This
study by Swiss Propaganda Research was first published in 2016, it is
presented by
off-guardian.org
in English for the first time. Translated by Terje Maloy.
It
is one of the most important aspects of our media system – and yet
hardly known to the public: most of the international news coverage
in Western media is provided by only three global news agencies based
in New York, London and Paris.
The
key role played by these agencies means that Western media often
report on the same topics, even using the same wording. In addition,
governments, military and intelligence services use these global news
agencies as multipliers to spread their messages around the world.
A
study of the Syria war coverage by nine leading European newspapers
clearly illustrates these issues: 78% of all articles were based in
whole or in part on agency reports, yet
0% on investigative research.
Moreover, 82% of all opinion pieces and interviews were in favor of
the US and NATO intervention, while propaganda was attributed
exclusively to the opposite side.
Part
2 - “The Invisible Nerve Center of the Media System”
So what
are the names of these news agencies that are “always at the
source of the story”? There are now only three global agencies
left:
- The
American Associated Press (AP) with over 4000 employees worldwide.
The AP belongs to US media companies and has its main editorial
office in New York. AP news is used by around 12,000 international
media outlets, reaching more than half of the world’s population
every day.
- The
quasi-governmental French Agence France-Presse (AFP) based in Paris
and with around 4000 employees. The AFP sends over 3000 stories and
photos every day to media all over the world.
- The
British agency Reuters in London, which is privately owned and
employs just over 3000 people. Reuters was acquired in 2008 by
Canadian media entrepreneur Thomson – one of the 25 richest people
in the world – and merged into Thomson Reuters, headquartered in
New York.
In
addition, many countries run their own news agencies. However, when
it comes to international news, these usually rely on the three
global agencies and simply copy and translate their reports.
Wolfgang
Vyslozil, former managing director of the Austrian APA, described the
key role of news agencies with these words:
“News
agencies are rarely in the public eye. Yet they are one of the most
influential and at the same time one of the least known media types.
They are key institutions of substantial importance to any media
system. They are the invisible nerve center that connects all parts
of this system.”
Further
info, references, sources:
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