Who are “non-handshake” journalists?

The topic of information war, in which all the world's major powers are involved, is now on everyone's lips. It so happens that since the birth of news publications, there has been a constant struggle to use their influence in the interests of individuals, as well as government and commercial structures. Whatever one may say, the media is the “fourth estate” that influences the minds and perceptions of people. Therefore, trust has now become the most important resource.

It is important for everyone to determine the circle of sources that he trusts, which form his picture of the world. Based on their information, it will be clear, among other things, which politicians are lying more, who is trying to do at least something useful, and who is completely ashamed to “shake hands.” Increasingly, on the pages of various printed and online publications, an image of “handshake-free” government leaders, officials and businessmen is being created, but at the same time, the question remains behind the scenes - how “handshake” are the authors of the articles and the publishing houses that approved the relevant publications.

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It is generally accepted that there are only two groups of information sources - propagandists who follow a pro-state line, and oppositionists who are constantly looking for reasons to criticize the authorities. Their common feature is an open position, which they do not hide, confirming their ideology with editorial activities. Which one to trust - none; neither one nor the other will tell the whole truth.

They are like two poles, between which you need to find a “golden mean”. But this is also impossible to do, because in the middle there is another non-obvious group of resources - the so-called “independent media”. They do not have a clearly defined position “For” or “Against” in relation to the current regime in the state and declare the impartiality of their work. And, as a rule, under the guise of “searching for the truth”, “fighting for the rights and freedoms of citizens”, the leadership of the country in which they have shown interest is discredited. Such resources clearly include international investigative groups and journalistic associations such as Bellingcat, OCCRP, ICIJ, as well as news publications that replicate their materials.

The problem of all “independent investigators” is the lack of official regular income, despite the fact that their investigative activities involve a number of expenses: rent of office space, payment for volunteers, payment for employee travel to investigation sites, the use of paid databases and services for collecting and processing information .

Therefore, they survive by fulfilling political orders in the interests of individuals and structures that benefit from creating certain information occasions. Thus, OCCRP and ICIJ openly indicate sponsors on their websites: US government agencies and American Soros foundations.

And in some cases, the customer hides through the mechanism of so-called “crowdfunding”, when investigators collect funds in cryptocurrency “in small portions” from hundreds and thousands of “caring” people and thus “depersonalize” the financial trail of the main stakeholders.

One way or another, journalists receiving American funding will naturally broadcast values ​​and political positions that are close to Congress and the US business elite. Just last year, two scandals occurred on this basis, when two employees of the TV Marti channel, which broadcasts in Cuba with financial support from the United States, caught in preparing fabricated materials.

And later 15 Voice of America employees were fired for accepting a bribe from a Nigerian official to carry out a political order.

Unfortunately, it is “independent journalism” that is used to sling mud at often decent people in order to serve the interests of certain groups of people and is “not a handshake.” Therefore, their data needs to be examined under a magnifying glass and look for the money trail - it will always lead to the customer.

“Dry” propaganda in the media “For” or “Against” the government is normal, but hidden propaganda from “independent” sources is dangerous information that needs to be “filtered” many times so as not to become a victim of manipulation.