Seek truth, hear truth, learn truth, love truth, speak truth, stand by truth, defend truth until death. Jan Hus
I used this quote from Master Jan Hus to make it clear how important and significant truth is in human life. The very concept of truth cannot be realized if it exists but is concealed, or if attention is diverted, or if there is a metaphorical distance from the essence of truth itself.
I chose this topic for several reasons. First, I am a journalist and photographer, editor, and publicist, so I have extensive knowledge of the media environment. Second, I have been interested in manipulation for about 20 years. Third, in today's era of information overload, disinformation, censorship, and various ideological and political propaganda, it is very difficult for the general public to access accurate information and find the essential information that each of us needs to navigate society properly and, above all, to make informed decisions not only about our own lives but also about the direction of social processes to the extent that real life allows.
The Power of Information
The power of words and ideas has an incredible influence on individuals, as well as on individuals who are integral parts of society. Ideas and information are fundamental building blocks for the movement and development of society, and we simply cannot do without them. In today's modern society, where even information wars are waged, information is one of the most important elements that affect our daily activities, both individually and collectively, which determines the path of its own development.
Today's society functions in a very complex way, partly because it has a sophisticated structure, but above all, mass media are primary tools for managing society. Today, they fundamentally fulfill one of the most important roles in shaping public opinion.
The current system has clearly subjugated the media sphere and has consistently created the thesis that the problem is not with the system itself, but with the vast amount of information available, and it focuses attention primarily on negative phenomena (e.g., sensationalist and immoral), often justifying this approach by claiming it is necessary to reach as many viewers or readers as possible in order to generate profit. Furthermore, this justifies the boundless, vaguely defined, and relative space for freedom of speech. And it promotes theses such as "society has not yet come up with anything better than democracy."
In essence, there is a fundamental misunderstanding of freedom of speech today, because it is presented as the only possible option, and the public tends to accept this view. However, in reality, the practice is completely different and manipulative to such an extent that when some people realize this, they still conclude that they cannot do anything about it. This is due to a lack of critical thinking among the public and a significant absence of searching for conceptual alternatives. Here, we can see that the manipulation of information itself is primary, but at the same time, it creates the impression of being secondary. Both are closely linked.
Politics and Media Manipulation
Politics is something that objectively and subjectively affects all aspects of social activity, but also the daily practical activities of each of us. Politics not only organizes our complex functioning, but also provides it with a legitimate social framework. The political organization of this system arises from individual systemic economic relationships or structures, and politics itself is a struggle between different groups and classes for methods, forms, and conditions of distributing the created surplus value, while also ensuring profit reproduction and promoting their own interests through economic-political power and its influence on society.
This clearly shows that the media, in the hands of a particular group, serve as a tool to maintain political power for that specific group, which is most capable of seizing power at that moment. In any political system, it is necessary to pay very close attention to information tools, but also to understand their significant impact on the development and progress of society.
Capitalist media operate within legal frameworks that they themselves define in such a way that most of society is completely unaware of the goals of those who control the media. All manipulation takes place based on the psychological perception and reception of information, both by individuals and by society as a whole. Subsequently, a manipulated public opinion arises from the very beginning.
Extensive scientific studies are being conducted on how to influence a person's behavior. Today, methods of manipulating human behavior have even developed to such an extent that people perform certain actions without even having the ability to influence them in any way, or even be aware of the situation, all based on information provided and properly interpreted. The mass media overwhelm society with so much information that it is almost impossible, especially for most of society, particularly young and inexperienced generations, or those who work hard, to find essential information for making their own decisions or judgments.
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1) Soft power sources: These include political, economic, and propaganda measures that ensure the maintenance of power by those who own or control these spheres and actively influence society as a whole.
Definition of Information Manipulation
Every piece of information has the potential to change the behavior of the recipient. When the manipulator's intention is to change the opinion or behavior of the target audience, it is manipulation.
The fundamental thing is that almost all media in a market system are owned or controlled, ultimately, by private multinational entities. The power over this tool therefore serves exclusively the private interests of individual power groups and, as a result, global forces that are informal in the process of governance, and therefore function as a closed entity for global management. As an example of ownership relationships and their influence, I cite the company that owns the BLESK newspaper (2).
