Covert Propaganda

For those of you so inclined: Take a look at any one of the six reports and editorials that follow. Each of them deals with the Bush Administration’s use of phony "journalists" as fronts to spread administration-friendly propaganda to the American public under the cover of "news."

"And Now, the Counterfeit News," Editorial, New York Times, March 16, 2005 (as posted by Truthout)
"Viewer Beware," Editorial, Washington Post, March 16, 2005 (as posted by Truthout)
"Justice: Propaganda Is A-OK," Eric Boehlert, Salon.com, March 16, 2005 (as posted by Truthout)
"GAO Faults Faked Reports," T. Christian Miller, Los Angeles Times, October 1, 2005
"Buying of News by Bush's Aides Is Rules Illegal," Robert Pear, New York Times, October 1, 2005
"GAO Issues Mixed Ruling on Payments to Columnists," Christopher Lee, Washington Post, October 1, 2005

"Covert propaganda" is how the Government Accountability Office (GAO - though any use of the term "accountability" with reference to the White House reeks of covert propaganda) describes the Department of Education’s hiring of the grossly mislabeled "conservative" talk show host Armstrong Williams to "convey a message to the public on behalf of the government, without disclosing to the public that the messengers were acting on the government's behalf and in return for the payment of public funds,’" here quoting the GAO.