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For the benefit of those who don't know, "getting the good oil" means
to receive the best information, the inside running, or the truth.
With the US and Britain all set to kick Saddam out of Iraq by means of
military might, now is probably a good time to work out exactly where
you should go to get "the good oil" on what's happening in that conflict.
The fact that this phrase might have a double-meaning in the coming
war is simply a coincidence, I hope.
As most seasoned Net users will know by now, television is no longer
(was it ever?) the best place for news. It's a handy medium for showing all those
impressive videos depicting laser-guided bombs homing in on, and flying
through air conditioning ducts of strategic buildings -- but it's often
inaccurate and biased.
Check Out The Aardvark PC-Based Digital
Entertainment Centre Project
Updated 2-Dec-2002
But what does the Net have to offer?
Well unless you've got a true broadband connection and very deep pockets,
the Net isn't much good for video. And, even if it was, all of the video
material coming out of the conflict will have already been carefully
screened, scrutinised and sanitised by the military PR people so it would
be just the same as you get on TV.
I'm not going to voice an opinion on the rights or wrongs of an invasion
of Iraq but I will say that I think it's important we get to see all
sides of the story. And this is where the Net will differ from virtually
all other forms of media.
Because anyone, regardless of race, colour, creed, religious affiliation,
sex or country of origin can post material to the internet, we're far more
likely to find the details that our "official media" may either choose
not to publish or be unaware of.
Of course the freedom for anyone to post anything also carries a caveat --
don't believe everything you read on the Net.
What is it they say? The first victim of war is truth?
You can be sure that both sides in this looming conflict will be using the
Net to further their campaigns of propaganda and mis-information. Untruths
will likely flow like water so be on your guard.
So where does one find something a little more rational, researched and
reasoned than the waves of dross, opinion and slander that will soon engulf
the web's chatrooms, discussion forums and other areas of free speech?
Well, to be honest, I don't know but
this story
running on Wired.com today gives some pointers.
The mainstream media's websites, such as those operated by
CNN, the
BBC and the like,
will simply mirror the coverage and perspectives of their broadcast
arms so don't expect any surprises there.
I know that when I was publishing 7am.com, the last wave of attacks against
Iraq brought a deluge of emails from all sides, and that was an incredibly
useful resource to me as a news reporter and editor. Not only did it allow
7am.com to get a scoop on the rest of the world's media when the hostilities
first started, it also allowed (I hope) a far more balanced perspective
to be presented.
So where will you go on the web to get what you consider to be
unbiased, accurate, timely reporting on the Iraq invasion? Or do you
prefer just to vege out in front of the TV or read a newspaper?
Have your say
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