sources: Changing Minds
This term comes from stacking a deck of cards in your favor. Card stacking is used to slant a message. Key words or unfavorable statistics may be omitted, leading to a series of half-truths. Keep in mind that an advertiser (spokesperson, PR person) is under no obligation "to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Bandwagon
Bandwagon
(A good source for more information: Fallacy: Bandwagon)
The "bandwagon" approach encourages you to think that because everyone else is doing something, you should do it too, or you'll be left out. The technique embodies a "keeping up with the Joneses" philosophy. The basic theme of the Bandwagon appeal is that "everyone else is doing it, and so should you."
The Bandwagon is a fallacy in which a threat of rejection by one's peers (or peer pressure) is substituted for evidence in an "argument."
Continue Reading...
(A good source for more information: Fallacy: Bandwagon)
The "bandwagon" approach encourages you to think that because everyone else is doing something, you should do it too, or you'll be left out. The technique embodies a "keeping up with the Joneses" philosophy. The basic theme of the Bandwagon appeal is that "everyone else is doing it, and so should you."
The Bandwagon is a fallacy in which a threat of rejection by one's peers (or peer pressure) is substituted for evidence in an "argument."
Labels:
Clarence Mitchell,
Madeleine McCann
Red Herring
Red Herring
The propagandist technique of presenting data or issues that, while compelling, are irrelevant to the argument at hand, and then claiming that it validates the argument.
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The propagandist technique of presenting data or issues that, while compelling, are irrelevant to the argument at hand, and then claiming that it validates the argument.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Ad nauseam
AD NAUSEAM
The propagandist technique of using the tireless repetition of an idea. An idea, especially a simple slogan, that is repeated enough times, may begin to be taken as the truth. This approach works best when media sources are limited and controlled by the propagator.
Continue Reading...
The propagandist technique of using the tireless repetition of an idea. An idea, especially a simple slogan, that is repeated enough times, may begin to be taken as the truth. This approach works best when media sources are limited and controlled by the propagator.
Labels:
Gonçalo Amaral,
Madeleine McCann
Errors of Faulty Logic / Logical Fallacies
Errors of Faulty Logic / Logical Fallacies
In addition to other propaganda techniques, logical fallacies are often used by those who seek to convince or misinform. Here are some of the logical fallacies you are likely to see in propaganda campaigns:
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Propaganda Techniques...How YOU and I are manipulated
Propaganda techniques
Excerpts from SourceWatch
(Please note: This is simply a draft, final post to follow.)
Propagandists use a variety of propaganda techniques to influence opinions and to avoid the truth. Often these techniques rely on some element of censorship or manipulation, either omitting significant information or distorting it.
Continue Reading...
Excerpts from SourceWatch
(Please note: This is simply a draft, final post to follow.)
Propagandists use a variety of propaganda techniques to influence opinions and to avoid the truth. Often these techniques rely on some element of censorship or manipulation, either omitting significant information or distorting it.
Labels:
Find Madeleine Fund,
Madeleine McCann
Media manipulation
Media manipulation
Source: Wikipedia
Media manipulation is an aspect of public relations in which partisans create an image or argument that favours their particular interests.
Such tactics may include the use of logical fallacies and propaganda techniques, and often involve the suppression of information or points of view by crowding them out, by inducing other people or groups of people to stop listening to certain arguments, or by simply diverting attention elsewhere.
Continue Reading...
Source: Wikipedia
Media manipulation is an aspect of public relations in which partisans create an image or argument that favours their particular interests.
Such tactics may include the use of logical fallacies and propaganda techniques, and often involve the suppression of information or points of view by crowding them out, by inducing other people or groups of people to stop listening to certain arguments, or by simply diverting attention elsewhere.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Distraction Techniques
DISTRACTION TECHNIQUES
SourceWatch
Some of the most effective propaganda techniques work by misdirecting or distracting the public's finite attention away from important issues.
It's important to read between the lines of the news and see what isn't being reported, or what is reported once, quietly, and not followed up.
In an age of information overload, distraction techniques can as effective as active propaganda.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Obtain disapproval
Obtain disapproval:
This technique is used to get the audience to disapprove an action or idea by suggesting the idea is popular with groups hated, feared, or held in contempt by the target audience.
Thus, if a group which supports a policy is led to believe that undesirable, subversive, or contemptible people also support it, the members of the group might decide to change their position.
Continue Reading...
This technique is used to get the audience to disapprove an action or idea by suggesting the idea is popular with groups hated, feared, or held in contempt by the target audience.
Thus, if a group which supports a policy is led to believe that undesirable, subversive, or contemptible people also support it, the members of the group might decide to change their position.
Labels:
Madeleine McCann
Arms trial held up as QC is stranded
Volcanic ash flights disruption - Arms trial held up as QC is stranded
5 May 2010
The Irish News
A major dissident arms smuggling trial had to be postponed for 24 hours after a leading barrister due to take part in the case was stranded in London by the volcanic ash cloud. Orlando Pownall QC had been due to be present at the opening of the trial of three Co Armagh men charged with a Real IRA gun smuggling plot. However, as the trial was due to open yesterday, Mr Justice McLaughlin was informed that the top British barrister had been unable to fly from his home in London because flights over Irish airspace were grounded.
Continue Reading...
5 May 2010
The Irish News
A major dissident arms smuggling trial had to be postponed for 24 hours after a leading barrister due to take part in the case was stranded in London by the volcanic ash cloud. Orlando Pownall QC had been due to be present at the opening of the trial of three Co Armagh men charged with a Real IRA gun smuggling plot. However, as the trial was due to open yesterday, Mr Justice McLaughlin was informed that the top British barrister had been unable to fly from his home in London because flights over Irish airspace were grounded.
Labels:
2010
Terror chiefs plan vote day bomb strike
2 May 2010
The News of the World
Fears were growing that dissident republicans are planning a terror attack in the run up to Thursday's election. Cop checkpoints were increased across Northern Ireland from Friday in a bid by security forces to prevent any bomb attacks.
Continue Reading...
The News of the World
Fears were growing that dissident republicans are planning a terror attack in the run up to Thursday's election. Cop checkpoints were increased across Northern Ireland from Friday in a bid by security forces to prevent any bomb attacks.
Labels:
2010
Threat to 'MI5 man' puts trial in doubt
1 May 2010
The Irish News
Barry McCaffrey
A major dissident arms trial is in jeopardy after one of the accused was warned by police that he is under death threat over claims he is an MI5 agent. South Armagh man Dermot Declan Gregory (41), also known as Michael Dermot, is due to go on trial on Tuesday in connection with a dissident republican attempt to smuggle guns from mainland Europe in 2005.
Continue Reading...
The Irish News
Barry McCaffrey
A major dissident arms trial is in jeopardy after one of the accused was warned by police that he is under death threat over claims he is an MI5 agent. South Armagh man Dermot Declan Gregory (41), also known as Michael Dermot, is due to go on trial on Tuesday in connection with a dissident republican attempt to smuggle guns from mainland Europe in 2005.
Labels:
2010
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