On the Media: "Out of Sight" - Episode Summary

Release Date: October 1, 2021
Hosts: Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger (Guest Host: Sasha Pfeiffer)
Produced by WNYC Studios

1. Facebook's Accountability and the Facebook Files

The episode opens with a critical examination of Facebook's ongoing struggle to hold itself accountable. Ira Plato emphasizes, "We're here today because Facebook has shown us once again that it is incapable of holding itself accountable" (01:30). The discussion centers around the Wall Street Journal's investigative series, "The Facebook Files," which unveiled internal documents revealing Facebook's awareness of its detrimental impact on users, particularly young people.

Key Points:

• Whistleblower Insights: An anonymous whistleblower provided significant information that led to the "Facebook Files." These documents exposed Facebook's strategies to exploit young users and the company's internal acknowledgment that it worsens body image issues for one in three teenage girls (03:32; 04:17).
• Instagram for Kids: Amid growing concerns over privacy and mental health, Facebook announced it would halt the development of "Instagram for kids." As Brandi Zadrozny notes, “Facebook is now hitting the brakes on an Instagram for kids as concerns grow over privacy and Instagram's effect on mental health” (04:17).
• Internal Response: The episode highlights Facebook's defensive stance following the revelations, including public relations efforts to mitigate the fallout. Brandi observes, "By their response, you can tell that Facebook does seem like they are rallying the troops inside, at least in the executive suite" (12:38).

Notable Quotes:

• Jess Braven: "We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls is a conclusion that they drew internally and present it to management" (04:17).
• Brandi Zadrozny: "It's the most depressing beat in the world" when discussing the challenges of moderating harmful content (09:15).

2. YouTube's Ban on Vaccine Misinformation and Its Challenges

Transitioning to the realm of misinformation, the podcast delves into YouTube's recent policy shift to ban all vaccine misinformation from its platform. This move is analyzed for its potential efficacy and the resilience of anti-vaccine groups in circumventing such measures.

Key Points:

• Policy Expansion: YouTube's new policy extends beyond COVID-19 vaccine misinformation to include broader anti-vaccine rhetoric. Brandi Zadrozny explains, “YouTube already had a ban in place for COVID vaccine misinformation, and they've had that in place about as long as we've had Covid vaccines” (05:25).
• Anti-Vaxx Adaptability: Despite stringent policies, anti-vaccine proponents remain adept at evading content moderation by migrating to platforms like Telegram and Rumble. Brandi states, "They'll do that again. I don't think they're gonna pack up their bags and say, well, we had a good run" (07:06).
• Cross-Platform Issues: The conversation underscores the complexity of combating misinformation across multiple platforms, with Brandi highlighting the necessity for collaborative efforts among different social media companies (08:24).

Notable Quotes:

• Brandi Zadrozny: "They're really, really good at this. They're just so good at social media" (07:24).
• UC Berkeley Professor (via Washington Post): "When you deplatform it, it doesn't go away, they just migrate" (08:12).

3. Guantanamo Bay: Legal Stagnation and Reporting Challenges

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the persistent issues surrounding Guantanamo Bay, a detention facility that has remained operational two decades after the 9/11 attacks. The discussion highlights the legal limbo of detainees, the complexities faced by reporters, and the broader implications for justice and transparency.

Key Points:

• Legal Standstill: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-defendants have been detained since 2002 without a trial date. Jess Braven compares the situation to a "Groundhog Day" scenario, where repetitive and uneventful legal proceedings dominate the news cycle (16:47).
• Comparison to Nuremberg Trials: The podcast contrasts Guantanamo's closed and slow-moving legal processes with the transparent and swiftly conducted Nuremberg Trials post-World War II, emphasizing the latter's role in delivering justice and accountability (28:42).
• Reporting Difficulties: The complexities and lack of movement at Guantanamo make it a challenging subject for journalists. Interviews with Michel Paradis, a Department of Defense attorney, reveal the bureaucratic nightmares and the intricate legal jargon that obscure meaningful progress (22:40; 24:21).
• Media Access and Censorship: Jess Braven discusses his efforts to explore the limited library at Guantanamo, uncovering both available and banned books. This investigation underscores the broader theme of information control within the facility (32:03).

Notable Quotes:

• Michel Paradis: "Guantanamo's court and prison were established in Cuba to be beyond the reach of usual US Law" (22:37).
• Ira Plato: “If those things are not happening, then there's really nothing to say” (17:02).

4. Documentary Filmmaking Ethics in the Streaming Era

The episode concludes with an exploration of ethical challenges in documentary filmmaking, particularly in the context of the burgeoning streaming industry. Patricia Aufterheide, a professor of communication studies, discusses the erosion of traditional ethical standards and the implications of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

Key Points:

• Evolving Standards: As documentaries have become more lucrative and prevalent on platforms like Netflix, ethical standards have not kept pace. Aufterheide points out that many new documentaries adopt "unscripted" or "factual" labels without adhering to rigorous fact-checking or ethical guidelines (40:58).
• Use of AI and Reenactments: The controversial use of AI to recreate voices, as seen in Morgan Neville's documentary "Roadrunner," raises significant ethical questions. Attendees express feelings of betrayal when artificial elements are not transparently disclosed (43:56).
• Funding Influences: The influence of funders on documentary content is scrutinized, with examples including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Verizon funding projects that may align with their own agendas. Aufterheide emphasizes the importance of transparency in funding sources to prevent biased portrayals (45:34).
• Industry Response: While major streaming platforms show little inclination to enforce stricter ethical standards, Aufterheide remains optimistic. She highlights PBS's initiative to establish and publicize ethical guidelines as a positive step towards accountability (50:05).

Notable Quotes:

• Patricia Aufterheide: "Reenactment is sometimes used in films in ways that it's not clear to people that it is reenactment. And if it's not clear to people which part was reenactment and which part is documentary, that's widely regarded as an ethical violation" (43:17).
• Miller Paradis: "Guantanamo is one of the most secure, well-established naval bases in the entire world. There are Starbucks, there's a Subway... It's a small town" (27:24).

Conclusion

"Out of Sight" offers a multifaceted exploration of contemporary media challenges, from social media giants grappling with accountability and misinformation to the enduring complexities of Guantanamo Bay and the ethical dilemmas in modern documentary filmmaking. Through in-depth discussions and expert insights, the episode underscores the intricate interplay between media practices, public trust, and institutional transparency.

For further information and to support the show, listeners are encouraged to visit onthemedia.org.