Media control is no conspiracy - but it happens

Investigative reporter Paul Moreira, one of the founders of the defunct French investigative TV show 90 minutes, has devoted his latest book, Les nouvelles censures, to overt and covert manipulation of the news media. Arguing against conspiracy theories, he contends that forms of censorship and control of information are becoming increasingly subtle and mechanical. Though raw censorship may not be possible in democracies, "communication filters" - whether PR firms, spokespeople, communication consultants (aka spin doctors) - play games of chess with journalists and news outlets. Sounds as if we should be reading this. (Via Editors' weblog)