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Brussels-based lobbying and PR agencies Gplus and Aspect ConsultingNominated for supporting the spread of war propaganda in the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia. Gplus and Aspect Consulting, acting for Russia and Georgia respectively, attempted to distort the public’s perception of the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia by putting out misleading and deceptive information about the situation on the ground. 
When war broke out between Russia and Georgia in August 2008, few of those watching events unfold on TV screens and in the press would have realised the part played by PR agencies in what became very clearly a war of propaganda. GPlus consulting has acted for the Russian Government since April 2006 and Georgia hired Aspect Consulting in 2007 to “reach out to Western audiences”. Aspect Consulting’s media strategy was designed to depict Georgia as a victim of Russian aggression, issuing a stream of press releases. From the outbreak of the crisis, Patrick Worms, founder of Aspect Consulting, managed Georgia’s press relations from Tbilisi. James Hunt, also from Aspect, revealed the strategy was built on exploiting the news media’s need for a human angle on coverage, including images for television: “We put human beings in front of the camera. We recognised the need for emotionalism in emotional times rather than the way that the Russians did which was to keep, if you like a very robotic, very old fashioned media approach.” The media work went beyond supplying information – they also twisted events. Worms was for example using maps to show foreign journalists that Georgian artillery was aiming exclusively at military targets, whereas there is strong evidence there was indiscriminate shelling of inhabited areas. Worms worked very closely with the deputy foreign minister of Georgia also after the conflict in an effort to support the Georgian version of events to the European media. The Russian approach was more blunt. The Russian ambassador to NATO denied conducting military operations outside of the conflict zone, even as troops were preparing to advance into Georgian territory. The numbers of civil casualties reported in the South Ossetian capital was not supported by any evidence. GPlus partner Tim Price responded to accusations of propaganda in a statement, saying: “We largely provide logistical support to assist [Russian] spokespeople with handling the European media. This includes facilitating communication between journalists and Russian officials, and providing monitoring and general advice on things such as the Western news cycle.” As a result, the public received a distorted view of events on the ground. It is a worrying example of how news and information is sold to the media, the European public, and EU decision makers - creating a partial and biased version of the truth. Vote for Gplus/Aspect is you are opposed to such dangerous lobbying and spinning to manipulate Europe’s publics and EU external relations. Additional information :
Who is on the Side of the Angels?, Andy Rowell, Spinwatch, 26 August 2008. Newswatch (video), 19 September 2008, BBC News Channel. Russia vs Georgia PR War Continues, PRNewser, 26 August 2008. Carnet de route en Géorgie, par Jonathan Littell, Le Monde, 3 Octobre 2008. Georgia's PR agency lashes out at Russian 'propaganda', Matt Cartmell, PRWeek, 14 August 2008. Georgia Sends Peace Envoy to Meet Separatist Rebels in First Direct Talks Since 2007, Georgia Update, 14 May 2008. President Orders Immediate Cease Fire, Says Russian Peacekeepers Acknowledge Having Lost Control Over Separatist Rebels, Georgia Update, 7 August 2008. Georgia issued almost hourly press releases. Source: Georgia has won the PR war, Peter Wilby, The Guardian, 18 August 2008. Comments265 Al 31 August 2009: A voté 223 Pia-Sophie 6 December 2008: Wer Kriegspropaganda verbreitet, hat anscheinend im Geschichte-Unterricht nicht aufgepasst! 217 W K 3 December 2008: "Die russische Vorgehensweise ... Für die aus der südossetischen Hauptstadt gemeldete Zahl der zivilen Opfer gab es keine Anhaltspunkte." Immerhin gab es vom Roten Kreuz den Bericht, dass, als man im Gefolge des georgischen Angriffs in Südossetien einfuhr, man große Mühe hatte, überhaupt voranzukommen, weil bei dem Angriff die Infrastruktur so stark zerstört und kaum noch benutzbar war. Opferzahlen wurden leider nicht zitiert; aber wenn das Land dermaßen in Trümmern lag, ist es bei dementsprechend massiver Beschießung ja wohl kaum möglich, dass die Zahl der menschlichen Todesopfer niedrig lag. (Eher wäre zu fragen, auf welchem Mist die _niedrigen_ Opferzahlen gewachsen sind.) Ich kann nicht ersehen, dass Gplus auch nur annähernd so viel auf dem Kerbholz hat wie Aspect Consulting, die dreist versuchten, dem Gegner die Aggressorenrolle anzuhängen, und finde es daher ungerecht, beide Agenturen in einem Atemzug zu nennen bzw. gleichermaßen an den Pranger zu stellen. 184 Alice 9 November 2008: C'est lamentable d'en arriver là ces groupes de pression sont pitoyables, ils mériteraient d'être démantelés ipso facto 170 Joscha Z. 30 October 2008: They bridged a new market gap. From now on you can profit from the war not only as an arm producer but as a PR agent. Great idea! 168 Jakester 30 October 2008: Der Westen auf alles umfassendem Eskalationskurs. Den naechsten Stein schon in der Hand und den Rucksack fuer weitere Wuerfe gefuellt. Beaengstigend 154 Martin Behrens 28 October 2008: . 150 Erik Peters (espritu) 27 October 2008: Das erste Opfer im Krieg ist die Wahrheit. Aber daß sich zivile Firmen daran eine goldene Nase verdienen wollen ist eine neue Dimension. 111 Senger Dorothea 22 October 2008: i'm against such dangerous lobbying and manipulation of Europe's public mind, - soi'm against Gplus/Aspect! 104 W D 22 October 2008: Wer Hass schürt wird Gewalt ernten 83 M.T. 21 October 2008: They should rather strive for a world more honest. 50 robert zank 21 October 2008: peak of the iceburg 46 Christian Langrock 21 October 2008: Grabt ein tiefes Loch für beide PR-Agenturen und setzt die dort hin ein. Die Berichterstattung war in dem Konflikt unterirdisch schlecht. Ich denke durch diese erfolgreiche Arbeit weiß die Mehrzahl der Bürger nicht was wirklich geschehen ist. 32 Berthild Lorenz 21 October 2008: Geboren sind sie alle als friedliebende Kleinstkinder ... Woran liegt es, dss sie so wurden und wie viele Menschen zeigen mit Fingern auf die Anderen und schweigen über ihr Verhalten? Wovor haben wir Angst, wenn wir nur auf Andere achten? Wann gehen wir dem "Recht" Genannten endlich an den Kragen? Recht ist Machtausübung erster Qualität! 4 Heidi Jamnik 20 October 2008: Diese Leute werden letztendlich den höchsten Preis zahlen, den Menschen zahlen müssen, wenn sie gegen ihr moralisches Gewissen handeln: Das was sie anderen antaten, nicht mehr rückgängig machen zu können. 3 Toni Müller 20 October 2008: It was a tough rat's race, the other contenders still being very close (and a whole bunch of them even missing from the panel!). | |||||
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The Worst EU Lobbying Awards are organised by Corporate Europe Observatory, Friends of the Earth Europe, LobbyControl and Spinwatch. This site is developed by easyMIND. |