The Area 51 Raid was the public getting back at the media for War of the Worlds.

The media was fooled by Area 51 memers just like the public was fooled by Orson Welles

War of the Worlds Hysteria

Question: Were you aware of the terror such a broadcast would stir up?Welles: Definitely not. The technique I used was not original with me. It was not even new. I anticipated nothing unusual.

Question: Should you have toned down the language of the drama?
Welles: No, you don’t play murder in soft words.

Question: Why was the story changed to put in names of American cities and government officers?
Welles: H. G. Wells used real cities in Europe, and to make the play more acceptable to American listeners we used real cities in America. Of course, I’m terribly sorry now.

Area 51 craze takes revenge on media

Chomsky's Propaganda Model

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Media critique and memes. Writing about rhetoric and society. MA in Communication They/He

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Aaron J. Alford

Media critique and memes. Writing about rhetoric and society. MA in Communication They/He