p2pnet.net News:- America’s Defense Department operates two overseas Web sites - one aimed at people in the Balkan region in Europe, the other for the Maghreb area of North Africa.

But, "critics question whether the Pentagon is violating President Bush’s pledge not to pay journalists to promote his policies," says CNN, going on that the US military HQ is preparing another site even as its inspector general investigates whether or not the sites are "appropriate".

Pentagon officials say the goal is to counter "misinformation" about the US in overseas media, but there’s an "element of deception," the story has Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, saying.

"The Defense Department has hired more than 50 freelance writers for the sites.

"Some senior military officers have told CNN the Web sites may clash with President Bush’s recent statements. ‘We will not be paying commentators to advance our agenda,’ Bush told reporters on January 26. ‘Our agenda ought to be able to stand on its own two feet’.

"Bush made those comments after it came to light that the administration had paid several commentators to support U.S. policies in the U.S. media."

There’s a reason why rules exist to separate journalism from government information, says Rosenstiel, according to CNN.

"Anytime that the government has to assure you, ‘Believe me, take my word for it, I’m telling you nothing but the truth,’ you know you should be worried," he states.

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See:-
appropriate - Pentagon sites: Journalism or propaganda?, CNN, February 5, 2005

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