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{{Show badges|Tobaccowiki}}'''Echo chamber''' is a colloquial term used to describe a group of media outlets that tend to repeat parrot each other's uncritical reports on the views of a single source, or that otherwise relies on unquestioning repetition of official sources. In the United States, the [[Republican Party]] uses a network of [[conservative foundations]], coordinated by the [[Philanthrophy Philanthropy Roundtable]], to support an echo chamber of [[think tanks]], [[industry-friendly experts]] and subsidized [described in [http://www.mediatransparency.org/stories/apparat.html an extensive report (March 2004) by Jerry M. Landay for Mediatransparency.org], supporting conservative media[[think tanks]], [[industry-friendly experts]] and subsidized [[conservative media]] that systematically spread its their messages throughout the political and media establishment. Typically, the message starts when conservative voices begin making an allegation (e.g., Democratic candidates are engaged in "hate-mongering" with regard to Bush). Columns start getting are written on this theme, which spreads beyond the subsidized first in conservative media(including blogs), but eventually begins appearing in places mainstream media like the ''New York Times, and becomes ''. This process can be used to turn an unsupported allegation or a [[partisan]] [[talking point and ]] into an "accepted fact." throughout the media. Opinion pollsters and image makers such as [[Frank Luntz[[Maureen Dowd]], in a [[Michael Deaver]], [[Ed Rollins]http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/15/opinion/15DOWD.html?ex=1079845200&en=9608024a3e06a163&ei=5070 ''New York Times'' column run on 15 February 2004], [[Wirthlin Worldwide]] and [[Zogby International]] help develop the messages that echo in described the deceptive condition as one where "the bogus stories ... ricocheted through an echo chamberof government and media, by identifying hot-button "cultural" issues such making it sound as gunsif multiple, abortionreliable sources were corroborating the same story."  To influence the media, family values and the flag conservatives have also set up several organizations that have enabled the party of privilege to position itself serve as the party with which lower-middle recruiting, training and middle-class voters identifycareer advancement programs for budding journalists. == Examples == *On university campuses, conservative foundations support several networks of conservative professors, including the [[National Association of Scholars]] and the [[David BrockCollegiate Network]], a conservative journalist for of the [[American SpectatorIntercollegiate Studies Institute]], received $11which links and provides funds to more than 70 conservative student papers. The student papers in turn serve as conduits to the mainstream media,000 in funding from through organizations such as the [[Olin FoundationNational Journalism Center]] that provides training, ideological indoctrination and a job bank that helps conservative student journalists begin their careers with internships and permanent job placements at publications including the [[Bradley FoundationNew York Times]] to support attacks on University of Oregon law professor , [[Anita HillWashington Post]], [[Wall Street Journal]], after Hill testified before Congress that she had been sexually harassed by Supreme Court nominee [[Clarence ThomasABC]]. Brock wrote an article attacking Hill and later a book, titled ''The Real Anita Hill''. He later regretted writing [[CBS]], [[Fox News]], [[Time]], [[Newsweek]], and the book [[Associated Press]]. Opinion pollsters and wrote a mea culpa titled ''Blinded by the Right''image makers such as [[Frank Luntz]], [[Michael Deaver]], in which he admitted that his writers were "a witches' brew of fact, allegation, hearsay, speculation, opinion[[Ed Rollins]], [[Wirthlin Worldwide]] and invective. ... I didn't know what good reporting is. Like a kid playing with a loaded gun[[Zogby International]] help develop the messages that echo in the echo chamber, by identifying hot-button "cultural" issues such as guns, abortion, I didn't appreciate family values and the difference between a substantiated charge flag that have enabled the party of privilege to position itself as the party with which lower-middle and an unsubstantiated onemiddle-class voters identify. Part of the " In fact, Brock stated, echo chamber"Every source I relied on either thought Thomas walked effect relies not only on water or had repeating a virulent animus toward Hill. I had no access to Hill's supportersgiven stance through as many