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A comment on Paramount Caught Using 'Astroturf' Group to Drum Up Fake Support for Merger. Parent comment

Re:Paramount Caught Using 'Astroturf' Group to Drum Up Fake ... by specproc on Tuesday September 08, 2026 @05:45PM (#49617548)
I worked in PR for a bit. I'm confident in saying most of our information ecosystem is the product of numerous competing (or cooperating) PR agencies pushing their clients' products, policies, narratives, and national agendas.

If it's in a big news outlet, there's a pretty good chance someone put it there. Most news stories start life as press releases. Astroturf groups provide the quote-fodder.

If you're into this stuff, I can't recommend All the Worst Humans by Phil Elwood enough, fantastic read (to be taken with a pinch of salt, the guy's a PR hack after all). NYT review here: https://archive.md/cNmdV

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Paramount Caught Using 'Astroturf' Group to Drum Up Fake ... by catlikesshrimp on Tuesday September 08, 2026 @06:31PM (#49618074)
That's why it is good to have MORE investigative media outlets, not less. Wikileaks and the Panama papers are outliers which must be facilitated.
[ Parent | on HN ]