When I was in third grade, my library teacher gathered the class around her and read aloud an article about zippers. She proceeded to tell us how hard it was for farmers to harvest them, because the hooks and eyes kept blowing in the wind and prematurely attatching themselves. We gazed at her in wide-eyed wonder, sure that she spoke the pure truth. I learned an important lesson that day. Never trust a source without examining it objectively first.

Now I know why my elementary school librarian told me not to trust the media. Barstow and Stein's article "Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged TV News" points out some of the more blatant attempts the government has made to influence our thoughts. The most fascinating example in this article was the one concerning Karen Ryan. This reporter was branded as a government propagandist when she was featured in government-made segments promoting Medicare. These decisively one-sided segments were aired across the country. Most persuasive of all was her answer to the question of whether or not she would air her own segments if she were a local news director. Her answer: "Absolutely not."

As I read this article, the words of my library teacher floated to the surface of my mind. Is this a reliable source? My quick Google search of Robert Barstow yielded impressive results -- he has multiple Pulitzer prizes under his belt. However, both he and Robin Stein are reporters for the New York Times, a decidedly liberal news source. The fact that most of their criticisms attack the Bush administration reveals an alternate motive for this article, other than simply informing the public.

But the facts cannot be ignored. The authors of this article provide huge amounts of evidence incriminating the government and revealing its hidden agenda. These government-made segments cover a variety of topics, from military to agricultural. Most unsettling of all is the fact that the government hides its participation. How can viewers be an objective audience if they don't know where their news is coming from?

During class we discussed the different forms of text. Our list was extensive, ranging from simple speech to decoration and hairstyles. The media is only one text that the government uses to influence us. Consider this -- the speeches made by politicians, the type of clothes they wear, and the appearance of professionalism all influence us. The president addresses the country while standing in front of a giant U.S. seal. Every morning we stand for the pledge of allegiance, speaking words that have been ingrained in our minds ever since we started attending school. "Indivisible, and liberty and justice for all." If we don't stand we are reprimanded. Is this liberty?

Today we are bombarded by government images and opinions. Our "State" might not be as overpowering as the one in Brave New World, but our pledge of allegiance reeks of hypnopeadia and our television has obviously been used for propaganda. If there's one thing this article teaches, it is to never take news at face value. If we're too ready to believe everything we read or hear, then we might just find ourselves concerned about the difficulties of zipper-farming.