Spooked: How the CIA Manipulates the Media and Hoodwinks Hollywood

by Nicholas Schou

The American people depend on a free press to keep a close and impartial watch on the national security operations that are carried out in our name. But in many cases, this trust is sadly misplaced, as leading journalists are seduced and manipulated by the secretive agencies they cover.

While the press remains silent about its corrupting relationship with the intelligence community - a relationship that dates back to the Cold War - Spooking the News will blow the lid off this unseemly arrangement. Schou will name names and shine a spotlight on flagrant examples of collusion, when respected reporters have crossed the line and sold out to powerful agencies. The book will also document how the CIA has embedded itself in "liberal" Hollywood to ensure that its fictional spies get the hero treatment on screen.

Among the revelations in Spooking the News:

The CIA created a special public affairs unit to influence the production of Hollywood films and TV shows, allowing celebrities involved in pro-CIA projects - including Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck - unique access inside the agency's headquarters. The CIA vets articles on controversial topics like the drone assassination program and grants friendly reporters background briefings on classified material, while simultaneously prosecuting ex-officers who spill the beans on damaging information.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, True Crime

Audible Audio

First published April 5, 2016

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this short, little book. Nick does a great job of giving an introductory but powerful outline of the incestuous relationship between the CIA and hollywood/news media. One of the more painful parts was his exposition of the CIA/media companies' borderline coordinated destruction of Gary Webb following his contra-cocaine reportage.

The only shortfall of the book is that he doesn't dedicate any time at all (I think a paragraph max) to the function of this propaganda... The anti-imperialist analysis of this propaganda is never done. But... that's what Michael Parenti is for :)

[Anthony Pignataro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick Schou is an old friend and colleague of mine, so it's not too surprising that I loved his latest book, which explores the tortured and often dishonest relationship between our nation's intelligence services and the media. For that reason, it can be a depressing work, especially when Schou makes it clear that journalists who thoroughly investigate the CIA represent just a small fraction of the media that covers the organization. Though I wish the book were longer, the chapter on how the CIA has seduced contemporary Hollywood is endlessly fascinating.

[Mehtab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audibook

This was a really informative book. But I wasn't surprised at all. Americans have always used their media & Hollywood to show other countries in a bad light. But the thing that hurt me the most from this book was that the movie lone survivor and American sniper wasn't really what it was shown.

Those movies were just awesome and I actually believed that things must have happened the way it was shown in the movie, but boy was I wrong?

[A Cesspool · Rating 4 out of 5]

primary takeaway: I wish it were longer.

Fantastic! Maybe not as anecdotal, or researched, as Tricia Jenkins' exhaustive Superheroes, Movies, and the State; still very revealing. Schou's Spooked is much more focused on historical record of bureaucracies, government administration, and their ideological objective(s), than those showbiz enterprises (or corporate regime, or wannabe moguls, exploited for their access to built-in box office demographics).

Somewhat cliff notes version to David Talbot's maxim The Devil’s Chessboard; Yet probably more deserving epilogue to Gary Webb's essential Dark Alliance, imo.
- - - - -

I had no desire to see Argo (2012) [or Zero Dark Thirty ] when first offered (...ZD30 looked like Black Hawk Down -dreck rehashed); I also didn't want to read about why I probably wouldn't tolerate Argo -- the following year, when I saw the U.S. President's wife, the First fcking Lady, award Argo the Academy for Best Picture, I knew my instinctual assessment was spot on, triple-bullseye, with both barrels -- At least now (after reading Schou's conclusive expose) I know that non-movie was straight baby brains-propaganda from Day fcking One. Schou exposes the real events of Zero Dark Thirty, those degenerates sensationalized to look like heroes, and why so much of the genuine narrative is definitive cesspool of buffoonery. Anyone with a conscience should to be humbled and disquieted, upon reading about Langley's love letter to torture & interrogation techniques (aka central thesis of the 85th Academy Awards' Best Picture nominee).

Likewise with Obama administration's Osama bin Laden capture fantasy. The President should be ashamed for selling such fantastic hogwash to the American people.
The CIA played Obama, just like they tried with President Kennedy (and the Bay of Pigs); but JFK didn't fall for it -- he took the hit (and paid for the CIA'd blunder with his life). Unfortunate.
If it'd been Obama, he would have giddily sent in his our military to invade Cuba. he trifilin

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

The American people depend on a free press to keep a close and impartial watch on the national security operations that are carried out in our name. But in many cases, this trust is sadly misplaced, as leading journalists are seduced and manipulated by the secretive agencies they cover.

While the press remains silent about its corrupting relationship with the intelligence community—a relationship that dates back to the Cold War—Spooking the News will blow the lid off this unseemly arrangement. Schou will name names and shine a spotlight on flagrant examples of collusion, when respected reporters have crossed the line and sold out to powerful agencies. The book will also document how the CIA has embedded itself in “liberal” Hollywood to ensure that its fictional spies get the hero treatment on screen.

Among the revelations in Spooking the News:
• The CIA created a special public affairs unit to influence the production of Hollywood films and TV shows, allowing celebrities involved in pro-CIA projects—including Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck—unique access inside the agency's headquarters.
• The CIA vets articles on controversial topics like the drone assassination program and grants friendly reporters background briefings on classified material, while simultaneously prosecuting ex-officers who spill the beans on damaging information.

[malrubius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forgot to put this one up here. Good stuff, especially about the CIA using Hollywood to spread its propaganda, especially citing when Hollywood actors are paraded around the most top secret areas of the CIA building.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent primer if you are not familiar with the current state of national security reporting/the CIA and the media, but I would skip if you are. Not much new journalism here, just summaries of various mis-steps by the media on stories like the Iraq war.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐ of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ WHY? Because who knows what to believe. CIA? Media? Investigative journalist? #jaded

[Justin Borses · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is riveting and keeps the reader on the edge of there seat. It talks about stories involving reporters and the difference between truth and misinformation. One story is not specifically chosen and there is no main character instead there is a multitude talking about certain operations. I recommend this book because it uncovers shocking truths that no one could see coming. Twists and turns become normal and the reader will learn that it's a common theme.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a few very interesting insights I had not heard about before. Overall, although I would have liked to see more evidence for some of the cases made, this is a very interesting dive into some of the methods used. I do recommend reading this book. The title is not ideal and is far more lurid then the book actually is.

[Anumod · Rating 4 out of 5]

2014 movie, Killing the Messenger!, the movie about Garry Webb leads me to this book. It's a nice read and will answer a lot of questions.

[jj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book. It's a quicknread and very informative. Esp re collaboration between Hollywood and the gov't.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read, for everyone who thinks the Anglo-American-EU establishment has a free press.