Nominations Are Now Open for the First Golden Goebby Awards for Newsaganda

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In more normal times, we expect a free and independent press to hold the government accountable. In these times when nearly all elements of the press have joined the Ministry of Propaganda (A.K.A. media cartel) (A.K.A. Jeff Gannon Shill Corps) as propaganda agents for the neocon government, it is time for citizens to hold the press accountable.

In that spirit, we discussed in this DU thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2376593
an "award" to "honor" the newsaganda industry's individual, show, publication, or network that does the most outstandingly egregious job of purveying propaganda as news.

Here is a sample winner's certificate:



In case it's not obvious, the name for the awards is in recognition of Josef Goebbels, the Nazi head of propaganda, whom our own Ministry of Propaganda so diligently emulates.

This is a citizens' award, not official in any sense, not sponsored or supported by DU or by anyone else except those who participate. For now, the award will be weekly, but that could change and we might occasionally do something like a "lifetime achievement" award or awards for longer periods of time.

Here's how it works:

1. Make nominations in this thread for a person, TV show, TV network, newspaper, or other newsaganda entity for actions during the period of SUNDAY JANUARY 22 THROUGH SATURDAY JANUARY 28, 2006. IMPORTANT: When making a nomination, include a brief description of the nominated action(s). Nominations that just say "Look here," give only a link, or only say something vague such as "O'Loofa is a jackass" will not be counted because the nomination counters don't have time to follow every link to every thread and article that anyone mentions or to consult the oracle to determine which jackassly deed you meant the nomination to cover.
   
   
2. Approximately Sunday January 29, a poll thread will be opened listing all the nominees; the winner of the poll wins the award for this week. If there are too many nominees to fit into a DU poll (a likely possibility, given the level of competition), those nominees with the most nominations get into the poll. So if your choice is already nominated, second the nomination to increase the nominee's chances of getting into the final poll.
   
   
3. If this first one goes reasonably well, there will be a new nomination thread next week for next week's award.
   

It seems that now is an especially appropriate time to start these awards, given the frequency of press newsaganda reports on DU, such as this sampling of many current threads:

From "greatest" this morning:

• Daou - The Media and the Democrats - Must Read!!!
  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x236723
  
  
• BREAKING: REP. LOUISE SLAUGHER CALLS OUT TWEETY, MSNBC
  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x230779
  
  
• AOL Poll: on Domestic Spying, the Media & * Statements
  Do you trust the media to report accurately on the domestic spying program?
  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x229347
  
  
• I'm Quitting CNN today-Tired of hearing anchors express unfounded opinion
  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x226300
  
  
• Matthews Boycott Launched!
  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x238558
  

From GDP & GD:

• List of Chris Matthews sponsors
  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2388318
  
  
• Howell and Hardball: We're Winning the Long Struggle
  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x239791
  
  
• CNN Statement on Adding Bill Bennett (What a Crock of Sh*t!)
  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x239778
  
  
• Wolf Blitzer is a lying asshat!
  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x239378
  
  
• Americablog: Boycott MSNBC's "Hardball" ---> It has begun
  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x239231