What Happened
I was watching RT coverage of the Russia-Ukaine situation on DISH when the programming went suddenly black without notice. I called DISH to complain. I had been aware that Comcast had long ago dropped RT under political pressure. I then wrote the post above on FB. I now find that FB has labeled me a possible voice of the Russian Government because of my post. Censorship is outrageously rampant in America to now include social media. There was once hope that the military-industrial-media complex (MIMC) bias control of TV, radio and newsprint could be broken via social media, but even that is falling rapidly to the MIMC control.
During the lead up and invasion by Russia of Ukraine, I followed RT for progressives and Russian viewpoints on the situation. This information was vital in understanding the situation from both sides! This was especially important to me, when long ago I learned how bias MIMC news was in support of corporate and the 1% interests. MIMC heavily censors alternative opinions contrary to the MIMC narratives on controversial issues.
I regularly watch RT News for U.S. progressive programs and individuals’ viewpoints as well as various Russian society viewpoints that are not allowed on the military-industrial-media complex (MIMC) TV in the U.S. A few years ago, RT started allowing some U.S. conservative programing in response to attacks by the MIMC and the Democratic Party trying to associate some conspiracy between Russia and the Trump administration. I believe RT was forced into this partial conservative programming approach to get on the good side of Republicans to help keep RT on the air. The vicious attacks on RT by MIMC and corporate Democratic leadership was mainly driven due to RT’s allowing so many popular U.S. progressive individuals access to commentary and even regular programming. The attacks became so strong that several progressive individuals felt the need to leave RT as they were being smeared as Russia puppets!
My FB Post in Question! (usually only a handful of people see any of my posts)
RT was just taken off the air on Dish right in the middle of a program about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. RT is the only on the ground source of honest information on the conflict on TV. RT has already been kicked off the air in the EU. The U.S. Military-Industrial-Media Complex has taken more steps to push their war narrative without dissent. RT.com seems to be still online! Want to get rid of Dish now. Will work on ideas with roommates! www.CreatingBetterWorld.org
FB Response to My Post
http://www.creatingbetterworld.org
What is labeled state-controlled media on Facebook?
Facebook defines “state-controlled media” as media outlets that Facebook believes may be partially or wholly under the editorial control of their government, based on our own research and assessment against a set of criteria developed for this purpose. We hold these Pages to a higher standard of transparency because we believe they combine the influence of a media organization with the backing of a state.
Facebook seeks to identify these organizations by using our definition and standards to review their ownership, governance, sources of funding, and processes that may help ensure editorial independence. As these organizations are identified, a label will appear under the Page Transparency section. Labels will be applied on a rolling basis to organizations globally when we determine that publishers meet our criteria, outlined below, which we use to assess the likelihood that they may be under the partial or whole editorial control of their government.
We appreciate that not all organizations will agree with Facebook’s assessment. Organizations that believe they are mislabeled can submit an appeal. This appeals form can only be viewed by a labeled Page’s admin.
Note: We do not consider public media organizations that are publicly financed, retain a public service mission, and demonstrate independent editorial control to be state-controlled media under our definition and will not apple the label to these organizations at this time.
How does Facebook determine editorial control?
Facebook researches and assesses the information available to us regarding factors that may indicate editorial control by a government. These factors could include:
- Mission statement, mandate, and/or public reporting on how the organization defines and accomplishes its journalistic mission
- Ownership structures (example: disclosure of ownership structures such as information on owners, stakeholders, board members, management, government appointees in leadership positions, disclosure on direct or indirect ownership by entities or individuals holding elected office)
- Editorial guidelines (example: transparency around its sources of content, independence and diversity of sources)
- Information about newsroom leadership and staff
- Sources of funding and revenue
- Governance and accountability mechanisms (example: internal accountability mechanisms, correctional policies, procedure for complaints, external assessments and oversight boards, rules governing their composition and appointment procedures)
Facebook also considers country-specific factors, including press freedom, and references open source data, such as research conducted by academics and leading experts.
Facebook believes that governments may exert editorial control over state-controlled media in a range of ways and to different degrees. If Facebook believes that the evidence assessed suggests that editorial control by a government exists, we will label the organization unless we consider there is sufficient evidence of protections in place to ensure editorial independence.
An organization that is seeking to prove its editorial independence should be able to demonstrate show evidence consistent with editorial independence. For example:
- A statute in the host country that clearly protects the editorial independence of the organization
- Established procedures, processes, and protections at the media organization to ensure the implementation of editorial independence
- An assessment by an independent, credible, external organization finding that editorial independence is in fact maintained and that established procedures have been followed
If Facebook believes there is sufficient evidence evidence of editorial independence, we will not label the organization.
How did Facebook come up with these definitions of state-controlled media?
Facebook came up with these definitions and standards for state-controlled media organizations after conducting extensive research and obtaining input from more than 65 experts around the world specializing in media, governance, human rights and development.
Some of the experts Facebook consulted include:
- Reporters Without Borders
- Center for International Media Assistance
- European Journalism Center
- Oxford Internet Institute
- Center for Media, Data and Society (CMDS) at the Central European University
- The Council of Europe
- UNESCO
- Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
- African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME)
- SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition
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