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Rikard's avatar

Constructive criticism:

Break the article up into three.

One, the initial one, about manipulation/communication in general: what it is, how it works, and as a closer introduce the way organisations use this while at the same time introducing some groups notorious for it (CIA, Bilderberg, Trilateral Commission) as well as a few words on the latter two.

Second one about newspapers, books and schools, and from there into marketing and journalism, using Bernays and Ulfkotte as two examples.

Third one about television. Could possibly add movies to that one.

Possibly a fourth one on memetics, social media and "always online" as a phenomenon.

This way, the reader has been presented to the basic theory of propaganda (journalism, information, communication - it's all the same thing when analysed from this angle) and hypotheses on who the major players may be, how they act and why they do what they allegedly (probably, in personal opinion) do before reading about the specifics associated with a given medium.

A personal note: do avoid hyperbole and an accusatory tone when writing for/addressing people who normally aren't into this, or who are but have a vested interest in things the way they are - it makes you look like a ranting crank to them, no matter if the moniker is deserved or not. For an audience already on the "inside", it matters less, but it is still a good habit to be in, that one tries to circumvent the already sky-high mental ramparts we all are pre-conditioned with.

If you feel the need to vent, rant and scream in frustration why people won't think, listen nor care - do that, but not in your text/speech. I have the luxury of needing to chop firewood every day, and find that very therapeutic sometimes. Or push-ups, crochet, needlework or building bottle-ships, whatever works for you.

Again, this is constructive criticisms and I hope the way I've structured this makes it clear that it is also meant as encouragement and a "Well done!", and not anything negative.

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SCA's avatar

And then there are those of us who first encountered Richard Matheson via "The Twilight Zone;" who, earlier, learned to be resourceful in an emergency because of "Winky Dink and You," and appreciated diversity of friendship because of Shari Lewis.

You go ahead and hate TV if you want to. Me, I think it might be time to start watching "The X-Files" again. Greatest show of all time in my view.

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