Summary: Our guest today is Anthony DiMaggio who is the editor of media-ocracy (www.media-ocracy.com), a daily online magazine devoted to the study of media, public opinion, and current events. He has taught U.S. and Global Politics at Illinois State University and North Central College. He is the author of two books, "Mass Media, Mass Propaganda: Understanding the News in the 'War on Terror" which "addresses the ways in which corporations that own media reinforce official doctrines and propaganda by contrasting the content of American media to that of other global media". DiMaggio's book "When Media Goes to War: Hegemonic Discourse, Public Opinion, and the Limits of Dissent" examines how public debate is framed by the political elite through media. He recently wrote an article, "The Muslim Community Center at Ground Zero: a Manufactured Controversy" which "racist uproar is taking place in conservative America, particularly in right-wing radio and television." We will discuss the recent protests held over the weekend in which hundreds turned out to express their opposition to the Muslim community center that has been cleared for construction in Manhattan, blocks from ground zero. We will also talk to Mr. DiMaggio about the recently declassified files from the National Archives that reveal covert propaganda and lobbying activities of Israel in the United States.
