MoD must have gotten Rove's memo to blame the media......
Battle the MoD lost: papers reveal failed bid to sway opinion on Iraqhttp://media.guardian.co.uk/iraqandthemedia/story/0,12823,1088257,00.htmlDavid Hencke and Andy Rowell
Wednesday November 19, 2003
The Guardian
Last month Britain made the people of Iraq more secure from terrorism than at any time since the fall of Saddam Hussein. And millions of Iraqis are grateful for having the best public services - from schools to clean water and power - they have had since the first Gulf war.
These were headlines that Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, hoped would appear in British newspapers during "Big October", the code name for a media offensive aimed to convert the UK public to supporting the outcome of the Iraq war. ---snip----
The ministry's strategy - drawn up at a meeting in London on September 16 - has been revealed after the leaking of confidential papers from a media seminar which have been seen by the Guardian.
----snip----
The spokesman said: "These are not being reported because of the negative attitude of news editors who find front page reports about deaths more newsworthy. Only one paper, the Economist, has taken an interest." However Menzies Campbell, Liberal Democrat deputy leader, said yesterday: "A media campaign can only be successful if it is connected to reality. The search for weapons of mass destruction has yielded nothing and the Iraq security situation has deteriorated."