separate channels as possible, but on casting alternative sources of information and therefore no understanding of their motivationsopinion as doing the same thing in the opposite direction. Long-standing accusations of the "liberal-dominated media", no responses to any suggesting that the bulk of their charges, and no knowledge mass media today forms some sort of whatever incriminating evidence they might have gathered against Thomas liberal echo chamber, denies the idea that was not introduced the reverse may in fact be the hearingcase. ... The conspiracy theory I invented about  Although conservatives pioneered the "echo chamber" technique, they are not the Thomas-only people to use it. ''The Hill case could not possibly have been true, because I had absolutely no access to any of the supposed liberal conspirators'' newspaper reported that [[John Forbes Kerry: U. S... All of my impressions Presidential Campaign 2004|Kerry campaign]] officials [[Joe Lockhart]] and [[Laura Nichols]] asked House and Senate press secretaries "to schedule their bosses on television and radio so that Democrats could create an 'echo chamber' where the sounding of pro-Kerry spin would create its own reality," following the characters I was writing about were filtered through their conservative antagonists, all of whom I believed without questionfirst 2004 presidential debate on September 30.[http://thehill." *Brock also says com/news/09282004/debate.aspx] == Examples == * In September 2004, ''The Hill'' reported that the "[[TroopergateJohn Forbes Kerry: U.S. Presidential Campaign 2004|Kerry campaign]]and other Democratic Party leaders viewed members of Congress as part of their "echo chamber": " allegations against Bill Clinton were instigated by [[Peter Smith]Last week's]meeting between Kerry officials and congressional press secretaries is the sixth of the year, and it tracks with a conservative financier and top contributor larger effort by the House Democratic leadership to look at each individual lawmaker as a potential megaphone for the national message." [[Newt GingrichDavid Castagnetti]]'s political action committee, the House liaison for the Kerry campaign, remarked, "We want them [[GOPAC]members of Congress]to amplify our message. Brock says he received $5,000 initially from Smith to investigation allegations (later proven baseless) that Clinton had fathered a child with an African-American prostitute in ArkansasWe're encouraging members to host debate parties in their districts. "I was programmed to spring to action like a trained seal," Brock recalls in his book[http://thehill.com/news/09282004/debate. "Peter offered me $5aspx]*[[David Brock]],000 a conservative journalist for my trouble, not through the ''[[American Spectator'' but paid directly to me by check; getting by on my Anita Hill book advance]], received $11, I was a whore for 000 in funding from the cash[[John M. Although accepting a payment like this was most unusual Olin Foundation]] and unethical for a journalist, in my mind it was no different from taking money from politically interested parties like the Olin and Bradley foundations." *During the 2000 electionsthe [[Bradley Foundation]] to support attacks on University of Oregon law professor [[Anita Hill]], the media echo chamber claimed falsely after Hill testified before Congress that [[Al Gloreshe had been sexually harassed by Supreme Court nominee [[Clarence Thomas]] had pretended he invented the Internet, claimed he . Brock wrote an article attacking Hill and his wife were the role model for characters in later a book, titled ''Love StoryThe Real Anita Hill'', . He later regretted writing the book and repeated wrote a number of other false stories about Gore mea culpa titled ''Blinded by the Right'', in which he admitted that painted him as someone with a bad habit his writers were "a witches' brew of telling lies. *In the buildup to war in Iraqfact, allegation, hearsay, speculation, opinion, the echo chamber repeated and the Bush administrationinvective. ... I didn's claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destructiont know what good reporting is. Like a kid playing with a loaded gun, was tied to Al Queda, and that I didn't appreciate the people of Iraq would welcome a Udifference between a substantiated charge and an unsubstantiated one.S. invasion as In fact, Brock stated, "liberation." == External links == *"[http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=2052 Buying a Movement: Right-Wing Foundations and American Politics]Every source I relied on either thought Thomas walked on water or had a virulent animus toward Hill. I had no access to Hill's supporters, and therefore