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2) Deník BLESK: For several years, the newspaper DENÍK BLESK belonged exclusively to Ringier Axel Springer CZ. This company was the publisher with the highest profit in both the Czech market and across Europe as a whole. Even after various changes in ownership structure globally, Mr. Ringer from Switzerland and Mr. Axel from Germany remain de facto the sole owners worldwide. At that time, it generated a net profit of 422 million CZK in the Czech Republic alone, with revenues reaching 20.96 billion CZK. After being acquired by new owners, it was renamed Czech News Center. Its only shareholder is the company Czech News Center Holding. The ultimate owners in the Czech Republic are Daniel Křetinský and Patrik Tkáč.
Legal and Regulatory Framework
In reality, within our current system, legal frameworks and provisions are set up to simultaneously allow mass media to manipulate public opinion. On one hand, a legal norm may be relatively consistent with freedom of speech and the right to information. The other question is what constitutes actual reality: whether society can subsequently defend itself against disinformation, concealment of facts, and ultimately protect its psyche from negative influences.
In the Czech Republic, numerous lawsuits regarding violations of individual rights have taken place, yet none ever concluded with a fundamental or precedent-setting ruling that primarily considered the application of ethical principles. Moreover, most cases end with an extremely trivial fine imposed on publishers, which causes no economic damage and thus does not prevent them from continuing their approach without scruples. Therefore, within this capitalist system, the information management system for influencing society and public opinion is fundamentally protected—or rather, inviolable—and forms part of the structural framework of capitalism.
While legal responsibility lies with the publisher by law, they delegate actual executive liability to the editor-in-chief; in tabloid publications especially, this responsibility is shifted directly onto editors. I have observed several such cases among my colleagues at AHA and Rytmus života newspapers. Public service media are subject to Act No. 231/2001 Coll., on Radio and Television Broadcasting Operation and Amendments to Other Laws.
Let us consider an interesting example from this law:
Section Seven
Sanction Provisions
§ 60
(3) The Council shall impose a fine ranging from CZK 20,000 to CZK 10,000,000 on broadcasters and retransmitters if:
a) they include programs or other parts of broadcasting that promote war or depict cruel or inhuman acts in a manner that trivializes, excuses, or condones them,
b) they include programs or other parts of broadcasting containing subliminal messages,
c) they include programs or other parts of broadcasting that may seriously impair the physical, mental, or moral development of children and adolescents, particularly by including pornography and gratuitous violence,
d) they broadcast programs, trailers, or other segments between 06:00 and 22:00 hours that could endanger the physical, mental, or moral development of children and adolescents, unless these are broadcasts available to end-users only under a written contract with individuals over 18 years old who have been provided technical safeguards preventing access for minors.
e) violates obligations under § 32 paragraph 1 letter a),
f) violates obligations under § 32 paragraph 1 letter c),
g) violates obligations under § 32 paragraph 1 letter r),
h) violates the obligation under § 62 paragraph 4,
i) fails to comply with one of the conditions set out in § 67 paragraph 3 for providing a service directly related to the program.
The preceding paragraphs highlighted in bold clearly indicate that media outlets that broadcast trailers or other segments between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, or products that could endanger the physical, psychological, or moral development of children and young people under the age of 18, may be subject to sanctions. However, virtually every child psychologist concludes that these programs and media products directly threaten the physical, psychological, or moral development of children and young people under the age of 18, yet no proceedings are initiated or sanctions applied.
This clearly demonstrates a systemic dysfunction in the application of legality regarding user rights, not just within public service media institutions. RPRTV is directly connected to the leadership of these institutions, and in fact, it not only allows but also functionally creates a protective filter against public criticism for these violations. Psychological foundations of media manipulation (from intention to interpretation of messages).
The power of manipulation is absolutely crucial
In conclusion, it must be emphasized that the power of manipulation is absolutely crucial in influencing public opinion throughout society and in governing society. This power should not be underestimated in any way, but rather approached exclusively critically, especially within the current system. In the years leading up to 1989, the media had a different approach to influence. On one hand, from a functional perspective, the media information landscape could fulfill a completely positive role for society as a whole, such as education, cultural development, and consensus-building on issues that are currently needed. Furthermore, it could strengthen civic engagement in terms of moral values, and ultimately, in a real functioning democracy, society would determine its own policies and development.
On the other hand, the functionality of the media space today, under a capitalist system, is, without exception, abused exclusively by global economic and political imperial forces and their power and economic interests.
Jan Vojtěch, Editor-in-Chief of General News
To be continued tomorrow — Ten Key Manipulation Techniques According to Noam Chomsky