Both the pieces ‘Add sex and stir’ from Frontline, and ‘Yugoslavia and Afghanistan – How to Understand Media Spin’, by John Keller show that telling the truth is definitely not on the media agenda as they reveal that truth is not important to the media, and show how easily and quickly the media is willing to manipulate the truth for its own benefit. The pieces also reveal that truth is based on vision, meaning the media manipulate the truth by using selective images so that the stories suite their own needs. Also both pieces reveal that truth is manipulated in the media by higher powers to change the publics’ perspective of an issue for their own gain. Finally the pieces reveal that the media does not care about truth or about who they hurt in the process of manipulating the truth.

Both pieces show that the media relies greatly on vision, meaning the media use vision to shape the publics perception and opinion of a story. In ‘Yugoslavia and Afghanistan’, Keller demonstrates this by comparing the amount of media coverage given to the Kosovo refugees to the amount given to the Afghanistan refugees. “When it suited their purpose in Kosovo, they made sure to

These manipulations of the truth show that the media does not care about who they hurt in order to get the ratings they want or to please the people they want. In ‘Add Sex and Stir’ Brian says “sport! It’s just a bunch of girls running round in skirts”, showing that he really does not care about the sports team or their reputation. Also when Brooke changes the interview question, shows that she does not care that she has probably tarnished the sport’s reputation for ever as long as she gets the story and the ratings. In ‘Yugoslavia and Afghanistan’ it is shown because the media does not care about the millions of Afghan refugees that are being turned away from countless countries because of the bad publicity they are receiving, all the media cares about is that they get their story. “ Food is more for public relations than relieving hunger. We are scattering water drops on a raging inferno of starvation, while blocking the fire trucks”, says Keller showing that the media does not really care about the refugees, the only reason it gives them food packages is to make itself look good.

‘Add Sex and Stir’ and ‘Yugoslavia and Afghanistan’ show that the media is willing to manipulate the truth for their own benefit and gain, therefore showing that truth is not on the media’s agenda. “You take any story, add sex and stir”, says Marty from Frontline. This quote shows the attitude the media has toward truth. It does not matter what the real story is, because it is easily changed by the media to suite the own needs. This aspect of truth is shown in ‘Add Sex and Stir’ when Brooke changes the wording of a question she has asked Alison from “how many of the team members had it in for you?” to “how many of the girls are gay?” This is manipulation of the truth for the media’s own benefit as

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