no understanding of their motivations," (Washingtonno responses to any of their charges, DC: People for and no knowledge of whatever incriminating evidence they might have gathered against Thomas that was not introduced in the American Way, 1996)hearing. . Or [http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/dfiles/file_33.pdf download a PDF version]] of The conspiracy theory I invented about the full report. *Dan MorganThomas-Hill case could not possibly have been true, "[http://wwwbecause I had absolutely no access to any of the supposed liberal conspirators. ..washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A46598-2000Jan28 Think Tanks: Corporations' Quiet Weapon]All of my impressions of the characters I was writing about were filtered through their conservative antagonists,all of whom I believed without question." Washington Post, January 29, 2000, p. A1.  *Jeff Gerth and Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Brock also says that the "Drug Industry Has Ties to Groups With Many Different Voices,[[Troopergate]]" New York Times, October 5, 2000allegations against [[Bill Clinton]] were instigated by [[Peter Smith]], <http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/05/science/05LOBB.html>. *Robert Kuttner, "[http://www.prospect.org/print/V13/13/kuttner-ra conservative financier and top contributor to [[Newt Gingrich]]'s political action committee, [[GOPAC]]. Brock says he received $5,000 initially from Smith to investigate allegations (later proven baseless) that Clinton had fathered a child with an African-American prostitute in Arkansas. "I was programmed to spring to action like a trained seal," Brock recalls in his book. "Peter offered me $5,000 for my trouble, not through the ''Spectator'' but paid directly to me by check; getting by on my Anita Hill book advance, I was a whore for the cash. Although accepting a payment like this was most unusual and unethical for a journalist, in my mind it was no different from taking money from politically interested parties like the Olin and Bradley foundations."*During the 2000 elections, the media echo chamber claimed falsely that [[Democratic Party]] presidential candidate [[Al Gore]] had pretended he invented the Internet, claimed he and his wife were the role model for characters in ''Love Story'', and repeated a number of other false stories about Gore that painted him as someone with a bad habit of telling lies.*In the buildup to war in Iraq, the echo chamber repeated and the [[Bush administration]]'s claims that Iraq possessed [[weapons of mass destruction]], was tied to [[Al Qaeda]], and that the people of Iraq would welcome a U.S. invasion as "liberation."*"News outlets ideologically allied with Bush have been happy to assist in confusing the public" "That half or more Americans think Iraq was involved in the 9/11 attack -- perhaps the most media-covered event in our history -- stands as '''a horrific indictment of U.S. media today. Such levels of ignorance can't be found in other countries'''." [http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1201-13.htm]*Newsweek Magazine and NBC television partnered for a week of unbalanced promotion of corporate interests. [http://www.citizen.org/congress/civjus/tort/media/]*Major New Study on [http://www.cissm.umd.edu/documents/WMDstudy_full.pdf '''Media Coverage of Weapons of Mass Destruction'''] concludes[http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0309-12.htm], [http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000456632]: **Many stories stenographically reported the incumbent administration's perspectives on WMD, giving too little critical examination of the way officials framed the events, issues, threats and policy options.**Too few stories offered alternative perspectives to the "official line" on WMD surrounding the Iraq conflict**most journalists accepted the Bush administration linking the "war on terror" inextricably to the issue of WMD**most media outlets represented WMD as a "monolithic menace" without distinguishing between types of weapons and between possible weapons programs and the existence of actual weapons*''Knight Ridder'' (March 15, 2004) reported that "A June 26, 2002, letter from the [[Iraqi National Congress]] to the Senate Appropriations Committee listed 108 articles [in major English-language news outlets worldwide] based on information provided by the INC's Information Collection Program, a U.S.