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Contact: Larra Clark
ALA Media Relations Manager
312-280-5043

For Immediate Release
August 2, 2005

ALA Council passes resolution on disinformation, media manipulation and destruction of public information

(CHICAGO) At the American Library Association (ALA) 2005 Annual Conference in Chicago, June 23-29, the ALA Council adopted a resolution opposing the use by government of disinformation, media manipulation, and the destruction and excision of public information. ALA CD#64 cites a list of documented instances of disinformation, including:

• the distribution to media outlets of government produced “video news releases” under the guise of independent journalism;
• the use of commentators paid by government agencies to express views favorable to government policies in clear violation of Federal Communications Commission regulations;
• the censorship of scientific studies warning of the true threat of global warming;
• the fabrication and deliberate distortion of information used to justify the U.S. invasion of Iraq;
• the removal of public information from U.S. depository libraries; and
• heightened assaults on constitutional rights under the guise of “national security.”

The ALA encourages its members to help raise public consciousness regarding the many ways in which disinformation and media manipulation are being used to mislead public opinion in all spheres of life, and further encourages librarians to facilitate this awareness with collection development, library programming and public outreach that draws the public's attention to those alternative sources of information dedicated to countering and revealing the disinformation often purveyed by the mainstream media

The 182-member ALA governing body voted passed ALA CD#64 on June 29, 2005. To read the full document, please visit the ALA Web site at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/governanceb/council/
councilagendas/annual2005a/CD64.doc.