-funded effort to collect intelligence in Iraq. The assertions in the articles reinforced [[George Walker Bush|President Bush]]'s claims that [[Saddam Hussein]] should be ousted because he was in league with [[Osama bin Laden]], was developing nuclear weapons and was hiding biological and chemical weapons. Feeding the information to the news media, as well as to selected administration officials and members of Congress, ''helped foster an impression that there were multiple sources of intelligence on Iraq's illicit weapons programs and links to bin Laden.''" [Italics added.] ==Philip Morris & the Echo Chamber Technique== In 1998 [[John Scruggs]], a Washington D.C. lobbyist for [[Philip Morris]] described the "echo chamber" approach to advocacy as constituting the repetition of a selected message by the most credible sources that surround a decision maker. "The more a particular view or piece of information 'echoes' or resonates through this group, the greater its impact. Grassroots efforts are so effective in modern day advocacy programs because they cause many constituents to repeat the same message to the target Member. Grasstops or "Influentials" campaigns work because those highest on the hierarchy scale, with the greatest degree of credibility, repeat the same or similar messages. You will note that the echo chamber effect can work in two different ways. First, the same message can reverberate among multiple sources toward the target Members. For example, the same information from polling data captured in a single poll can be repeated by the media, congressional colleagues, lobbyists and advertising. Second, similar but complementary messages can be repeated by a single source...Either the repetition or "piling on" approach provide the same result: enhanced credibility and influence of the essential message," he explained. [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/xiz37c00] == SourceWatch Resources ==*[[incestuous amplification]]*[[Iraqi National Congress]]*[[media censorship]]*[[media reform]]*[[The U Network]]*[[John Forbes Kerry: U.S. Presidential Campaign 2004]]*[[Banana Republicans: The Echo Chamber]] == References ==* [[Stephen Halper]] & [[Jonathan Clarke]]. 2004. ''[[America Alone; The Neo-Conservatives and the Global Order]]''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Pp. 194-196.  == External links ==*John Scruggs, "[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/xiz37c00 The "Echo Chamber" Approach to Advocacy]", Philip Morris, Bates No. 2078707451/7452, December 18, 1998.*Hans Nichols, "[http://thehill.com/news/09282004/debate.aspx Dem lawmakers primed for big post-debate spin: Kerry seeks to avoid mistake that hurt Al Gore in 2000]," ''The Hill'', September 28, 2004.*[http://www.ncrp.org/Releases/PR-03-12-2004.htm National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy](NCRP) "has issued a new report on the grantmaking of politically conservative foundations, revisiting the analysis and conclusions reached in NCRP's seminal report on conservative philanthropy in 1997. The new report greatly expands on the 1997 research, looking at 79 conservative foundations and their grants to 350 archconservative policy nonprofit organizations between 1999 and 2001."*The [[Hudson Institute]]'s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal [http://www.hudson.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=hudson_upcoming_events&id=162 wonder if they "got it, well, Right"].*"[http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=2052 Buying a Movement: Right-Wing Foundations and American Politics]," (Washington, DC: People for the American Way, 1996). Or [http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/dfiles/file_33.pdf download a PDF version] of the full report.*Dan Morgan, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A46598-2000Jan28 Think Tanks: Corporations' Quiet Weapon]," Washington Post, January 29, 2000, p. A1.*[http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/National+Reporting Jeff Gerth] and Sheryl Gay Stolberg, [http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/05/science/05LOBB.html "Drug Industry Has Ties to Groups With Many Different Voices"], New York Times, October 5, 2000.*Robert Kuttner, "[http://www.prospect.org/print/V13/13/kuttner-r.html Philanthropy and Movements]," The American Prospect, July 2, 2002. *Curtis Moore, "[http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200207/thinktank_printable.asp Rethinking the Think Tanks]," Sierra Magazine, July/August 2002. *Robert W. Hahn, "[http://www.policyreview.org/OCT02/hahn.html The False Promise of 'Full Disclosure'],'" [[Policy Review]], [[Hoover Institution]], October 2002. *[http://www.mediatransparency.org Media Transparency] provides descriptive summaries of many groups and individuals associated with the right, plus a database of conservative grants and foundations.